RMH-EP-01: The Grand Masquerade (Inactive)

Game Master Aeshuura

"It is a pleasure to meet you Lady Olivia, I am Garrett Goodbarrel." Garrett says and then waits to gauge her response.

"I'm afwaid I'm not the pewfect dance mate, but hewe we go... I'm Odile, a pleasure."

Yunjiang prays to remember the precise moves correctly...

Dex (Perform), Disadvantage, Guidance: 1d20 + 1d20 + 1 + 1d4 ⇒ (12) + (7) + 1 + (4) = 24

That's 7+1+4=12

Barely keeping his face, Yunjiang struggles but luckily manages.

"I bet you come fwom quite afaw, Lady Puwwwfunctowy, just as I do" he says, trying to break the ice without screwing it too much with the g#+*$+n name.

You did it on purpose xD

The tabaxi woman smiles, purring, I am imprrrressed, Odile...

She hooks her arm around Zhang's and takes him around to one of the tables, chatting the artificer up... Noting Zhang's occasional glance at Garrett, she smiles again, Lady Olivia... I am surrrrprrised that yourrr friend is getting as farrr as he has...

Looking at the woman, Arrrayona indicates with her head, Therrre is a woman with secrets... as everryone does, but she is terrrible at hiding them. Herrr facial exprrression and body language tell all...

Lady Olivia looks down at Garrett, Radaga? That girl would forget her own head if not for her neck. She came up to me earlier, having forgotten that we were supposed to meet at the Moth Orchid tomorrow!

Is anyone else waiting on a response? Splitting the party is hell in a PbP setting... >.<

"Oh." Yunjiang doesn't know what she implies by mentioning those secrets, and he doesn't even know which secrets are those.

"I bet he's not looking fow those secwets in pawticulaw. Neithew am I. We'we only looking fow a fwiend. Pewhaps you might have seen hew, a giwl called Wadaga."

Yes, Xune had 'asked' that Radaga be brought forth:

Ah, you do not have time for niceties, I see. The name is Lisle, Lisle Durand. It is surely rude not to introduce yourself... the butterfly masked person comments, visibly upset, I went through some trouble, expense, and favor to set up a meeting with Archivist Isolda Savant from the Legacy Library at Jalabert. But when Radaga arrived, that tramp could care less about meeting Madame Savant!

"Yes. I destroy herrr. Bring her to us." so Xune imagined the huntress of her realm would say. Here in the grand ballroom, she had to pretend her social rank was higher than it truly was...just as everyone else was doing?

"I am Xune. Huntress." she added, with emphasis. The purring of the great cat made Lisle's face reflection in her gold jaguar mask vibrate.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Do I get the impression that she is asking me for it or that it has something to do with her meeting Ragda.

Garrett chuckles, "Ragda can get a bit confused at times, still it seems odd she would forget the difference between meeting at a ball and meeting at an Orchid. Hopefully, she was not too embarrassed by the affair."

@Garrett, sorry if that was confusing, you would need both Thieves' Cant AND Perception DC 12...

Confused? Perhaps, but such a misstep could prove costly with the wrong person...

--

@Xune, oop!

Lisle shrugs, She must be around here somewhere... She was wearing black velvet mask. You should be able to find her, grand huntress, if your skill is great!

Xune started to peer around for a black velvet mask, but needed higher ground. She lept onto the table (keeping her paws mostly out of the bean dip) and pulled herself up into the chandelier...

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

...but one of the crystal refractors struck her directly in the open eyeball, and tears streamed down her face behind the mask.

The half-elf shifts uncomfortably, The Duchess gifted me the position at the Mother of Tears. I guess I somehow caught her attention... I have no idea how I got so... lucky. If I did not attend, she would be furious. She especially expects it of her circle of advisors...

"I see. Such a thing, to catch one's attention, can be a blessing or a curse. And sometimes both."

Pausing, Aldous pockets the earrings and frowns, and idea occurring to him that seems may not be worth the risk. Thankfully, his mask hides his hesitation. "Someone caught my attention recently. A slender human woman, of olive complexion and black of hair, by the name of Radaga. I understand she is here, and knows many of the Duchess's court. Of course, with the crowd and masks and gowns, I cannot find her. Do you know her? Perhaps you can point her out?"

A deception of course, and Aldous feels bad carrying it out on such a seemingly decent person. But it was a deception that placed both Radaga and Aldous in little trouble, and would be difficult to disprove. Aldous peers through his mask, intent, trying to read the Father's gestures and voice as he replies.

Deception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
insight: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Ah, the half-elf nods, I know her, she used to come by the Mother of Tears and have discussions with me. I am afraid that you have missed her. She arrived unusually early to the ball this evening, and left unusually early, as well.

Almost as an afterthought he adds, Come to think of it, she did not have her creepy hand with her either... Of course, if you know her, I am sure you know all about that thing!

"Oh, I don't know her well," Aldous stammers, looking to the ground and then to the dancers nearby.. "I'm shy, and only seen her from afar. I admit I'd hoped to make my feelings known this evening, but... a creepy hand? I don't know about this! Maybe I should rethink my affection? What is this hand?"

He smiles, You won't last long here that way... An undead hand, perhaps a familiar? Often she uses it to hold her champagne flute or hold her fan. She has a lot of affection for it... I wonder where it was... or where she went?

Garrett looks over the masked room and nods his head to the music as he watches the dancers before saying, "There are some very fanciful masks. Do you happen to remember which mask Ragda wore when she approached you earlier?"

Lady Olivia smiles, a weak attempt at looking interested in this conversation, A velvet mask, I think... like a domino, perhaps? Now if you will excuse me...

"Oh... oh my," Aldous says, letting his voice drop as if crestfallen. I am afraid I may not be a good match for Radaga."[/b] The boy fumbles through a little more conversation, allowing it to die off awkwardly, and takes his leave. "Thank you, Father. Some times we see what we want to see, not what is in front of us. It has been a pleasure, and I appreciate your assistance."

Aldous clutches the earrings in his pocket and makes his way around the room, whispering to the others what he has discovered.

Guard your steps well, young man, the half-elf says with a genuine smile.

Garrett nods and smiles at her before backing away and looking to see who else he might be able to speak to.

A man wearing a zombie wooly mammoth mask approaches Garrett, Pardon me. I am your necroserver, Basil. We must always dismember to party on a full stomach. Would you like some hors d'oeuvers? Of corpse you would!

Garrett smiles at the man and replies with, "That is a mammoth undertaking you have there, sir. But I am woolly sure that they taste delicious."

I am guessing he looks like a party goer. Does that appear to be the case or does he seem to actually be part of the wait staff?

He actually looks as if he is dressed like one of the staff, perhaps with some kind of higher ranking servant...

Capital, sir! the mammoth-masked servant exclaims, Oh, of that, I have no doubt, sir!

The platter he presents has a variety of treats and announces each as he presents them:

Corpse flower nectar tarts, sir? Or perhaps a Bearded devil? Bearded level looks like crispy shrimp heads with a little mold around the 'chin' of the shrimp...

We also have Stone rolls... large croutons ... and carrot sticks, rat fingers... deep-fried rat legs

The man goes on to rattle off a few more little appetizers...

About this time, any folks that have disengaged from their encounters are in the area...

So the rule about not reaching over food. Do we understand that to mean we can grab from the edge. Or even then do we need to try and get it from the sides?

Good catch, the bearded devils and corpse flower tarts are reachable without reaching over food... The rest are tricky...

Garrett chooses one of the bearded devils and is careful to take it without reaching over anything before saying, "This looks devilishly delicious. Thank you, good sir." Garret will sample the hors d'oeuvers.

Of corpse, sir... Oh, the Duchess, the servant shuffles off, humming a tune, Thriller, thriller night...

--

The Duchess emerges from the crowd, Thank you all for attending this evening... I especially would like to commend our dancers this evening!

With a gesture, several servants step forward and offer intricate folding fans to pairs of dancers that stood out, including Zhang and his tabaxi dance partner.

The fan can be used to grant advantage on one Dexterity check. Zhang can decide if he would like to keep it or give it to someone else.

As you leave the hall, you are free to wander the city... There are three places of interest.

Legacy Library at the Jalabert Museum
Mother of Tears Cathedral
Moth Orchid Tea House

Where would you like to go?

"Radaga cares not for Madame Savant." the tabaxi spoke authoritatively, ruling out the library.

Once they are gathered Garrett says, "Ragda mentioned going to the Moth Orchid today, even though she was supposed to go tomorrow. We might find her there, or a hint to where she really is."

I was talking to someone about it, but suddenly she disappeared." Yunjiang shrugs. "Maybe I broke one or several of these stupid rules. At least, the dance got me that." He shows everyone the decorated fan. "I don't think it goes with my outfit. Do any of you want it?"

Aldous pulls at his mask, uncomfortable, and looks back towards the hall and what was surely the strangest social engagement of the young man's life. "I spoke with the priest of the Mother of Tears Cathedral and he didn't mention Radaga frequenting the Cathedral nor expect her there. Let's go to the Moth Orchid as Garrett suggests."

Pulling the earrings Aldous found on the floor from his pocket, he holds them out for the others to see. "Also, I found these. Not sure if they belonged to Radaga or not, but she was apparently at the ball earlier tonight."

@Aldous, actually, he said that he used to often get visits from her, but was starting to get uncomfortable with the probing questions that she was starting to ask...

"I heard she was here earlier as well, apparently in a velvet mask. Although I am not sure if she kept the mask after she left he party." Garrett chimes in as he turns to head to the orchid.

Oops... I keep forgetting, myself!

Lady Araignee catches herself, I mean... a musician... You must be practiced to be so bold...

--

The woman in the jellyfish mask accepts the proffered fan, looking down at the halfling, You are not very good at this.

"Music, like life, favors the bold. Wouldn't you agree? After all, I sense you have an agenda here as well as maintaining social norms?"

Wouldn't you like to know? If you want more, perhaps you will play a game with me? she says with a coy smile, holding up the dice to Einhard.

Assuming you play dice with her...

Einhard plays dice for a while, and in that time, find that Lady Stoermer is a performer, a vibrant spectacle at the Red Widow Theater. During the games, you pull from her that though she often chats with Radaga, but this night, the scholar didn't seem to recognize Lady Stoermer behind her mask, and even stranger, seemed to be arguing with herself almost seeming to be struggling to control her own movements... The last thing she remembers, just before Radaga composed herself, Lady Stoermer swears she saw the woman's eyes flash red and then she left the floor, disappearing into the crowd...

Einhard thanks the Lady for the games, and then excuses himself when it appears that his luck has run out at the table. "It appears Lady Luck is advising to find other diversions for the night. Perhaps there's something here that may still offer inspiration," he says, getting up and offering a brief flourish before moving on.

@Party - who do we need to talk to next?

I was thinking scene change to Tea House was coming.

We finished the night already. We are going to an Orchird.

Sorry, got sidetracked with work!

Port-a-Lucine lies along the Sea of Sighs and encompasses the Pernault and Lucine Bays. A heavy fog roils beyond the city docks and drifts through the business and residential districts, reflecting the light of the moon.

Despite the hour, people are still bustling throughout the evening. The wind blows in off the water, bringing with it the scent of salt air barely covering the foulness hanging in the atmosphere...

You find the Moth Orchid Tea House among many other boutiques in an elegant and exclusive section of the Port-à-Lucine business district. Small cafe tables line the sidewalk in front of the shop’s large picture window, and a bell chimes over the door as you enter.

The tea house seems bigger on the inside than its exterior would indicate, extending a good 60 feet deep and 20 feet across, much of which is taken up by small tables, chairs, and a long counter where customers place their orders. At the far end of the counter hangs a dark velvet curtain, similar in color to the sapphire of the painted walls.

Magical wall sconces shed bright light throughout the front room. An earthy scent is prevalent from various tea canisters and the creaking wooden floorboards underfoot.

The shop's proprietor calls out, I'll be with you in a second!

Xune's nose twitched (under the mask she was still wearing for some reason). There was a nip of something funny in the old tea musk, and a second was about to long fo-CHOO! the mauled-black displacer beast tentacle undulating at her side from the energetic burst.

Garret begins circling the room. He stops to look at various decorations while searching for any sign that Raghda may have been here this evening.

As Garrett looks about, he does not see anything of any note that might tell him that Radaga has been here recently, but seeing the proprietor giving a tea reading to a customer gives the halfling that if anyone would know the comings and goings it would likely be her...

The woman finishes her reading and her customer nods, apparently happy and slides a couple of silver coins. The dark skinned woman stands and moves in your direction after cleaning up, What can Esemir do for you today? A reading of your future, perhaps?

"Maybe something to mask the scent of the brine. That's overpowering even after you enter... maybe something more piney?" inquires Einhard, feigning interest.

Aldous walks along the cobbled streets pulling his cloak's cowl over his nose and mouth to block the scent of rot that lay upon the city between gusts of salty air.

The crowded tea house is a welcome site, and Brogol, a teatotaler, slides up to the bar next to Einhard. "I'd like something with berries if you have it. Blackberries, elderberries... A reading would be welcome as well."

"Yes. I must know the future." Xune decides, stepping forward.

Garrett shrugs and moves to stand next to Xune. "I would love to hear my future as well."

The woman gathers you all together leading you to the back area behind the curtains and sits you at a private booth, Then, let us see what you all have in store...

1d10 ⇒ 10 1d10 ⇒ 7 1d12 ⇒ 9

I see... you have left the safety of your home... in search of a solution to a problem that plagues it... the woman swirls the tea leaves in the intricate tea cup.

She stops and taps the table lightly, as if signifying payment to continue.

Intelligence: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Noticing the strategy, Yunjiang scratches his pocket for some coins. He puts several silver pieces on the table.

"Of course, we're interested in what you have to say."

Nature: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Xune didn't understand why the dark-haired woman was smearing poison ivy all over the place, and opted to keep her distance.