24 - 2/21/22 : The Way the Wind Blows

In-game date: 24th of Freyrmond, 3521

"Raeziel, why do I always feel like I somehow owe you something whenever we meet?" - Reilly Springs

"Because I have ambition, my dear!" - Raeziel Ramrider

Before the grim task that laid before the party, Brooke dreamed of a time gone by; his time at the College of Olamn and his expulsion over his love of improvisation and being an unapologetic star. Throwing fake blood onto the crowd during a performance of The Crimson Confession was evidently the last straw, resulting in his expulsion. His first meeting with Shan Chien and his eventual involvement with the Targe would begin not long after.
In the early afternoon of the 24th of Freyrmond, Fala checked in with Lif to see how Reilly and the others were doing after their harrowing experience in Maleficarius Towers. They met a reticent Lif, and they had to con the info out of Squiddly; the Red Spirits had run off with Bonziel Ramrider to infiltrate the Xanathar Guild's Headquarters to rescue Megumi's wife, Eula, from the Xanathar's Arena.
The party arrived at the Xanathar Guild's headquarters inside Ramrider's Retreat along with Renaer and Bonziel. Bonziel did some advance scouting and offered them a choice of paths; they chose south. Meanwhile, an amnesiac Eula spoke briefly with the imprisoned Samara Strongbones from their cells behind the arena. Samara, an agent of the Scions of Black Hearts, had previously been accosted by Megumi and eventually found herself imprisoned by the Xanathar Guild. Eula was called to do battle in the Arena of Blood and Fortune as the Blue Knight.
In the south path, the party was accosted by Don Ramrider, who quickly figured out thanks to Bonziel's presence that the group was acting against the Xanathar. Don Ramrider responded positively, saying that their arrival coincided with Raeziel's great heist on the Xanathar's most treasured possession; its pet fish Sylgar, the being it valued above all others.
Raeziel revealed herself from her nearby hiding spot and stated that the party's timing was perfect; if they caused a two-fold distraction with their prisoner rescue and subsequently helping a Devil's Hand operative plant explosives in the lower level (with Davil Cedarfall, Ziraj the Hunter, Yagra Stonefist, and Don Ramrider directly distracting the Xanathar itself), it would provide her with the cover she needed to steal the prize and use it as leverage against the Xanathar. Don Ramrider also stated he would only give them a safe passage out of the constantly-warping headquarters if they assisted them.
The party agreed and split up with the Ramriders and the others, with Bonziel accompanying them. They made their way to the arena, where Eula was facing down a bulette, and dove in to help her in her fight.
Their intervention threw the crowd into a frenzy, with many guild members dissatisfied with the Xanathar's rampant petrification-executions taking it as a sign that the revolution had begun. While the crowd fought each other, the party contended with both the bulette and a massive hill giant named Kronk. Kronk eventually surrendered after not finding the fighting as fun as Brooke's illusory lights.
With the bulette dead, the party freed some of the remaining gladiator prisoners, with Reilly notably leaving Samara behind as punishment for her deeds and affiliations. Kronk then helped them out of the arena, allowing them to proceed further into the dungeon.
As they gave Eula a short version of their escape plan, the party ran into a trap of spores emitted from a dead beholder. They were able to navigate around it and proceeded deeper, rounding about to their original entrance and then finding a new pathway through a secret door. Within, they met a deranged gnome who posed them a riddle, and once Yilani solved it, they were given a key to the lower floor where the bombs were to be planted.
Exploring further, the party came across a few thugs arguing over cards, who were shocked at the arrival of both a giant snake and the fearsome Blue Knight. The party calmed them down, explained the finer points of poker, and convinced them to stand down before leaving.
The Red Spirits also uncovered Genziel Ramrider's room, where her pet rust monster languished. Yilani released the horrid creature to allow it to devour the metal objects within. Finally, the party discovered the wizards operating the Xanathar's Panopticus surveillance system, and Eula slew them before they all descended to the lower level to meet their saboteur from the Devil's Hand.
On the basement level, many Xanathar guildies were reveling before dinner was prepared. They briefly assumed that Brooke was a pizza deliveryman (because pizza exists in Revelmoore), and Brooke responded with a convincing, massive illusory pizza. As the thugs were distracted, the party proceeded further. The party also discovered the ruins of Bepis Flavorburgh's old kitchen from when he was indentured to the Xanathar Guild as a cook, and also caught a glimpse of the Xanathar's cadre of kobold cooks.
Finally, the party encountered Nomad Vennel, an agent of the Devil's Hand that had infiltrated the Xanathar Guild on Zelem's behalf as a spy. They had managed to sneak a substantial amount of explosive powder into the dungeon and had the party help them set it all up in the next room.
The next room contained vats of green embalming fluid that each held the corpse of a past Xanathar, and was apparently a very important room for the Beholder. As the party and Nomad set up the devices, they were accosted by none other than Genziel Ramrider, chief enforcer of the Xanathar. Genziel wasted little time, and sentenced all those present (including her sister Bonziel) to death for intruding on the Xanathar's sacred places.
Genziel was clad in near-impenetrable plate armor, wielded a massive magic maul, and channeled all the power of the Xanathar's rampant insanity through a bastardized paladin oath "of Many Eyes". With an aberrant and insidious presence, she inspired fear in her enemies and summoned gazers to aid her in battle. However, even this fearsome foe struggled against the party's well-oiled teamwork, with Yilani's strength as a giant snake pinning her in a difficult situation. Victory seemed imminent as Bonziel got over her unwillingess to attack her sister after Genziel injured Renaer with a powerful strike, and Eula also managed to fight through fear to land several decisive blows.
With the fight hanging by a thread, it seemed Genziel was poised to lose the bout...

Portraits

The Red Spirits

Reilly Springs - A young, anxious satyr artificer and inventor, who has fashioned for herself a magic suit of armor that grants her impressive combat capabilities. Now free of the debt that hounded her, Reilly is committed to supporting her friends as she sets down roots in Revelmoore. She has taken to spending time with Fala Lefaliir, the serene gardener and proprietor of Aelbwynn’s Crown.

Brooke Acropora - A charming water genasi and a native of Revelmoore, who supports the party with his keen intuition concerning the fanciful and fascinating goings-on of the city. Brooke moonlights as a contributor to The Targe, a broadsheets publication that seeks out the most interesting and sauciest news scoops of the day. Currently, Brooke is focused on ensuring that Troll Skull Manor becomes an unforgettable spectacle to its visitors, but part of his mind continues to be occupied by his tryst with the mysterious Zelem Corvo.

Yilani Deniz - A severe, perceptive Yuan-ti Pureblood druid who once masqueraded as a human refugee from Khemit in order to gather information on the wealthy and powerful of Revelmoore on behalf of a Yuan-ti cult of Aapep. After coming to love the city and her new friends, Yilani has turned her back on her people and helped to drive them out of the city before their nefarious plans could be enacted. Yilani met Zelem’s offer for cooperation with paranoia and has taken measures to keep herself and her friends from the thief lord’s spying.

Eula Havenspire - A calm and collected azure-haired knight, who wields a blade with inhuman precision and swiftness. She is the wife of Megumi, though she currently suffers from amnesia and remembers nothing of her life before awaking in the Undermountain. The party rescued her from the Xanathar's Arena of Blood and Fortune, and she has decided to tag along with them during their escape attempt.

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Violet - A strange purple cat that was purchased by Brooke at the Old Xoblob Shop. For all intents and purposes, she seems to be a completely normal cat; save for the fact that her fur is a deep shade of violet. She told Brooke her story, revealing that she was once a human adventurer that was polymorphed into a purple cat by Halaster Blackcloak, the Mad Mage of the Undermountain. She appears to be more than happy with this situation.

Róisín - A homunculus created by Reilly out of a mechanical skeleton, an enchanted crystal, and plants grown from feywild seeds. Róisín resembles a winged rabbit composed of plant matter, and is unfailingly loyal to her creator.

Renaer Ambermantle - The estranged son of Dagult Ambermantle, the previous Open Lord of Revelmoore. A skilled fighter, an agent of the Masquerade, and a man of noble standing. Renaer faces scrutiny because of his father’s legacy, but still retains friends in high places. He has befriended the party and spends most of his time fraternizing with them. He was grievously wounded by a fireball aimed at a spy working for his father, but he managed to survive with only burn scars on his face, and has returned to the field with the rest of the party.

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The Xanathar - The beholder criminal overlord of the Xanathar Guild. It rules the subterranean settlement of Ramrider’s Retreat with an iron eyestalk, and will go to any length to protect its power and its possessions. Its campaign of fear and threats to assure the Stone of Golorr’s return is raising public ire against its rule, and the party's arrival to save Eula was enough to spark a revolution against the beholder. The Xanathar's most treasured companion is Sylgar, its pet fish and the creature it loves beyond all else in the world.

Raeziel Ramrider - The youngest of the three Ramrider sisters. A duergar rogue and loan shark, who worked as the Doom Raiders’ Master of Coin. She has returned to her former home of Ramrider's Retreat in order to exploit the hatred currently being levied at the Xanathar and strike a blow against the organization that holds her family as little more than slaves. While her father, companions, and the Red Spirits distract the Xanathar and its minions, her mission is to play the part of the greatest thief in Lloegyr and steal the Xanathar's most prized possession; its pet fish Sylgar, who Raeziel is convinced is the perfect bargaining chip to force the beholder's retreat.

Bonziel Ramrider - The middle Ramrider sister. A duergar bard, she was once a member of the Xanathar Guild, but felt little attachment to the organization beyond survival. After her encounters with the party and their efforts against the Xanathar Guild, she has decided to renounce the organization and play the part of a spy, joining the Masquerade under the tutelage of Renaer Ambermantle, whom she seems to be growing quite fond of. For the mission to rescue Eula, she elected to stick with the Red Spirits against the forces of the Xanathar, wielding her magic boomerang against her former compatriots and her elder sister.

Genziel Ramrider - The eldest Ramrider sister. A duergar paladin who swore a twisted oath of service to the Xanathar as a condition of her family's surrender a century ago, she now serves as the Xanathar's most trusted lieutenant and main enforcer. The decades of service have taken a severe toll on her mind, and she now shares a modicum of the towering insanity and paranoia that defines her many-eyed master, whom she serves without question. She confronted the party among the corpses of past Xanathars and put her entire being into bringing about their demise.

"Don" Grimkon Ramrider - The patriarch of the Ramrider Crime Family, and the driving force behind their surrender to the Xanathar Guild a century ago. He acts as the Xanathar's majordomo and handles much of the practical operation of the Guild in the light of the Xanathar's erratic personality. Despite his unpopularity with his extended family for his choice of surrender, he continues to serve the family and control the Xanathar Guild to their benefit. With his youngest daughter's return to Ramrider's Retreat, he has finally made the decision to fight the Xanathar and stop its reign of terror.

Samara Strongbones - A halfling thief working for the Scions of Black Hearts, an extremist splinter faction of the Black Network. She attempted to infiltrate Ulbrinter Villa during the gala, but was accosted and left for the guards by Megumi. She eventually escaped, only to find herself captured by the Xanathar Guild and held as a prisoner in the Arena of Blood and Fortune. Reilly purposefully left her behind after freeing the other prisoners.

Davil Cedarfall - A retired sun elven adventurer and the leader of the ‘Doom Raiders’, a beleaguered sub-faction of the Black Network. After the Doom Raiders were scattered following Skeemo Weirdbottle's betrayal, he tried to lay low but was captured by the Scions of Black Hearts and imprisoned in Maleficarius Towers. He was eventually rescued and returned to one of his safehouses, and accompanied Raeziel on her grand heist on the Xanathar.

Ziraj the Hunter - A tall half-orc man that carries around an absurdly large composite bow. According to Davil, he is the most talented assassin in Revelmoore. Originally a huntsman by trade, he moved to Revelmoore with his childhood friend Fala Lefaliir. The two were in a romantic relationship for a time, but Fala broke things off over Ziraj’s criminal affiliations and activities. Like Raeziel, Ziraj was made a fugitive by Skeemo’s betrayal, but he has reconvened with Davil and Yagra to aid Raeziel's grand heist.

Yagra Stonefist - A powerfully built half-orc bruiser and a member of the Doom Raiders. Often acting as Davil Cedarfall's bodyguard, she reunited with her compatriots and eagerly went with them and Don Ramrider to confront the Xanathar directly while the other parts of Raeziel's heist were carried out.

Kronk, the Stomping Hill Giant - A charming hill giant capable of speaking common, who was a prisoner in the Arena of Blood and Fortune. After being distracted by one of Brooke's magic light shows and beaten by the party, he surrendered and aided them in their escape.

Nomad Vennel - An agent of the Devil's Hand who infiltrated the Xanathar Guild to act as a double agent for Zelem Corvo. They were kidnapped by Yilani's Yuan-ti compatriots before being freed thanks to her change of heart. They were put in charge of sabotaging the lower levels of Ramrider's Retreat by Zelem, and had the party help them in setting explosive charges before they were all attacked by Genziel Ramrider.

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Fala Lefaliir - A serene wood elven individual and the owner of Aelbwyn’s Crown, a multifaceted store that functions as a florist, apothecary, and greenhouse. They have befriended the party, especially Reilly, and gladly helps them when asked. They are growing increasingly concerned over the party’s predicament, despite Fala’s insistence that they not get involved.

Lif - A poltergeist and the former proprietor of Trollskull Manor. He was murdered forty years ago by the manor’s former owner out of jealousy for a girl he once loved. His spirit has remained in the manor, where he scared off intruders. After the party assured him that they wished to restore and reopen the tavern, Lif calmed himself and even aided in cleaning the place up. He has become very fond of the party and assists in their affairs however he can.

Nat - A mute human girl and the ‘fighter’ of the Rat Catchers, an ‘adventuring party’ made up of three homeless urchins. Nat cannot speak, and communicates through an invented sign language made up of broken Thieves’ Cant symbols and gestures.

Jenks - A human boy and the ‘wizard’ of the Rat Catchers. Jenks carries around a stuffed owlbear ‘familiar’ and keeps a bag of ‘spell components’ on his person, and is fiercely protective of his ‘spellbook’. He was nearly struck by the fireball that hit Troll Skull Alley, but Renaer saved his life. He seems to have lost his passion for spellcraft, at least temporarily, due to his brush with fire, but he is back to smiling and playing with his friends.

Squiddly - A tiefling boy and the ‘rogue’ of the Rat Catchers, as well as their fearless leader. Squiddly bravely leads his companions out of trouble as often as he leads them into it. Squiddly wears a fake eyepatch, which doesn’t help his aim with his bow. He is making it his mission to make Jenks feel a bit better and overcome his rough experience.

Zephyr - An excitable young bronze dragon who came to the party’s aid to strike back against the Devil’s Hand for killing her mother years ago. She is friendly, albeit a bit nervous in dangerous situations. To blend in better with society and not unnerve her new companions, she favors a human form clad in clothing similar to Reilly. She now lives with the party at Troll Skull Manor, where she spends much of her time at play with the Rat Catchers.

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Joy Endari - A senior staff member of the College of Olamn. Her great-great grandmother wrote the famous Reveler play, The Crimson Confession, and Brooke's bold improvisation during a performance prompted her to call for his expulsion years before the adventure's beginning.

Shan Chien - The halfling editor-in-chief for The Targe, one of Revelmoore’s more popular Broadsheets. She met Brooke for the first time briefly after his dismissal from the College of Olamn, and his statements helped her write a story on his bodacious performance of The Crimson Confession.

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The Stone of Golorr A greyish-green ovular stone, about six inches long from end to end, with three recesses running vertically down its length. It is covered in a thin layer of ever-present mucus. With its second eye restored, it is closer to unlocking its vast repositories of hidden knowledge, and is now capable of revealing the location of its third, red eye.