A Tiny Part Of The Dimension Wars (Interdimensional Spy Follies

Game Master GM Hansj

Lyra walks over to what's left of the beat. Checking to see if had any items, if so she will place to one side some 30' away. Then she checks to see there is no danger of setting the house on fire. Before pulls out a canister, triggers it before dropping it into the remains.

"Everyone keep back, I need to burn this"

She steps back out of the intense fire.
As she does her form changes back to her Human-like self.

"I am sorry you had to see me like that, It's a form I do not usually take."

There's nothing quite like massive damage as a counter to DR.

"I am sorry you had to see me like that, It's a form I do not usually take."

"Ain't nothing I've never seen before, sweetums", Arlo commented as he was hacking The Beast's corpse.

She pats Arlo on that back as they step back from the flames.

"I Know Arlo, that's why you mean so much to me."

She then notes the blood.

"Your hurt, ANYONE GOT HEALING, ARLO IS HURT!"

"It's fine", Arlo said. "Now that the battle's over, I can use my own means of healing." In order to make Lady Lyra feel better, the dwarf stick his waraxe in the bloody earth and lain his hands on himself.
LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 3) = 9
LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 6) = 19
For 28 damage, returning Arlo almost to full health.

She watches him self heal.

"You had me worry, ya grumpy old curmudgeon"

But smiles as she says this sharing a joke, but also happy to see him healed.

She then looks at the house thoughtfully.

"How you want to do this, overlapping teams of Two, Room clear and search, Or walking Armor wall with range over shots?"

Saying this as if she and Arlo have done this kind of thing before.
She clicks her revolver open, taking out the spent cartages and replacing them with new ones. Before snapping it closed.

"Clear and Search works for me. Me and Paritosh can sweep as the intellectuals can find what we're looking for", offered Arlo.

Healing is necessary and other things outside the house. Once the party gets in the house, you find a lair like what Paritosh found earlier, only with sheets of parchment covered with filthy jokes, crude melodrama and drawings of hellish torture made entertaining. Ropes of herbs tied in strange knots.

Also bones and other remains of corpses are scattered in heaps everywhere like dirty laundry. There's a basement that can't really be entered so much of stuff is piled up.

It's mid-afternoon and you could walk the hour's walk needed to get healing at the Cup and Anchor.

By the dialogue you overhead, you have a relative certainty that the creature you just slew was part of the Dark Trader organization and this is how tough you expect those higher in the organization to be - why you didn't approach the two Dark Traders you stumbled on outside the Soul Well. You know that the Dark Trader's plans continue at the not-yet-located tower.

Let me know any more things you wish to do at the house and/or what you do in town.

Once they are done with the house, she throws in another Phosphorus Grenade. Setting the place on fire.

She walks over to moonbeam and Paritosh, reaching into her pocket she brings out a testy looking bug, which she seeks to feed Moonbeam, with a pat.

"Good attack there Paritosh, you took that thing out with one hit."

Then she says to everyone.

"We need to find this tower and deal with it, anyone have any ideas of where it could be"

Before Lyra sets fire to the place, Anzarra searches it thoroughly for anything valuable, and any clues.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

Then she walks to get healing, because although she can heal her own wounds, there seems to be deeper issue that she can't solve.

She can heal hit points... not con points.

"It's fine", Arlo said. "Now that the battle's over, I can use my own means of healing." In order to make Lady Lyra feel better, the dwarf stick his waraxe in the bloody earth and lain his hands on himself.

Why can't you do that during a fight?

Moonbeam chomps down the insect voraciously, and Paritosh replies to Lyra, "just doing our part, but it wasn't hardly one hit. The others had weakened it. One team, one fight."

She smiles at that.

"You have a good attitude Paritosh, I admire it, we old hands sometimes forget that"

She turns to Anzarra.

"Did you find anything Anzarra? I had a look, nothing."

She shugs.

GM did Anzarra find anything?

Emotions are running high as Arlo and Lady Lyra angrily destroy the wriggling remains of the foul beast, Arlo barely dodge Lyra's grenades to pulverize the last of the pieces, with the remain zombies are destroyed in passing.

While Paritosh offers hints on strategy, Anzarra threads her way through the house's rot and decay, having intuition the house might not escape her comrades wrath.

The house is sad. It was built by long ago, by hand, maybe 50-150 years ago, when the craftspeople of Ovium were beginning to really learn the craft. That half the beams and columns have been knocked aside and it still seems strong is a testament to that original craft. The grave remnants seem scattered about hapzardly, a litteral giant rat's nest, but scanning for patterns, Anzarra focuses on a particular corner, where jewelry and items of slightly more value seems to be concentrated. Raking through this area, she finds, at the very bottom layer, a crude leather bag filled with something and below that remarkably shinny shield.

Taking it and the possibly most meaningful papers outside, she throw it open, finding a variety of small, valuable ancient item, including the following magic; slippers of speed and spider climbing(combined effect), bracers of archery+2/+2 damage, a Blue Jewel on a chain that allows the wearer to reduce up to three size categories one time per day for up to 5 minutes (super reduce person, limit to the "fine" category, throat/amulet slot) and small, silver flintlock pistol (+2 frost, 3 bullet capacity, can misfire but will not explode). The shield is a +4 light mithral shield. The remaining non-magical jewelry and items are worth 15K currency but it might be nice to discover what tomb they were stolen from (but also quite challenging) - at which point Lyra lights that house on fire.

As you evaluate the items, a rag-tag group of humans, halfings and dwarves cautiously peeks around another low hill another 300-400 feet away. Seeing the disposition of the battle, one especially stout halfling blows a hunting horn and the rest of the group cheers, waves and approaches. These are various "traders" and such who reside somewhat nearby. The group can accept their offer of an ad-hoc party or make a few toasts and head into town.

Once in town, talk of crystal movies is one everyone's lips and Aria is struggling to discover the location of the tower, clearly she needs some help. "It seems to be an area 40 miles south, well known to maps but I can't find the particular topography I drew from Delores' dream. It is vague, perhaps in the past...or on a nearby plane?"

Let's say the items are first-come, first serve with some obvious most appropriate for some characters. Talk division on

Note:
There are a number of contact-NPCs that might provide some clues on the location of the tower.

• Hernard Demoivee,
• Imchek and The Guardian,
• Count Thrantee
• Hattie and The Codex,
• Even Tolish or Peter Ghent,

Or others means might be found. Anyone who wishes may narrate visiting them themselves or convince the part to do so.

Anzarra shows the papers, leather bag with items, and shield to the group what she has found, asking if any of them have a need for one of the items, lets them pick something, and then goes to get healed.

--meaningful papers
--a variety of small, non-magical, valuable, ancient items and jewelry worth 15K currency but it might be nice to discover what tomb they were stolen from (but also quite challenging)

magic:
--slippers of speed and spider climbing(combined effect)
--bracers of archery+2/+2 damage
--a Blue Jewel on a chain that allows the wearer to reduce up to three size categories one time per day for up to 5 minutes (super reduce person, limit to the "fine" category, throat/amulet slot)
--small, silver flintlock pistol (+2 frost, 3 bullet capacity, can misfire but will not explode)
--+4 light mithral shield

Lyra picks up the old gun.

"If no one minds I could use this"

Going to try and use this to improve her tactical revolver with +2 cold

Paritosh listened to Anzarra's descriptions of the magic in the items, shakes his head and says, "no, I don't believe any of that is my speed."

Arlo pick up the shield, straps it on his arm, does a few shield punches.
"Mine."

So, after enjoying their new finds and being toasted briefly (or longer) by the locals let me know if you tell the group anything, the party heads back to Ovium and the Cup and Anchor. Coming to the side entrance and down to the secret room, they give their report to Aria (a basic outline, avoiding unimportant details). Aria is writing up a longer report at the time. She heals some of the ability damage herself and then uses a wand of lesser restoration for the rest.

Aria looks somewhat concerned by the fight but says she thinks the party held it's own quite well - "we're counting on you and you came through. I'm a person that goes on trust and now I feel like I can trust you. Just remember to stay safe, don't be afraid to run if you need to." (she's kind of given to long-winded speeches to be honest). She hands Anzarra the wand of lesser restoration once she's done. (25 charges left) "one of you can use this, right?" and then finally "You mentioned finding some treasure. Let me know if there's any further pieces magical equipment you need, within reason of course".

Then talk goes to the tower.

Aria is struggling to discover the location of the tower, clearly she needs some help. "It seems to be an area 40 miles south, well known to maps but I can't find the particular topography I drew from Delores' dream. It is vague, perhaps in the past...or on a nearby plane?"

Note:

There are a number of contact-NPCs that might provide some clues on the location of the tower.

Hernard Demoivee,
Imchek and The Guardian,
Count Thrantee
Hattie and The Codex,
Even Tolish or Peter Ghent,
Or others means might be found. Anyone who wishes may narrate visiting them themselves or convince the part to do so.

I think everyone has a few things happening but a schedule that can be made free for some research. Hattie wants to take Moira on another boat ride where they read the book together. Mateo will seek out Anzarra to thank her for evicting his neighbor and perhaps he'll establish "trading contacts", Delores contacts Arlo any time she can sneak out of her family's clutches. She's actually becoming a little suspicious of her family's lack of concern over her vanished sister but she has had no more dreams. Paritosh will spend some time discovering the subtleties of Lady Lyra's invention. Lord Ghent, with help the party, has so far finished three short Crystal Movies (little morality plays), He's manufactured about 100 players so far and has the idea to set up large rooms where the public can view the movies together (plus selling personal viewer for the well-heeled). Lady Lyra, as lead investor, you must make the decision whether to release now or later. Lord Ghent has heard rumors of knock-off of the viewers being created, though he's puzzled how anyone could have the know-how to create these, still Ovium's workshops buzz with new things each. Hiram Dintz recently created the magic blender.

Let me know how these contacts go and how each character does their research. All of you should be have something you can do here.

Lady Lyra is sitting across from Lord Ghent in his large garden.
And any others who wish to be there

"We should throw a grand party to launch our Crystal Movies, I like your idea of showing them to a large audience. That is what we should do, invite all the great and the good. And soon, I hear others are now working on this."

Arlo thinks with how intelligent Imchek appear, he might be able to locate the tower. While he's there, the dwarf asks the construct on how The Guardian is?
-----
The tortured crusader is pleased when Delores reaches out to him, and is happy to hear the nightmares have stopped. Arlo reassure the halfling noble he's doing his best to locate the tower and find Delore's sister.

Anzarra thanks Aria for the wand, and when she offers magical equipment she says

Well, there are definitely things that we could use, but if you know someone that can do it, perhaps I could get my bow enchanted instead? I think getting it enchanted to be a Holy weapon would help when fighting the Dark Traders.

If that isn't possible though, I completely understand.

___

When Mateo approaches her, she is happy to work on some "trading contracts" with him. :)

____

Anzarra goes with Lyra to see Lord Ghent, and asks about the rumors of knock-off viewers, since she would like to track down that rumor and make sure that the knock-offs aren't actually being used for evil somehow.

It would be nice if you-all could, roll Knowledge local and/or diplomacy or the skill you think is important for rumor tracing, approaching contacts and so-forth. I consider narrative and the disposition of the NPC also, probably more, but a roll gives some feeling of how it happens. Also, notice Lady Lyra is not afraid to make up little details about a scene, such as the garden. This is great, it make the world yours. Everyone feel free to do that.

The one place diplomacy isn't necessary is talking to the organization, they always have a friendly disposition. NPCs you've ready contacted and have continuing relationship with probably don't need a diplomacy to roll to continue that relations but if you want something on a different level then diplomacy is useful (but circumstances are considered, don't be that worried about a low - an NPC may still act for their own reasons.)

Kn Local Takes 10=24 Diplomacy 1d20 + 1d6 + 12 ⇒ (8) + (2) + 12 = 22

"We hear rumors of knock-off viewers, could it be a little industrial espionage has been done. I feel we best track down where this is happening. Who knows what mischief may be afoot"

Once done with Lord Ghent she will try and track down where the knock-offs are being made with Anzarra.

Lord Ghent is excited by Lady Lyra's idea of a party and schedules one again at his chateau for two weeks time, asking Lyra and the rest of the party for ideas, finishing the preparations for his project room and so-forth.

Arlo climbs the winding steps to Selium and takes the turn-off to the now secure Soul Well. Imchek greets him happily, showing him a number of rocks he's shaped in complex geometric shapes. Now awakened, he is entertaining his eternal existence with a variety of minor shapings, a process he doesn't expecting to tire him for at least a millennium.

When Arlo asks about the tower, Imchek replies: "I have always existed in this chamber, as has the guardian. But guardian has been many memories and so may know of the tower, even if it is from earlier era than even ourselves.", at which point the pair walk to the guardian's chamber. The chamber now seems much older than when Arlo first entered, lit with a golden light reminiscent of memory while soft music plays. After thirty seconds or so Arlo needs to somewhat gruffly interrupt and bluntly lays out his need for a clue to the towers' location, showing Aria's detailed drawings. The guardian, adrift in memory, slowly awaken, asking a series of general questions about the tower, repeating the details of the hills and the construction, with variations, sifting memories with glacial slowness... finally finding quite interesting memory, that the tower was hidden in a pocket dimension around 900 years ago with various keys now needed to open it. The entrance is indeed, about 40 miles south ... the guardian never heard what the keys were.

Lyra and Anzarra begin investigating. With different rumors coming from both traders and workshops, the two split up. Lady first investigates the possibility of leaks from Mandor Pindaros'. Talking to Pindaros' own master crafters, each swears they have not breathed a word concerning the plans and being among the best in the city, their word seems good. But Lyra further questions the group, Matick Pindaros, Mandor's nephew and second among the crafts, says, "Nothing at all, certainly. Why many evenings ago, that sinister fellow Pulsamini Rupal, quized mercilessly quizzed me about the invention, asking about each phase and aspect of the process and each question, I answered always 'not talking, no'"... and Lady Lyra, knowing that how both magic and psionics can read surface thoughts, has a revelation and can see what might have happened. Pulsamini Rupal is has a reputation as a fixer for various providing things folks cannot. Sometimes they claim to an inventor, other times an investor. They also have a reputation of being in and out of town. Through an intermediary, Lyra is clever enough to arrange a meeting with Mr. Rupal through at the Golden Lilac, a slightly basement cafe North of the crafts district in five days time.

Anzarra returns from her investigations to say she thinks that knock-off movies may be coming from the South but she hasn't gotten more detailed information yet.

Moira will take Hattie up on her offer of a boat ride and a read through the Codex. As the two ladies sip wine beneath a breezy sky, placid water imperceptibly swaying the boat. Moira flips deep into the codex to find the passages that will lead her to things hidden and secrets unknown, and she casts her mind into the space between all that is...

Kn. Planes: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Arlo returns to town to report his finding to Lady Lyra and his handlers.

With Lady Lyra busy, Arlo talks to Shadow, who suggests that he could have Paritosh plug some of the info about the "keys" to the Tower into his new machine and see what he could discover.

Anzarra says she has a different lead on the knock-off Crystal movies and will be sail down the coast for a couple of days.

The meeting with Pulsamini Rupa might dangerous. Lyra knows that Aria might be able to arrange various methods of psychic protection if need be. Also the psychic shields provided by Imchek might be useful.

Moira will take Hattie up on her offer of a boat ride and a read through the Codex. As the two ladies sip wine beneath a breezy sky, placid water imperceptibly swaying the boat. Moira flips deep into the codex to find the passages that will lead her to things hidden and secrets unknown, and she casts her mind into the space between all that is...

As usual, the letters of the book appear incomprehensible initially but as the two woman scan the symbols together, they flow and then seem to project images onto the calm waters of the bay. Looking more closely at the images, Moira can see several clouds floating above the reflected city, each a different color. With the certainty of vision, she can tell that each of these is fate awaiting the city. There is light gray cloud representing the many thoughts and activities of the population now, there is silver cloud representing the fate that Lord Ghent's crystal movies may unleash, there is a red cloud, filled with strife, which somehow the comes from Tower of Egon. There is also dark blue cloud that represents a gate opening in the sky. There are two clouds but these fade before Moira can focus on the vision. Before they fade, Moira gains understanding that the best time to approach the tower will in three weeks, one week after Lord Ghent's opening party.

"How may I be of assistance my friends?"

Shadow and Arlo enter the Paritosh's book shop and greet him. A tall, wolfish man, Shadow is looking a bit haggard from his work lately. As he Arlo and Paritosh chat, he points to a device that several clerks from the Gazetta recently offloaded. "My sources tell me Lady Lyra created this remarkable research tool. My understanding is that your group seeks a mythical tower where a woman is held captive and where the Traders intend to conduct their scheme. Arlo has discovered the rough location of the tower but has heard that certain "keys" are needed for entry. If perhaps this device is filled with sufficient information, we could discover these keys through its technology. If not, we must attempt for more mundane research."

After late work at the Gazetta, and with the meeting with Pulsamini Rupa, coming up, Lady Lyra attempts to talk to Aria again about the situation (Aria has considerable knowledge of occult magic in particular FYI). Stealthily approaching the Cup and Anchor's side door and entering the secret room, she finds the abyssal mermaid, in true form, leaning back in a chair, tentacles stretched across other chairs, a glass of wine in one tentacle and another tentacle around the form of Tolish (apparently the two have gotten close).

After the two creatures greet Lyra, Aria stands and slithers to a cabinet where she withdraws a vial of bubbling liquid. "A gift from Bethia, an infusion of unique nanites, designed to temporarily reprogram psychic transmissions. Bethia believes that will allow a construct such as yourself to not only be temporarily immune mental reading but actually give off psychic reading of your choice." Lyra takes the liquid home and analyzes it and does seem to have the properties described.

With this protection enabled, Lyra gathers the rest of the party for backing and proceeds to the Golden Lilac at appointed time. The party is to wait some distance away since the sinister psychic may be able to detect them otherwise.

The Golden Lilac is filled with the newest perfumes, with ornate decor and with overstuffed leather chairs pained purple and gold. The maitre d directs Lady Lyra Anna to a booth in back with Mr. Rupa is seated with a cup of fine brandy in front of him. Despite a fine, expensive noble outfit, he's somehow rumpled and unattractive with skin a strange grayish color.

He nods and Lyra, then does formal bow that somehow has a slithering quality. The discussion begins. Lyra originally contacted him as a fellow investor and his banter seems to follow that, offer to tell Lyra of opportunities in return for her doing the same. He says, vaguely, he might have a machine related to printing but give no detail...

But the same time, the wily trader seems to use some version of telepathy, embedding questions into his discussion. Asking covertly "what is your real reason for coming", "do you work for anyone else?" "is there any time the Gazetta will be unguarded" notably.

Lyra can brush off these questions, appearing innocuous or act otherwise...I'll leave things with Rupa in front of the Lady.

Paritosh listened to Shadow, and suggested, "well, I have a decent selection of books here that could be useful in this. I haven't had a chance to read them all, and I am still getting my own grasp of this world's history and lore. Do you know how to operate the machine? These devices of Lyra's are beyond my ken as to their functioning, but I can still use them if shown what buttons to press."

After Shadow has explained the functioning of the device, Paritosh devotes himself to feeding the machine the likeliest bits of data to crunch.

Profession(librarian): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Paritosh spends the week putting together information related to "Keys of the Tower of Egon". His search finally reveals a book of poetry of Redclift the Rambler, in which one page gives a description of the Tower of Egon, "Ivory and Silver, hidden from all mortal eyes" while the facing page shows an actual magic run of opening with an illuminate legend of "key".

Throughout the week, Arlo helps Paritosh research before, and sometimes after work.
Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Moira passes along to the group that the next good opportunity to access the tower will be a week after Lord Ghent's party.

Her next course of action will be to invite Paritosh along (or to borrow the book of Redclift's poetry if he's not interested) to go pay a visit to Hernard Demoivee. She'll share the poetry with him and ask if he can help at all with their research in his ancient and prolific library.

Kn: History: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

As Paritosh assembles references connected to the Tower Of Egon, Moira traces their relevance to the historical arc of this world and Arlo compares the forces described here to the arcs of similar worlds he's studied.

One further fact that the group puts together is that the Tower Of Egon had a somewhat similar quality to the Soul Well. Where in the era of the First Empires, the Soul Well served as a passage for souls as they died, the Tower of Egon served as a contained for souls as they dreamed or when passion or madness drove them out of their body.

Hernard Demoivee is fascinated to hear that Moira has Redclift's book and invites the three adventurers to his house for a more informal tea and biscuits. The ancient building is still stuffed with bric-a-brac, though surprisingly it has been cleaned and somewhat rearranged. Also surprisingly, Hernard introduces a child of maybe 10 or 12, Philia, who he is apparently a grand niece who some complicated family arrangement he is caring for. She is pleasant, well mannered and articulate, speaking with a maturity beyond her years.

The building is filled with books and something about how they are arranged catches Paritosh's attention. Meanwhile, Hernard says, "I would love to hear some passages from the Redclift and what was it you wishes to learn of the text?"

In lockdown here in UK, everything a bit of a mess as someone at work got it and we all had to be tested, I'm clear but have to stay at home for a while

While she goes to meet him, she will ask the rest of the party to raid his workshop.

Despite a fine, expensive noble outfit, he's somehow rumpled and unattractive with skin a strange grayish color.

He nods and Lyra, then does formal bow that somehow has a slithering quality. The discussion begins. Lyra originally contacted him as a fellow investor and his banter seems to follow that, offer to tell Lyra of opportunities in return for her doing the same. He says, vaguely, he might have a machine related to printing but give no detail...

But at the same time, the wily trader seems to use some version of telepathy, embedding questions into his discussion. Asking covertly "what is your real reason for coming", "do you work for anyone else?" "is there any time the Gazetta will be unguarded" notably?

Kn ALL takes 10 for 24 on all Kn rolls, what is he, whats going on with him, is he lying.

She lets him talk and bats away the questions, ordering two new drinks. When they come she takes that off the tray and offers him one to pick.
So he knows she has done nothing to them.

Then she cuts to it,

"Well then Mr. Rupa, shall we cut to it. By now you will have worked out I have the means to block your mind-reading tricks. It took me a while to work out just how you achieved your industrial espionage. But once I did it was not too hard to find the evidence I needed. The copied devices you have attempted to make from stolen knowledge are at the very moment being inspected by their original craters. Arr don't run off, you see I am not alone here, you are being watched. And the very printing press you talked off primed and ready to print and exposey on your, your actions and your business dealings. This should hit the streets in say 6 hours. Which gives you that time to collect what money you can get on a fast horse and try and get away as fast as you can. Because I suspect not only have you been stealing know how to make things but also information to blackmail with. So enjoy your last drink here and goodby Mr. Rupa And if our paths ever never cross again..."

She locked her eyes on his, hard mechanical eyes that did not blink or look away.

Intimidate 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 14 + (6) = 30

So gang you happy to take down his workshop?

Rupa isn't really lying but it's clearly just a distraction for his real game

Eyes of the nefarious Rupa flash with anger, he appears to gather his bulk to begin some threat or attack and ... then he virtually deflates before Lady Lyra's eyes, muttering, whining, "Very well, it will be a pleasure never to see you again, either...", he turns, skulks a foot or two, turns again, fear and greed in his eyes, whispers "I have more information I could sell you as well..." and skulks into the night (unless stopped).

The rest of the party is able find a workshop making the knock-off crystal movie projectors. Rupa was the main contact it's clear he had some backers. The lower-level workers willing say they expected a shipment of movies from out of the area two weeks after Lord Ghent's party.

Lady Lyra's sources report Rupa did indeed leave shortly after the meeting.

Cut, back to the scene at Hernard Demoivee's house just to finish this, which there's no reason Lady Lyra could also be at.

She stops him and asks the price, once she has what he has info wise she sends him packing.

6 hours later her paper exposes him and his criminal actions of industrial espionage.

Just trying to speed things GM, is where the other Cryial films are coming from INFO she is after, or. a leed etc

Paritosh gladly accompanies Moira, and anyone else that needs his services, or those of his collection of tomes.

Lady Lyra: Rupa basically sells out his entirely criminal empire, a network of three shops and 6-8 spies, crocked crafters and blackmailers, for 10,000 currency and a promise of safety and a promise to take care of his young niece.

Further, he says that his current client had a promised him a large supply of "special" Crystal movies they claimed would not only be addictive but would make the viewer more amenable to further swindles. They were to pick up the movies in a drop location, two weeks after Lord Ghent's premier party, at location on the forty miles south on the coast, the general location that you are thinking of for the Tower of Egon (this seems like a significant clue)

Moira, Paritosh and Arlo Spend a pleasant afternoon with Hernard Demoivee. The elderly gentleman is fascinated as Moira reads various fantastic and surreal verses from the book of Redclift the Rambler and Hernard explains that Redclift was the keep of the Tower Of Egon for many years and collected the dreams that drifted naturally into the tower. Hernard also noticed Paritoshes interest in his library and shows Paritosh his index of first empire books.

The opening event for the Crystal Movies coming up and this will be an event for the party as well. Lord Ghent will again invite the nobles of Ovium and Selium as well as notable artists and craftspeople. He plans several showing of each movie.

Thing you can let me know.
1) The plot of one of the movie you'd like to release.
2) Things you'd have at the party (punch bowls or whatever)
3) What you'll be doing at the party
4) Anything else notable.

After that, the quest for the Tower Of Egon.

Lady Lyra tells the other everything about the meeting and asks the party what they should do about his young niece.

They need to get their hands on an evil Crystal film so they can counter them in the players. Also, find the source and stop it.

She will then work on the party, vetting the guests and helping to promote it.

I don't know if we're doing the Rupa warehouse raid in any more detail, it doesn't look like we are, but Moira would just be keeping a look out with that one, she isn't going to be part of the breaking and entering.

Moira will dress up and play socialite for the party, flitting about and mingling, paying special attention to the artists and craftspeople. She'll play up how these movies are an amazing new opportunity for artistic expression.

So ... as the day of the Crystal Movies premier arrive

The week before the Premier is extremely busy, the hurried preparations adding to everyone's already busy schedule. Shadow asks Paritosh's aid in more cataloguing and Moira's new friend is anxious to spend time with her.

Disturbingly, the "couple days" Anzarra said that she would be gone has stretched to a week and she is nowhere to be found - worse, she hasn't answered her whisper ring in that time.

The initial raid on the workshops that Rupa pointed out went extremely easily. However, the party is getting the feeling that all the clues there weren't followed up on, since more vague rumors have again appeared, a couple days before the party. But with the preparations going full tilt, it's not practical to comb the city again, at least until after the premier.

For security, Lord Ghent and Lady Lyra make certain that they have transported the movies to Lord Ghent's villa the day before. It's a tricky endevour - the movies are somewhat fragile and require special handling. You've had to adjust them up until this moment.

For further security, Paritosh and Arlo lead some of Lord Ghents guards outside the walls of his villa while Vincent and Paulo keep order within. Three movies will be shown. One is "Anita and Barsan; story of love", which is a simple tail of a man who loses the respect of his lover and regainst by acting heroically.

So, on the morning of the showing, before guests arrive, Arlo and Paritosh spot none other than Master Pindaros and two assistants striding in early. Sensing something unusual, they move to meet them at the gate, signaling with their rings and so Lady Lyra and Moira wind-up getting called to door.

Looking at the figures, it is clear something is wrong. Pinderos says "I have a new version of Anita and Barsan, flaws have been corrected, you must use it."

Map; Lord Ghent Villa. Letters show players' locations. Xs show others.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Arlo moves to stand in front of Lady Lyra and addresses 'Master Pindaros and his men'.
"I don't know who the FU<K you think you are, but your amateur disguises look like $#|+!! Turn your a$$es around, or get ready for a World of Hurt!!"
Intimidation: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

She brings up her shield and pulls her revolver behind him but says nothing waiting for them to make the next move.

The figure chuckles a little and says "This must be some misunderstanding, surely you know me Lady, It's imperative the corrected version of the movies gets shown. Let me give it to you here, since I have much work back at the shop." The workers with the figure the move a bit closer but are making "we're harmless" type body language gestures, arms half-raised.

Perception 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36 Busted

"If you are who you say you are, then please say the security word for today"

She raises her gun and points it at his forehead. Right between the eyes.

Studed and timed strike started

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Moira walks over and will take the "corrected" version from him, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"This will go far easier for you if you tell us who you are, who you work for, and just what this is supposed to do."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29