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Paritosh will go disguised as one of the cobbler-gnomes from the tale of the Clockwork child who wishes to become a real girl!
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She worked through the night and never seemed to get tired.
She unbroke the guard and when it was time to go went with the others.
Then when the letter came she showed it to them.
"This could go bad very fast if they have used the device on people going we could have a mob attack. I was hoping to take one of our new devices with us. Make it a party peace. We just need a crystal with content, a short experienced. Then set it up. That could off foot the shadow Traders and give us time to find and remove them."
Her fancy dress in simple, She put her hair and dresses as a man. IMAGE HERE With a simple masking her eyes. She does not use his shop.
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Moira frowns at the short notice they've received, agreeing with Arlo. She sighs, resigned. "It's not even enough time to get a simple skipling costume together. Not one that will look good, at least." She thinks, and heads out to do some shopping.
A few hours later she meets with the group in a brand new, elegant gown, quite the departure from her typical modest and utilitarian wear. It's dark and Gothic, with long velvet sleeves and a deep v-cut. It's accompanied by a black masquerade mask with enchanted lenses to make her eyes glow faintly red. She has painted her skin stark white, with false fangs, blood red lipstick, and a line of the red lipstick emulating a blood drop down her chin to complete the vampire look.
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She looks at herself in a mirror in her apartment above the news paper.
"My hight is the problem, hummm"
She puts the mask away.
"There is a thing I can do, I can sample the DNA, err body of someone who has died and alter my nanite swarm to make me look like them. Where is the local morgue?"
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"Lyra, muffin, I think you're taking this a little too far. This is a fancy dress party, it's not that big of a deal. What's going to happen if you, say, run into an unfortunate child of your 'model'? The mask looked fine, honey."
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She nods
"I had not thought of that, yes it would cause harm for anyone who knew the dead. I was trained to do it, so as to infiltrate criminal gangs. But this as you say is a party."
She seems happy with her look now.
"Thank you, Moira, sometimes I forget others have feelings."
She practices pulling out her revolver from under a man's coat while looking in the mirror. Trying to sound like a man she says to it.
"Are you looking at me?...Are you looking at me!... well I don't see anyone else here.
Lost in her own little world. This seems to be a core part of her personality, she is always giving it 110% overdoing things, trying too hard.
Disaster averted, Moira just smiles at Lyra's "practice" and continues to prepare for the party.
After quick but thorough preparations, the party sets out for Peter Ghent's villa at 5:00pm, the time on the invitation, walking the pleasantly wooded path, noticing the prosperous farm houses and well kept fields of the area (the South is the most prosperous of Ovium's hinterlands).
Once or twice, the party passes groups of costumed nobles who have stopped to chat (and the party maybe stops briefly).
Passing over a small rise, you see the villa below, there's a large, impressive court where Balge Ball, a game somewhere between tennis and handball, is played, multiple gardens where costumed guests mill about.
The entire building ringed with a tall iron fence densely covered with particularly thorny and tough local vine. A servant of Lord Ghent is at the gate of fence, dressed in a whimsical costume with an oversized hat and top coat (perhaps covering armor). He's checking invitations as other servants work to keep the crowd calm.
You may enter and mingle though quite a few guests are wandering outside the fence (the servants giving them warnings but still).
Once inside, you are immediately swimming in nobles from Ovium and more reserved nobles from Selium, hangers-on and servant, those aspiring to fame and nobility as well as any charismatic young people who happened to be around the decks when Lord Ghent's servants distributed invitations.
Without rolling perceptions, you notice two figures well before they notice you.
A) Black knight in “fake” wooden armor and a “fake” wooden, both of which might actually be real and magically disguised. He pings as strong Evil to Moira. B) A “money lender” in a cartoonishly evil mask. Also pings as evil to Arlo. These could easily be the Dark Traders you spotted on the way to the Soul Well.
– Each character easily avoid these character or may roll a bluff 20 to misdirect these characters (out to forest claiming the “Lady Lyra” they seek is there or some other claim). A bluff less than 10 and you'll be found suspected and things could messy (or you simply spend the rest of time before 9 dodging them).
Each character character can visit one or two areas before 9 pm.
With the Whisper rings, it is quite easy for all of party to stay in-touch even as you spread about.
1) The Balge Ball Court (Tennis/racket-ball like game): Roll acrobats or bluff 15 to win a round. Roll diplomacy 20 to gain an admirer or get an invitation to a future match in Ovium.
2) Flirt and gossip with Madame Blanche and various ladies and minor nobility in the pastry room. Bluff 15 to gain 3 minor but important items of local gossip.
3) Billiards in the basement: Roll Bluff, intimidate or professional gambler 15 to be rewarded with a key tip on future trade.
4) The central dance room. Roll diplomacy or acrobatics 15 to meet one interesting noble.
Arlo, in his ridiculous Dark creeper outfit, makes out both 'knight' and 'money changer', wondering he they can sense him as much as he senses them. Unfortunately, carrying his weaponry while wearing the costume was impossible, especially if he wanted to stay unseen. But Arlo has his two mighty fists if events so sideways. While occasionally walking the party, Arlo mainly keeps to the basement, playing billiards with con artists and crooked nobles.
She kept well away from the 'knight' and 'money changer'. And headed to the central dance room. She watched the dance analyzing the male's move. Then seeing an admired noblewoman. Cut in and danced with her.
She does the moves perfectly.
Anzarra heads out to play Balge Ball.
She wins her round.
Tired from her competition, she then finds a powder room to refresh herself, and wanders down to get something to eat. Finding herself in the pastry room, she sits and gossips and flirts with some of the ladies.
She picks up some gossip.
On the central dance room, they move around the room, dancing in perfect unison with her female partner. Strong but gentle, firm but supportive. She moves only for her partner. Her eyes are only on her.
"You are a most fine dancer, it is a pleasure to move with one so gifted. "
Arlo spends several hours at billiards, making up for moderate skill with attitude and bluster - fitting the mood of the room, which is dim, filled with smoke and reeks of strong, good quality liquor. Arag Dagnety, Carlon Marceen and other characters also shoot the ball and scrape the table - tonight dressed as a frog, a foreign priest, a horse and other entertaining guises.
Arag Dagnety gives Arlo the tip that a vast ship of silver from far South is expected to arrive in the week's time and a group of traders is working to short the market while Carlon Marceen tells entertaining stories of fleecing rubes straight off the boat. Dagnety give Arlo enough information to follow up on the opportunity if he wishes (but it seems too shady for a Paladin but not quite shade enough for the Dark Traders). But Dagnety seems like a good contact still.
In the pastry rooms, Madam Blanche (dressed, appropriately, as a layer cakes) let's it "slip" to Anzarra that Isabel Suldanese, younger daughter of Lord Suldanese has apparently fallen in love with a commoner while Chansel Suldanese has broken her engagement with her fiance. Lord Suldanese is apparently furious (Suldanese is apparently a noble of middling importance). In the middle of discussion a "ball boy" comes to give Anzarra a bronze award for her balge ball games.
Lady Lyra dances with incredible poise and ease with a tall young woman dressed as a spear of asparagus. At a pause, the woman says, "sir, you dance divinely but where is your costume". She leans in to whisper, "My name is Chansel Suldanese, when will I see you again?",
And smiles at the young woman. Then spins her and drops her and comes in close as if for a kiss.
She whispers in a feminine voice
"And my name is Lady Lyra Fitzroy"
She holds it a moment winks and then pulls the young woman back up again. Spinning her around and is off dancing again.
Anzarra thanks the ball boy, commenting
Oh, I didn't know there were awards. I was just playing for fun. I appreciate you bringing this for me.
Returning to the conversation with Madam Blanche she comments
And what of the spurned fiance? I imagine if I were to be spurned in such a fashion I would either be extremely sad or angry. Perhaps both.
Moira heads to the ballroom to dance as well.
Bringing her down once more Lyra says
"And when we meet again is up to you Chansel"
Then once more, off into the dance.
In the Pastry Room, Madame Blanche comments, "Oh, Vincent Pauvee no doubt was incensed and nursed his bitterness for several days. But young Vincent is terribly moody anyway and no doubt his mood has improved. The dashing fellow has the reputation as the best swordsman in Ovium and many young lasses swoon over him."
While in the Ball Room, the smoldering Moira Monday enters some while after "Sir" Lyra. And while many of young men try to keep up with the glowing eyed beauty, few do. One who does keep up is a blond young man dressed as an "angel", in a white robe, shining sword and magical illusionary flames for wings. As he dances with Moira he whisper to her, "Come away from with me, my dear, we are obvious a perfect match. I the great swordsman on continent, you a glowing beauty beyond compare. I am Vincent and you are who? Or remain a mystery, my mystery lover yes..." (Vincent is quite striking and has style but is definitely a bit young for Moira)
Meanwhile, as Lyra tries to leave Chansel, she holds tight and whispers "No just one more dance! My ex-fiance is watching and he must not think I have been spurned!"
Meanwhile, as the hour of 9 approaches, the sinister Knight and "Money Lender" are now standing awkwardly in the center of Ballroom, nearly at the stage, clearly anticipating some event - as the dancers move about them, sometimes bumping roughly into them.
Paritosh also makes every effort to avoid the two supposedly evil fellows. Instead, he decides to try his luck gossiping with the ladies...
+FE Bonus
Having made an absolute fool of himself with he ladies, Paritosh decided to go and get some athletics done and try out this ball game...
+FE Bonus
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Moira dances along with Vincent for quite a while, and responds, "The greatest swordsman, truly? I must be quite blessed to have you for a partner. Would you defend me, were I in danger? What would bring me to abscond with a man I've just met, even a man chivalrous as you? Think on that, and perhaps we'll meet again."
With that, Moira parts with Vincent and steps up the Moneylender. She grabs his hand and attempts to sweep him into the dance, disguising her intentions but also not about to let him go. "My dear, and who might you be, so flush with riches and mystery?"
Meanwhile, as Lyra tries to leave Chansel, she holds tight and whispers
"No just one more dance! My ex-fiance is watching and he must not think I have been spurned!"
Lyra whispers back,
"Well now, we can not have that now can we, how about we make him a little jealous"
Then on one move, she takes Chanel's hand spins her around and brings her in close, held for a moment, Lyra kisses Chanel full on the lips, then before Chanel can get her breath back, leads her by the hand out of the ballroom, and into the gardens.
Moira pulls the stiff money lender about the dance floor, fully grappling him. Gawd, moving him is like pulling a corpse.
After a short bit of this, money lender lets out an almost bestial howl of frustration and the black knight, still standing by the stage, removes the wooden covering from his very real sword, and shouts in an inhuman voice "The hour is approaching, I would not have you interupt!". You can see now the sword is pulsing with familiar blue glow as the knight points it at Moira and fires a black bolt over her head.
And at that point, an angelic figure, Vincent Pauvee steps in front of the black figure, ready to do battle.
Arlo looks around the ballroom, looking for anything that can be a weapon.
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Coming in late, Anzarra is surprised to see combat breaking out in the middle of the ballroom. She is worried about what is happening, and what might happen next, so she slides down the wall so she isn't blocking the exit and has a little more room, and then casts a spell.
She summons
skunk, making it appear on the stage and asking it to spray the black knight and then leap into the crowd and spray again, trying with the smell to get people to leave as quickly as possible and not stick around for whatever is going to happen.
Moira keeps her grip on the Moneylender and yells towards Arlo, "Clear the room, get these people-!" Anzarra interrupts her with a fine show of stink, and she trails off with a "Nevermind!" Then, focusing on Vincent, she says "That's very chivalrous of you, but these guys are dangerous! I won't have you dying for someone you just met!"
Lyra was just about to exit when the whole thing went south.
In a move, Looking in the eye before pulling her revolver.
RUN!
Then she pushes Chanel toward the others feeling.
Turning she Break into a run she headed toward the fight. Seeking to flank the black knight. As she did her skin glowed and she brought up her force shield.
Paritosh, who was having an absolutely dreadful evening, didn't see what initially caused the commotion, but when he smelled a whiff of the musky scent, he recognized it immediately, "a polecat? What cretin would bring a polecat to a party like this?" His curiosity caused him to work his way upstream through the crowd, to where he saw his allies faced off with the ne'er do wells. His cobbler-gnome costume having been causing his hammer to masquerade as a hammer, Paritosh pulled his weapon out, wishing he had his shield, and Moonbeam, and maybe a lance. Still, "we go to war with the weapons we have, not the ones we wish we had," thought Paritosh.
Seeing "Sir" Lyra approach, Vincent calls out, "Oh, so my rival would also challenge this foe. I will show you I am indeed the greatest swordsman in Ovium" as he makes a daring swing at the Black Knight's head but shifts at the last minute to strike the Knight's gloved hand, knocking the Knight's glowing sword out of his hand to land ten away.
(As she approaches, Lyra notices that Chansel failed to heed her advice but instead followed her maybe 20' behind, drawing a short sword herself).
The skunk spray does not seem to phase the Knight but it is convincing crowd to quickly vacate the ballroom more quickly. Now only a few stragglers, including Chansel, are within and close to the door. There are two open windows to the outside courtyard also and many faces looking through that.
However, Black Knight is disarmed and facing two foes, he snarls and moves to the Money Lender (Lyra gets an attack of opportunity) and from that vantage point fires two bolts of dark energy at Lyra and Vincent (Hitting Lyra touch ac 22 for 16 points of damage, hitting Vincent also, who grunts and curses in draconic). The Money Lender at that point wrenches himself free, whereupon the mask he is wearing seems to melt, revealing the face of corpse. A cloud of dimness surrounds the two as the Black Knight says, in his voice like iron, "Flee while you can or we shall feast on your souls, where is Peter Ghent!"
At which point, floating maybe ten feet in the air above central stage, the image of Lord Ghent can be seen. "Funny you should ask, You have not been the most well manner guests so far. I think must ask you to leave. This is a fine time to terminate our business relationship."
And finally, the tip of the Knight's sword begin glowing more brightly, forming blue shapes around similar to shapes the party remembers from the cave of the guardian. The room now has a distinctly eerie quality.
Arlo down with this s#|+. The dwarf takes the small crystal out of his pocket and rushes the 'knight' and attempts to jam it into his enemy's skin.
The strangely dressed figure of Arlo rushes at the figure of the Knight and through his legs, ending up behind him. (Arlo also notices that in the area, guests dropped actual if average quality weapons on the ground in their haste to leave the area - a sword and a war axe in particular).
Lady Lyra takes her chance
Then she herself was hit,
She shot back now having studded him.
she dived for cover
But could not fine a spot
Anzarra, still near the wall and observing events, sees the Knight's glowing sword fall out of his hand, she darts forward to grab it.
Moira centers herself as the imposing enemy approaches and settles into a writhing combat stands and lunges at the black knight, saying "Fine lad, let's see how you dance then."
Paritosh will charge in at the black knight to stand and protect Lady Lyra...
+FE bonuses
+FE bonuses
Arlo scrambles to get his hands on one of the disposed weapons.
Anzarra, will save 18, as the black sword with the glow blue tip sends bizarre and murderous images through your mind. You may use the crystal mind shield that Imchek gave you to aid in the save.
Vincent misses his attack of opportunity on the Black Knight but then leaps forward to pass his sword through a gap in the side of the Knight's armor, a blow that somehow draws no blood. He lands a short away from knight, and says to Moira "This is certainly the strangest first dance I have ever had. "
The money lender, seeing himself surround by enemies, says a word and a black door appears in front of him. He grabs at the Black Knight but cannot him free of Moira's sturdy grasp. With a feral curse, he should "Our business is not done" steps through and vanishes.
The Black Knights laughs like a Hyena and belches a cloud of black energy enveloping all within 30 feet (though stopping at the edge of the room. 14 point of damage to all the area, reflex save 18 for 1/2 (kills the skunk, weaker NPCs had fled). The room is now a smelly shambles (this round he did not try to break the grapple).
You can vaguely notice a group of guards have quietly replaced the random onlookers outside. Two have crossbows with silver bolts and two have Muskets.
At this point, the figure of Peter Ghent floating above you vanishes and strangely, another Peter Ghent peaks from behind a column at the other end of the room and fires two bolts of fire, scorching part of armor.
At this point, the different characters and NPC attack have pounded serious gaps in the black armor, revealing ... nothing at all visible inside - yet the figure continues moving and fighting.
+2 vs Illusions
Paritosh manages to dodge and weave his way to not taking the full damage from the black energy cloud.
Anzarra uses the shield from Imchek to master the sword, mentally probing at it as well as examining it, trying to figure out how to either turn it off or change the emotion that it seemed to be broadcasting.
She rolls once more
moving fast away from the gas.
Arlo gets his hands on a longsword and racesd to attack the 'Black Knight", until the dwarf was hit by the inky blackness.
Arlo and Pain are old friends. The paladin rushes toward the now empty black knight armor.
Moira's limbs writhe over the Black Knight, wrenching its arms behind it and crushing it. As she does so, ghostly shears appear around her hands and bite into the creature, and the ground rumbles around them as vines begin to crack through the floor.
Toward the window side of the decimated ball room, as Moira pins and tears at the Black Knight's armor, a final blow from Arlo breaks the suit fully in half, at which point it falls to the ground - note, however pieces can be observed to be inching slowly towards each other.
Vincent shouts "Good show!' and performs a flourish with his sword but spinning around he shouts "Oh no! Chansel" seeing hs ex-financee, lying by the doorway, apparently overcome by the black cloud. He runs over and as he picks her up, she seems to come awake...
In the center of the room, holding the black sword with the blue tip, Anzarra feels an awesome but evil power moving within it, a power to influence minds over a wide area, a power akin to the power of the Guardian but shaped for malevalent purposes.
-- It take one point of Imchek's crystal to maintain control of sword this round and it may take more next round - Another will save 18 or spend more crystal power.
In the far end of the room, by the pillar Peter Ghent comes running out, shouting, "apologies to all the guests, close the room and we shall clean up." and more softly to the party, "Ten, fifteen minutes, and we shall talk. Quite a horror but this might have solved some of the problem." and then glance at the black sword held by Anzarra, "Oh, that doesn't look nice, what shall we do with that.". Ghent begins a series of magical passes that remove the stains and smell from the rooms (recognizable as ... prestidigitation).
Lady lyra looks over at the dandy and by the looks of it his soon not to be ex-fiancee. She was badly damaged there where internal wanings comming in from all over. She set her systems to repear.
Then walks over to the armor trying to rebuild itself. She looks for containers in the room. Emptying them and placing one bit of the armor in each one.
"I'll deal with this evil robot, see if you can deal with the sword."
"I'll deal with this evil robot, see if you can deal with the sword."
Arlo walks over in the tattered remains of his Dark Creeper costume, holding the borrowed longsword. Standing next to Anzarra, watching her interact with the evil black sword.
"My first instinct is to drop the sword in a deep trough of holy water", offers the dwarf, then shouts down to the evil weapon, "SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT, YOU FLACID F#<K!!"
Anzarra uses more of the power of the crystal shield to maintain control over the sword.
Do you HAVE a trough of holy water? I don't think I can control this much longer. I have examined it, and I can't find a way to turn it off or alter it magically. I think it has to be destroyed, but quickly!
Anzarra isn't sure what will help, but as she struggles to keep the sword at bay, she has one idea. She sinks to the floor, casting a spell, and channels burning hands into the sword, trying to direct it at the malevolent force within.
Paritosh looks around, "how can I assist?"