Skyreaver is probably the most conspicuous of the group, acting as a performer in her elven wizard mask.
Oh? Was that 'is name? Right, Beryl mumbles, acting embarrassed. He then continues to clean and listens to the response to Ember's question.
Even with Ember's inquiries, no one really knows how old she is. All anyone knows is that she's the twin sister to Davon Malaeda and she's betrothed to the First Lord.
What are you doing up here? he inquires. You need to get back to the party.
DC 11 Charisma (Deception) check. Failure means you're at Stage 1 suspicion. At Stage 3, your cover is blown and Bad Things Will Happen.
"I'm sorry, , I was sent to take a message to Master Dundu- ... Master Dundra-... Dro-..." then starting to get a little panicked, "Oh, I can't remember how to say his name, these folk are all so fancy, , and I was told to go get him, but...", then he leans in and whispers "I was told he snuck off to 'play sword and sheath with a lady friend, if you know what I mean' - oh, but I don't know what that means, but anyway I was told to fetch him from upstairs cuz his Missus is returning soon! I need this job to feed my sick momma, , please, I don't want none of them mad at me!"
Ember does her best to look puzzled.
"oh, er, the chef said they needed more potato, I'm sure he said it's up stairs... well he definitely said stairs. Hmm, he must have meant down stairs in the basement, sorry! What a silly mistake! Ha, ha..."
She then head back to the kitchens for ten minutes before attempting to Sneak down the hallway and get a look in the rooms beyond...
Ragnar the Grim the Porter goes about his task of unloading packages from wagons and bringing them to the kitchen, all the while keeping an eye on the office of Chamberlain Grenefeld, looking for an opportune time to retrieve the schedule Alysha pointed out.
She looks like she's sneaking down the hall trying not to be seen. At one corner, she looks around to see if anyone is watching her, then she slips past the corner.
Another DC 13 Stealth check is required to continue following her further into the First Lord's Tower. If failed, she'll call the Red Plume and you'll be escorted back to the ballroom.
Failure means you're caught by the Red Plume, and will have to make a DC 11 Deception check or gain Stage 1 suspicion (at Stage 3, Bad Things Will Happen).
From there, you'll need a DC 13 Dex check with thieves tools to unlock the door. And then finally a DC 13 Intelligence (Investigation) check to find the documents. This last roll is with advantage, because you already know what you're looking for. The check isn't to find it, but rather to find it quickly enough before getting caught.
Note: if you want to join your friends on the Stairwell, Hallway, or Chamberlain's Office, please view the spoiler.
Rolls needed for each one:
Stairwell: DC 18 Sneak (Failure DC 11 Deception)
Hallway: DC 13 Stealth (Failure DC 11 Deception)
Chamberlain's Office: DC 13 Stealth (Failure DC 11 Deception) --> DC 13 Thieves Tools --> DC 15 Investigation (adv; failure DC 11 Deception).
Jiro, disappointed in being unable to bluff his way up the stairwell, watches the guards and waits for a moment when they might be distracted. He reaches into a pocket and grasps one of the holy symbols he has gathered over his time among the big folk. He has no idea what deity it is for, but hopes it might be something like an elven or dwarven one who might just help him against these prejudiced humans.
When he sees a possible opening, he tries sneaking past, giving it his all.
Beryl will wander the ballroom cleaning as he goes. He is looking for an onyx ring similar to the one we found on the corpse.
Finding nothing, he will continue on to try the hallway...
Is there anything here that needs cleaning?
Alysha tries to make her way to the hallway. She appears inconspicuous and manages to slip past the guards while their attention is drawn away by a passing maiden.
When she spies the woman she tries to follow again. She's learned a few tricks in her time and shadows the woman towards the tower. The mask does make her face feel a little warm...
Scarlet is not one for deception or stealth. She tries to keep track of her companions while bringing food from the kitchens to the guests, as far as she can see they keep getting rebuffed from their explorations... Trying again may only provoke suspicion.
Ragnar attempts to be unseen as he makes his way to the Chamberlain's office.
When Ragnar is caught, he points out another of the porters. "Do we get paid extra for doing the work of two? 'Cause that lad is a slacker and I'm busting my ass to carry his weight."
Ember is unceremoniously deposited back into the hall babbling about checking for empty glasses... Well at least Alysha didn't get caught, I better lay low for a while if I keep getting caught in the wrong place I'll get thrown out completely... she cleans up a few plates keeping an eye and ear out for calls for help from her allies.
Jiro sneak past the guards, only to find a gate with a well made lock (DC 25 Thieves Tools to open).
No one is able to re-enter the Chamberlain's Office. That's ok, though, because you have the information you need.
Alysha follows the woman dressed in the colors of the First Lord. She makes her way into a remote part of the tower, and then speaks into a highly polished stone. We are nearly ready, This human will bring terror onto the nonhumans once I am killed. His true nature will be revealed and he will be yours.
She then crushes the stone with her bare hand and rushes back to the masquerade.
Not long after you meet back up, herald's call everyone into the ballroom for First Lord Torin Nomerthal's speach.
Trumpets sound and the roar of the crowd settles as First Lord Torin Nomerthal stands, removes his mask and moves forward to address his guests. Removing their masks beside him are Garos the Just, Torgrave Needlebaum, Malkyn Grenefeld, and two people that look alarmingly similar to one another.
One is a man, and the other a woman. Both are handsome with strong, sharp features and striking, violet eyes. The woman is wearing clothes in colors that match those worn by the First Lord and her hand is twined lovingly around his arm.
The woman is the same one who was sneaking down the hallway.
The man is dressed identically to the dead body you found in the sewers, complete with the same pair of eye glasses that Alysha wears, and the ring that Beryl was keeping an eye out for earlier.
The First Lord starts to speak, Thank you everyone for joining me in celebrating Midsummer. Your support throughout the year has remade Hillsfar into the great city it once was. Free from the vermin that were allowed to live among us, our city grows its trading power by the day. Hail, to a prosperous Hillsfar!
He raises his glass as does the rest of the room as they respond, Hail Hillsfar!
Without warning, a guest tears off their mask revealing a slender male elf. With astonishing speed, the elf draws a dagger from within its sleeve and whips it towards the First Lord. There is a flurry of activity, and a heartbeat later, the First Lord is on his knees cradling the still body of Thessaly; the hilt of a pearl-handled dagger protruding from her chest.
Malkyn (the Chamberlain) - her eyes set firmly on the First Lord - quickly presses her way through the crowd and leaps upon Torin Nomerthal's back. She shouts a single, frantic word and both she and the First Lord disappear from sight.
Then the screaming begins.
The room erupts in chaos. Red Plumes rush the First Lord. The guests rush the door. The laborers rush the tables and begin pocketing the silver. However, in the din, both Davon and Thessaly (the twins) have vanished. When the crowd clears, the assassin is dead; having been run through by a pair of Red Plume guards.
Pick one of the following:
"What is going on?" Alysha says. She fakes taking some of the silverware and cheese.
On a dressed?
Alysha tries to follow the hint of the First Lord's movement.
"Follow me!" she says to the rest of the party, unsure of who's who in the chaos.
Typo correction: the spoiler for DC 13 Perception should read "on a dress."
Skyreaver begins moving towards a side door.
Jiro tries working the lock open - first by shoving anything in his pockets that might be the right size in, and then the old kobold standby of gnawing on the lock. But all he gets for his effort is a sore jaw.
Returning to the main hall, once the chaos erupts, Jiro tries very hard to fight his instincts and run. Little kobolds have managed to survive for generations by staying away from this sort of chaos and mobs. But he takes a deep breath and tries to weave his way into the crowd towards any of his companions.
Jiro hops onto a table and looks for whichever of his companions is nearest and tries waving them over to him.
Beryl rushes toward the woman on the ground and attempts to help her!
"Everybody down" calls Scarlet and notes the flash towards the side door. She gives chase.
Seeing Scarlet move towards the side door, Beryl moves to follow her!
[Ooc]I won't attempt the DC 25 perception check as it's not possible for Ember to make it.
Where is everybody... what a time to forget what everyone looked like... Wait what's this blood drops on the floor!
Ember starts following blood droplets on the floor hurrying along with her head bowed, she bumps into Beryl with a clank of his disguised armour...
"Oops sorry sir... Beryl! Look, a trail of blood here leads towards that door, come on.
Ember hurries along with Beryl and Scarlet towards the door.
As Ember and others head towards that door, Jiro hops down to follow them.
The corridor you were following empties into a placid garden in the rear of the Tower of the First Lord. At the other side of a modest clearing, Davon tugs at something on the ground while the body of Thessaly lies still beside him.
The man turns and sees your approach. He hisses a word in a strange tongue and the woman lying beside him jerks to her feet in alarm. The man and woman embrace and share a passionate kiss.
They part and Davon touches the wound on Thessaly's torso. “I will be fine," she says, wincing.
Davon tears at his flesh and clothing; rending them both away in bloody, tattered scraps until a fiendish creature stands before you - complete with leathery wings, horns, and a tail.
Watching the horrific sight of the man transforming into a demon causes something in your mind to shift.
DC 10 Wisdom Save or gain one level of madness.
The effects of Level 1 Madness lasts 1d10 minutes. Level 2 Madness lasts 1d10x10 minutes. Level 3 madness is permanent.
Removing Madness
Calm Emotions will suppressed the symptoms of madness for the duration of the spell.
Lesser Restoration, Remove Curse, or Dispel Evil will reduce Level 2 to Level 1 and Level 1 to Level 0.
Greater Restoration is the only way to reduce Level 3 to Level 2.
Effects of Madness
Roll on the following chart to determine what your madness is:
dlOO Effect (lasts ldlO minutes)
01-20 The character retreats into his or her mind and becomes paralyzed. The effect ends if the character takes any damage.
21-30 The character becomes incapacitated and spends the duration screaming, laughing, or weeping.
31 - 40 The character becomes frightened and must use his or her action and movement each round to flee from the source of the fear.
41 - 50 The character begins babbling and is incapable of normal speech or spellcasting.
51 - 60 The character must use his or her action each round to attack the nearest creature.
61-70 The character experiences vivid hallucinations and has disadvantage on ability checks.
71 - 75 The character does whatever anyone tells him or her to do that isn't obviously self-destructive.
76- 80 The character experiences an overpowering urge to eat something strange such as dirt, slime, or offal.
81-90 The character is stunned.
91-100 The character falls unconscious.
"I could tell there was something wrong about you..." she says.
"I will fear no evil."
Beryl shivers at the sight of the demon and something breaks in his mind! He curls, hugging his legs to his chest and rocks there for minutes, unresponsive!
Skyreaver stops moving, her muscles seizing up in fear.
"Oh my..." Ember says with a little shudder, it's hard to tell if it's a shudder of revulsion or excitement. "What are you. "
At the onset of round 1, Davon ripped off his skin and revealed his true form - an incubus!
It wasn't dark elves infiltrating the First Lord's office, it was demons! Demons are the ones trying to start a race war between humans and all others. At this point, the First Lord doesn't know this. He thinks the elves tried to assassinate him, and his love - Thessaly - died sacrificing herself for him.
Everyone is up. You're within 20 feet of them, and they're at the entrance to a sewer.
Round 1
Davon 22
Ember 21
Beryl 15
Jiro 13
Alysha 13
Ragnar 10
Scarlet 7
Skyreaver 4
Thessaly 4
Ragnar's eyes widen as man becomes demon. He pauses briefly, trying to process all that is taking place. Ragnar pulls his battleaxe, and charges the demon in a rage.
Ember considers the creature for a moment before deciding on a spell, she begins to chant backing up as she does... "Égő lángok közvetlenül a gerendák égő lángjai éget ellenségeimet!"
Flames swirl around her, quickly forming three rays of white hot fire that suddenly streak out at the demon!
Alysha raises her hands and fires a ray of frost at the demon, hoping to stop it from escaping. She'll move closer to Skyreaver.
"Did you think your plot would work?" she says.
"What the Hells, man?! Snap out of it and kill those things before they kill us! I'm not dying over those bigoted humans back there!"
Jiro whips out his rapier and, just like he was taught as a child if he ever faced the horrors of the Underdark, he gives Beryl a "poke" to try and snap him out of it.
"Now kill that fiend or else I'll stab ya again and join them!"
Scarlet fully realises she's outclassed here, but she will not back down... She charges the creature, sword and shield in hand.
Beryl shakes his head with a start, and looks down at little boy Jiro. It takes him a second to realize that he knows this little boy, in fact he is not a little boy, but a kobold! Demon! the warrior exclaims as he is brought back to focus, Ye have me thanks, Jiro. Let us send this beastie back to hell where it belongs!
Beryl unslings his shield and draws his silvered warmace and charges the demon!
Round 1 Results:
Davon turns into a demon.
Ember blasts it with fire.
Beryl is shocked into standing still!
Jiro pokes Beryl, bringing him back to reality.
Alysha tries to freeze the demon, but misses!
Of course it will work; look at the pandemonium we've already stirred up!
Charges in with his magical axe, hitting true!
Scarlet bravely charges in, and just barely misses!
Is stuck in a stun!
Thessaly looks at Ragnar, and says, Surely you won't let these vial people hurt me?
Round 2
Davon's body starts to shimmer and disappear as he fades into the Ethereal plane to make his escape.
Round 2
Davon 22 (-18 HP, Fled Battle)
Ember 21 <-- We are here
Red Plume Guards (x4)
Beryl 15
Jiro 13
Alysha 13
Ragnar 10
Scarlet 7
Skyreaver 4
Thessaly 4