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Chapter 12 - Ignoble Pursuits
31 Plays4 months ago
If you're having trouble getting the information you need from your soup, you could consider talking to the soup's servant and inventing a new type of soup poker to get the information you need... are we still talking about soup?
Meet the cast:
Dungeon Master – Zach Meikle (IG: @zachabee)
Clay Campbell – Prima Zhao (IG: @primbdraws)
Faunalyn Vaydark – Shannon Meikle (IG: @sharsharbinks)
Glimki Treefellow – Jordan Johnsen (IG: @jordan_johnsen)
Editing by Zach Meikle
Follow the show:
Instagram: @bard_soup
TikTok: @bard_soup
Music & Ambience
Music: Beyond the Horizon by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music: Violin Concerto in A minor - 1. Movement - BWV 1041 - Allegro - Bach - Arranged by GregoryQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Suite Bergamasque - II. Menuet - Arranged for Strings - Debussy - Arranged by GregoryQuendel from Pixabay
Music: The Seasons / 08 - August - Harvest (Strings) - Tchaikovsky - Arranged by GregoryQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Introduction and Rondo, Op. 2, No. 2 - Dionisio Aguado - Arranged by GregoryQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Impromptu, Op 142, No. 2 - D 935 - Schubert - Arranged for Strings by GregoryQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Wanderer - 2. Movement, D 760 - Schubert - Arranged for Strings by GregorQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Two Preludes, Op.39 - Beethoven - Arranged for Strings by GregorQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Untold Stories by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Ambience: Woodland Campsite by Tim Roven (www.tabletopaudio.com)
Music: Ragtime - Prosit (1907) - Otto Fessler - Arranged for Strings by GregorQuendel from Pixabay
Music: Le Baguette by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music: Ignition by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Music: Protean Fields by Tim Roven (www.tabletopaudio.com)
Sound Effect: Raven solo Call (Horror and Night) by Aman Kumar from Pixabay
Sound Effect: HORSE by UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay
Additional sounds provided by Pixabay
Recommended
Transcript
The Smuggling Mission
00:00:03
Speaker
Now, let's see, where were we? You know, I was beginning to wonder that myself. It seemed like things were really picking up steam for a minute there, then you suddenly pivoted into a bunch of background information, then you got really quiet for like, a really long time. Quiet you.
00:00:24
Speaker
When we last left our heroes, they were negotiating with the Eyes of Aridinine, where they received several pieces of information about some of the guests at the upcoming Praelmy Ball. In exchange, they agreed to smuggle the ratman Jimmy Naubones into the ball so he could gather some information of his own.
Sewer Escape and Plague
00:00:46
Speaker
After concluding their business, the parties struggled to navigate their way out of the sewers and suddenly found themselves caught up in a tidal wave of wastewater that both drenched them and infected Phonolin with sewer plague. They eventually made their way back up to the surface and claimed Gleamkey left Phonolin to rest.
00:01:11
Speaker
They took turns getting fitted by the tailor Madame Folvomol, and while this was happening, Glimke slipped out and returned to Fusam Bistan's, err, medical clinic. While there, Glimke was able to acquire medicine for Faunaland as well as several doses of the narcotic blackleaf. The medicine was applied, and Faunaland soon began to feel better.
00:01:37
Speaker
Crisis averted, the party spent the remainder of the next two days getting prepared for the ball. Measurements were taken. Outfits were made. Baths were taken. Thank goodness. And eventually, they were at last ready to attend the Brahomy Ball.
Arriving at the Ball
00:01:53
Speaker
The party climbed aboard a carriage piloted by the gnomish driver, Carlston Faddlefiddle, who took them deep into the wooded prailemy estate. Upon their arrival, Clay and Grimke were escorted to the servant's wing, where they got introduced to the other servants of the nobility by a gnome named Cilantro.
00:02:12
Speaker
Meanwhile, Faunalyn began to navigate the perils of high society. She received a dance card from Lady Bach Reprelme and was introduced to the age-obsessed Count Telendyavrump. More guests began to arrive, and Faunalyn attempted to strike up a conversation with Prince Elling Balfirth, but suddenly found herself interrupted by a man she seemed to recognize and possibly fear.
Faunalyn's Suspicion
00:02:40
Speaker
nobleman, Lord Hamlet Pilton. You already said all that. Yes, Clive, but you were just complaining that we'd lost the thread.
00:02:52
Speaker
Let's continue.
00:03:39
Speaker
It's super time!
00:03:44
Speaker
Hey kids, and welcome back to Bard Soup High! I hope you had a good summer, and I hope you're ready to do some good old-fashioned learning. and I'm your teacher slash dungeon master, Zach Meekle, and of course, I've got my three favorite students here, Prima Jao, who are you, and what did you do during summer vacation? My name's Prima, I play Clay Campbell, and over my summer vacation I went to Iceland.
00:04:09
Speaker
Fantastic. Now, Jordan, I see you chewing gum in the corner, and unless you got enough to share, you're going to have to spit that out in my hand, young man. No more homework. Oh, you keep that up. You're going to get extra homework, young man. Darn. Now, who are you and what did you do over your summer break?
School Anecdotes
00:04:26
Speaker
I'm Jordan. I play glimkey tree fellow, and what did I do during the summer break? I rode a bike with no handlebars.
00:04:35
Speaker
Oh, sheesh. Look Ma, no hands. And now young woman in the corner, I see you texting on that phone and I'm going to eat it. If you don't start shaping up, you're not going to get into a good college. If you're always on that damn phone, Shannon, who are you and get me out of this bit. Hi, I'm Shannon and I play Faunal and Vedark. And I heard that if nowadays if teachers threatened to take kids phones, that the kids will threaten to sue them for like property.
00:05:04
Speaker
stealing, I guess. And then the teachers can't take their phones because you can't take people's property. How to bring back the strap. I think we should bring back rulers, yeah but the punishing kind. That's a joke. I think kids should be allowed to be on their phones, actually.
00:05:22
Speaker
And that's it, we're back. It's bar soup, baby. We're back from summer vacation. We're fresh, we're hot. It's 30 degrees Celsius, and I don't have AC. I'm a pool, a puddle, a little sweat boy, and that's okay.
Ballroom Tensions
00:05:36
Speaker
Let's dive in.
00:05:39
Speaker
We rejoin our hero, Singular, in the ballroom of Praelmy Manor, where one Faunalyn Vedark has begun the evening's festivities, and after crossing the ballroom to interact with, greet, inquire, probe, mentally,
00:06:02
Speaker
print-selling mouth-earth, you found yourself interrupted by this middle-aged man with kind of a messed up face, not in like a, like it's been melted off, but it's just like, it looks mean. He's got a mean face. And he's got just this this powdery wig on, and you of course recognize him as Lord Hamlet Pilton. He is a individual you are familiar with, even if our audience is not.
00:06:32
Speaker
and he holds a goblet or a wine glass, one in each hand, and he extends one of them to you and says, it's been too long, Lady Vedark. Lord Pilting, what a delightful surprise to see you here. I had no idea that you were in town. Ah, yes, I've been here for a few weeks at least. Well, you should have sought me out sooner.
00:06:55
Speaker
Ah, everything in due course, of course. It seems like fate has brought us together. Or, perhaps, the pale mace. Ah, hound rule. Well, it is so delightful to see you, and if you'll excuse me, I actually must away to powder my nose because I just caught a glimpse of myself in that glass and I'm... Humiliatingly shiny. And we have enough humiliation at this party. Lord Xerxes.
00:07:21
Speaker
He is like halfway across the ballroom. So he's in his own little conversation, like turns his head and says, yeah. I do that thing where I'm like, ha ha ha ha. And I turn and there's no one there. And I go, anyway. And I flounce off without another word or a glance. Okay. You do not accept his offering. Nope. I'm going to hail a nearby servant and I'm going to say, fetch me my ladies made immediately. Thank you. Um, and I'm going to flounce over to who is a, I'm looking at the party guests. Uh, I'm playing a hunch and I'm going to go talk to Lord Oran Rothbard.
00:07:58
Speaker
Okay, as you are crossing the floor, Ewing Mouthfirth looks a tad confused as you walk away. You had just begun a conversation with him, and then it was crashed by Lord Pilton.
00:08:13
Speaker
And you just kind of pull the emergency eject lever and immediately bail from the conversation. He's like, we'll talk later then. And as you are crossing the floor, a servant with a tray approaches you and says, spiced quail egg, ma'am.
00:08:30
Speaker
ah Okay, is I'll try i try a quail- I'll pop a quail egg on my way over to Rothbard. That's pretty good. Oh my god, oh my god. Um, you? With the- with the eggs? Where is the ceviche? Yeah, the ceviche will be served with the dinner cost, mum.
00:08:49
Speaker
Of course, that's so amateurish. Yes, of course. Obviously, i think it's going to be an appetizer. That's stupid, stupid fondant. Get your shit together. him I'm going to approach Lord Rothbard. What color does your dress become in this moment? The putrid salmon of humiliation. Very good.
00:09:07
Speaker
Nice. So, you pop a quail egg, cross the floor, and approach Ulbrin Rothbard and Lady Isle Crowin. You previously met them at a ball at Humiliation House. If you recall, which I know you do, Ulbrin is this young half-elf man with kind of messy brown hair, and unlike many half-elves, he's a little thicker, a little stockier, little just like a little more built up. He's pretty big for a half-elf.
00:09:35
Speaker
And Lady Crowin is a young human woman. She's got blonde hair and a full tan. Just very tan, like almost like so tan that you're like, that can't be healthy. Like that's, that's, maybe it's fine now, but in 20 years that's gonna be a problem.
00:09:50
Speaker
He is wearing this tight-fitting black doublet with a ah frilly white ruff like the old timey collar around his neck. And she is wearing this deep purple gown with matching eyeshadow and a wig that's embroidered with these purple flowers. And you approach, give me an inside check as you do so.
Observations and Rumors
00:10:10
Speaker
How exciting. That is a 15.
00:10:15
Speaker
You walk up and as you're approaching, you take one look at them and they are so clearly flirting with each other. like He says something and she laughs and puts her arm on his her hand on his arm and they are like very clearly in their own little world. And then you enter it.
00:10:35
Speaker
Phonolin sees that, clocks it, and like commands her body to turn around and abort because that's not something she wants to walk into, but she's like, like the momentum's carrying her forward. So she like, against her will, hustles up to them. Well, well, well. If it isn't Lady Crow and in Lord Rothbard, I've heard such silly and charming things about the pair of you from our mutual friends Bipap and Xerxes.
00:11:05
Speaker
There is a uncomfortable silence as they turn to face you. You see two things. Lord Rothbard turns to look at you and you see that he is wearing, it appears to be makeup, specifically concealer, but you see that it has not been applied very well and there is a heavy bruise around one of his eyes.
00:11:31
Speaker
Lady Crawlin looks at you and if looks could kill, you would have failed to escape the second attempt on your life being the look she is throwing at you. That was clunky, but we'll stick with it. I liked it. She looks at you and she is unhappy that you are here. She is clearly visibly irritated and he says, Lady Farlin, how good to see you again.
00:11:57
Speaker
Again, I'm sorry, I don't recall, i i I recall, I'm nagging him. I can't say recall our meeting. Well, let's make more of an impression on each other this time. And Lady Grawin, I've heard such interesting things about you and I know you've heard such interesting things about me. I thought, let's put the chit chat to rest and just get to know each other one on one. You know, there's so many rumors flying about and it can be so irritating. Much simpler and more entertaining to get to know each other Quite right. It's perhaps a good opportunity to clear the air, but I'm afraid I must take some air. And besides, Three's a crowd. And she walks off towards the main door as she does.
00:12:44
Speaker
Rothbard's like, well, I'll see you later then. And the door, at the rimer, there's these stairs that lead up out of the mansion. The door swings open and the Irococra butler says, now presenting Lady Elektra Voon of Sunfall and Sir Kletir Kaldar. Together?
00:13:06
Speaker
And you watch as Electra Voon wearing a fancy version of her standard red gown enters the room. If you recall, she's got dark skin and these mismatched eyes and a powdered wig that rivals your own. And like a step behind her is the dragonborn knight, Cladier Kaldar, who has this simple but fine quality black tunic with this black tricorner hat, complete with a white peacock feather sticking out of it.
00:13:35
Speaker
Ooh, like Will in Pirates of the Caribbean. Like Will in Pirates of the Caribbean. Nice. I hate that hat. She looks around and you see that she looks confident. She's got like a small smile on her face. And as she is scanning the room for a brief second, the look on her face sours.
00:14:03
Speaker
Would you make a, I'll call it another insight roll. Oh, that's a 25.
00:14:11
Speaker
The second she locks eyes on Prince Elling Malphurth, her demeanor immediately shifts. There is clearly anger in her eyes that goes, it goes deep. If Ayl Krawan was trying to kill you with her look,
00:14:26
Speaker
Electra Voon would blow up this entire mansion. Oh my god. Got those laser beam eyes. But as soon as the expression crosses her face, it immediately passes. She continues her her scan of the room and proceeds down the stairs and Cleedera Kaldar very stiffly walking behind her and they enter the fray. Ulrin turns to you and says,
00:14:46
Speaker
Now, you must remember me, of course, because we met at the House Humiliation Ball and we were in that group circle with Xerxes and Bip and Bap and Lady Krallwyn, of course, and you remember me, right? Well, do you know... do you know what happened that night? No. Or the next night. Well, there was an attempt on my life with the Drifting Terrises. So, I'm sorry, the... the preceding days are a bit foggy to me. You might have a concussion.
00:15:13
Speaker
might have had, or perhaps perhaps the party was not as fun for me as it was for you. Well, I had a very nice time. Yes, I suppose that might have been due to the presence of Lady c Crowin. I had heard that you two were involved, and actually I hadn't heard that you were involved. I had heard that Lady Crowin was um so enamored by you that it made her look stupid, and it's nice to know that not all rumours are false. Huh?
00:15:37
Speaker
ah Oh, the way she looks at you is just so charming. I can't wait to feel that way again, you know. Yes. We are just friends. Yes, of course. Oh, I'm sorry. I hope you didn't think I was implying anything else. ah The purest love of good friendship between two single eligible bachelors and bachelors.
00:16:01
Speaker
Smash cut to the servant's lounge. Clay and Glimpy, you had just finished your conversation with the gnome stylist, Cilantro, who was kind of giving you the rundown of everybody in the room. And as you are preparing to start mingling, start talking to people, I guess I want to know, first off, are you two sticking together? Splitting up, div divide and conquer?
00:16:26
Speaker
Or what? Clay, what do you think? Should we... I think we'll cover more ground if we split up. Yeah, yeah. I guess we could try talking to different people. Okay, who do you got on your list? I guess we should probably focus on... Well, I don't know. Maybe that's a mystery. The Prail Me servants. We could probably talk to them. Alright, which one do you want? Do you want the human gardener or the halfling?
00:16:54
Speaker
I guess you you should take the gardener. Oh, yes, because we have some true coffee.
00:17:02
Speaker
Okay, yeah, that's let's do that. So, Glimke, you are approaching Xander Lorn. Xander Lorn. He is a human man. He seems to be in his early 20s, and he, of course, was identified to you as a gardener. You get the sense that he is off duty, given the fact that, A, it's nighttime, B, there's a party going on,
00:17:23
Speaker
gardeners aren't typically needed to help out with parties. So he's just hanging out.
Conversations and Discoveries
00:17:27
Speaker
Yep. Clay, you go and approach Benin whale fruit, who is a female halfling in her thirties. And she's wearing a floral romper. Cute.
00:17:39
Speaker
Yeah, it's very very bright and summery. And we will start with Glimky. You approach approach the gardener who is just standing there. He's chatting with the little goblin, Gault.
00:17:54
Speaker
Oh, he's with Gault, eh? Okay, okay, okay. Gault from Count Vrump? What the hell? Gobbling, okay. Yeah, Gloopy's gonna saunter over and he's gonna give Xander, he's gonna like walk like adjacent to the duo until I can like get into his eye line and then I'm gonna give him one of like these, like I recognize him, uh, you know, until he notices me and makes eye contact and it'd be Xander, Xander Lorne, right? Yeah.
00:18:23
Speaker
yeah I'm sorry sir, but I'm afraid I don't quite have your name. Oh no, don't don't don't worry. my I'm Glinky Treefellow. I've heard a lot of good things. I've actually been chatting up some of these other servants with a little bit of a problem. They've all been pointing me in your direction. Gardiner. Gardiner, right? Gardiner? Gardiner? Yes. Okay, thank goodness. Sorry Galt, I don't don't mean to interrupt, but ah this is a very pressing matter.
00:18:52
Speaker
Hey, it's quite all right. Uh, so I, you know, people have been telling me you're, uh, you're the, the expert around these parts. Have any, uh, experience with Xaelias? Hmm. The most difficult give off fruits or perhaps flowers. That's what I'm saying. Are you having difficulty with yours?
00:19:13
Speaker
Yes. you know i've been I'm recently under the employ of a misfallen vedarch and I've essentially adopted some plants and garden. You know the shtick, but you know I'm trying to pick up the pick up the pieces of ah of ah of a puzzle that I have no image or reference to. So I'm trying to just piece this together and having a little bit of trouble with these. Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk me through it. Yeah, i I've given them too much sun. Am I giving them too too much shade? Water? Or should I fertilize? Give me a little bit. Well, you see, you need to strike a delicate bounds of shade and sun and rain and drought. But can I tell you, I had some issues with the azaleas of my own over years back.
00:20:00
Speaker
and It turns out our dear master of horse, and he gestures over at Benin, she was letting the horses out near the azalea bushes and they were eating them. It turns out horses have quite the affinity for azaleas. Well, that's quite a predicament. I guess one that I'm happy to avoid. I don't have any large animals eating them, but they still seem to be struggling. Are you sure?
00:20:27
Speaker
Well, yeah, now that you mention it, it's a pretty short fence because they're not a tall family. So I wouldn't, I guess I could imagine some kind of animal jumping over, but it just, it doesn't look like it. um How long have you been under the employee of Hell's Pralemate? You obviously had a long career in gardening.
00:20:47
Speaker
Uh, about three years now. Thirty years? Oh, three, three. How old do you think I am? I'm only twenty-four. Okay, sorry. It's really hard to tell. I, I know. I'm old for my years. I think maybe it's just, you know, the the old soul. I think we have that in common, you and I. Uh, yeah, sure. I'm eighty-four. Wow. Yikes. Yeah, not a day over seven day, they tell me.
00:21:16
Speaker
Wow. You can just give it to me. Damn. I say three years, three years. Wow. Okay. how how's How's that been? right It's been good. I get paid well and no, no complaints there. I haven't quite earned a promotion yet haven't gone to go to the southlands but one day i'm sure you know well you know here's hoping for for the best for you thank you i'm new to this whole this whole scene i'm starting trying to get a sense for which houses are are the best or or what to aspire to when choosing to work under someone's employ do forgive me for being blunt but have you heard anything about the vedarks or
00:22:03
Speaker
Excuse me? Can you hug us about me so that you can social climb? Oh, you're fired. You're done. I'm afraid I don't know much about your employer. We aren't permitted to leave the ground, so our interactions with the outside world are limited. At best, you see, only Tic is allowed to venture back into the city proper for supplies and what happened I suppose the carriage drivers but that means is all you must have crossed paths at parties or get-togethers of these kind you know servants talk I I heard and you know correct me if I'm wrong their last servant died you don't say that's uh wow well
00:22:53
Speaker
No one ever dies here at House Pearlme. Either you get fired or you get promoted. By the way, we don't see you again, but you don't die, so that's something. That is something. You've lasted there quite quite a long time. You see people come and go? If someone's too good at their job, they get sent to the Jeweled Lake, and if they are no good at their job, they get sent packing. So you're skirting right under the line here.
00:23:21
Speaker
uh you never never do more than to ask of me and never do less and it's been working out these last three years pretty good i thought it was a close thing with the azaleaish but uh i think it's all right now we're in a nice holding pattern well i guess i gotta figure out my azalea problem or you know Hey, hi. Do they do it like that in the main city? I truly, I don't know. Well, stay safe, friend. Yes. ah well one One more thing. I mean, you know, I'm trying to get to know people. You obviously know a few of the people here. Any other people who are ah good chatterboxes like to mingle, make make new friends? um What I find is the carriage drivers, they tend to keep to themselves and they
00:24:07
Speaker
they They can talk. They hear things. you know they Often they're driving the carriages for the the nobles and they a they talk. you know almost They think the carriages are safe, but there's always a set of ears listening. They usually, during these sorts of things, they gamble out in the parkade. That might be a spot for you to to check out if you're looking for something a little more riveting than what this all 24 bag of bones has to offer.
00:24:36
Speaker
our You're young at heart. I can tell. Okay? Very old. Okay. Well, Sandra, thanks for the the advice there. I'll keep pushing through with these zaleas here.
00:24:47
Speaker
Yeah, all the best to you. Hopefully one day you'll get sent off to the, ah was it? The Southern? Hey, the prayer we launched to the south at Jude Lake. Well, could be a nice trip down there. All the best to you. Thank you. And y' also are you. We will cut over to Clay, who's approached Benin Whalefruit. She's this halfling woman, as I mentioned, she's kind of keeping to herself just in the corner, not talking to anybody at the moment. As you are approaching, the door into this room opens up and you see a small cobalt, which is a type of dragon person. They're what halfling is to human. Cobalt is to dragonborn. They're just small dragon folk.
00:25:29
Speaker
They're not common. I don't know if you've really seen one before, maybe a handful in your entire life. At first glance, you see she is blue and then you kind of squint and you notice that it seems like her scales have been painted blue and there's like a bit of red underneath. That seems to be like the base color, but for whatever reason, she has painted her scales blue.
00:25:51
Speaker
and she quietly slinks into the room moving very quickly and goes off by herself to there's like a little snack table and grabs some meats and starts chomping down on them. and You clock that and then continue on and you approach Benin Wilford. What do you do?
00:26:09
Speaker
One question about the cobalt first. Do dragonborn and cobalt's like coloring follow the same rule as like dragons? Whereas the colored ones are evil kind of? Less so, I'd say. Less so. I'd say there is a little more individuality at play. Okay. ah Well, I guess ah Clay's got her eyes out on the um the dragon person. Sure. I will say that kobolds often default into a similar role as goblins do, where they often work in surface of a more powerful being, often a dragon. They're known for being intelligent and for being
00:26:55
Speaker
tricky to to fight. They can often be very tricky and set up some very intricate layers. They're not known for being brave. They're often known for being cowardly and submitting to a more powerful figure. But yeah, you keep your eye on her as you as you cross the room and she seems to be keeping to herself for the time being. Okay. ah Well, I guess I'm approaching Benin first. Okay.
00:27:20
Speaker
I guess I just go up to her, like, hi. ah So you work for the host, is that right? Oi, you've been told well. Benin, well through, that's your service. And who might you be? Nice to meet you. I'm ah Flora Fauna. I'm a and new new servant for Lady Faunalim Vedark, who's staying with the Bertolds. How nice. Are you enjoying your time? It's my first time at one of these, you know, balls, big fancy parties. You know, I was just wondering,
00:27:53
Speaker
do Do the Pale Meets hold a lot of events like this? Have you been to a lot of events like this? They host their fair share, I suppose. It's not not say anything out of the order for their...
00:28:06
Speaker
those of their stature. This is relatively small, I'd say, by their standards. Seems like most folks aren't in the mood for celebrating. I've heard the princess is missing, which is... Yeah. Mighty sad news, but... It's crazy. Yeah, it is. We live in crazy type. I guess life kind of just seems like it goes on, even though such a big thing has happened. Aye, aye. And she raises her glass and then takes a sip.
00:28:34
Speaker
Yeah, you heard anything about, you know, what might have happened. Like how, how crazy is it that the princess got kidnapped? Aye, that's crazy. You want to live in a world where princesses get kidnapped?
Hints of Danger
00:28:46
Speaker
Well, you got your wish and what a terrible wish that would be. Yet that is what we find ourselves dealing with on this day, I suppose. I've heard she ran away from home, but I don't know. Why would a princess leave such a nice home as a castle?
00:29:02
Speaker
Hmm. Wasn't she actually, I don't know. I'm not used to, to, you know, mingling with all these rich types. How long have you been working for this house? Oh, about two years now. Two years. Yeah. How's that been? Is it a dangerous job? Cause you know, the last servant but that worked for the birth holes, I think she was murdered.
00:29:28
Speaker
Oh, look, murder. That's terrible. Well, I'd say it's safe here. Nobody ever leaves Prelmy Manor by means of a hearse, but you got to keep your wits about you. And as she's saying this, you can sense she's kind of maybe closing off of a bit if you would like to roll an insight check. Yeah, I'd like to roll an insight check.
00:29:55
Speaker
twenty one ah right yeah That's a very good roll. I will say with a 21, you are very aware that she is some things are coming to mind, and you see that she starts sort of fiddling with the end of her romper, playing with the fabric, and she clearly is agitated.
00:30:19
Speaker
Didn't mean to bring up some kind of gruesome topics at this party. No, it's so it's nothing gruesome. It's just, uh, well, the owl bears are ah dangerous. And oh can you keep a secret? Yes, of course. Well, they, uh.
00:30:37
Speaker
Not often, mind, but on events like days like today, they often send one or two of the horses out into the woods for the bears to feast on, which is... I understand you want to ensure they don't get... they don't come to the mansion looking for for all those yummy vittles that they're eating down there in the dining hall, biting on any of the guests, but you grow attached, you know? You spend a lot of time training the horses and making sure that they're well behaved, and then...
00:31:06
Speaker
You have to let him go. And it just you don't really get any say in the matter. And that's tough. And then damn. Well, to put. And this is nothing. This this this is nothing. It's. There's there's a maze to the rear of the mansion, and I think it's haunted. Oh.
00:31:29
Speaker
There's a tower and i the other night I was walking home from the stable or back to my room here in the mansion from the stable and I looked up and I saw a shape that looked like a person just looking down at me and could have sworn their eyes were burning but i it was probably nothing, probably just too much work and not enough nights like tonight.
00:31:54
Speaker
No, I understand. That must be really hard to lose your horses like that. ah how How often do they have to send horses off for the albars? Why do they even keep albars? I think it's a...
00:32:08
Speaker
well I mean, there's the thematics of it, of course, their symbol being the Owl Bear. And then on top of that, I think it might be one of those Dominion over nature-type beats where they exert their power and thus show power to the world by domesticating and taming such a fearsome creature as the Owl Bear. but And as she's about to start waxing philosophical, a servant approaches and she quickly quiets down, just buns up. And you notice the servant is in a very proper uniform. It's like this black and white, not quite a tuxedo, but you know the vibe, right? Just very proper, crisp servant's uniform. And the servant taps you on the shoulder and says, Excuse my mom, I've been sent to tell you that the Lady Faunal Invadoc requests your assistance in the Power Room.
00:32:54
Speaker
Oh, uh, of course. Yeah. I guess lead the way. Of course. And Benin says, Hey, well, it's a pleasure making your acquaintance mum and I don't know why I'm calling you mum. We're both servants after all, but I hope to see you again before the night is through and all the best to you. Thanks. Yes. I hope we get to talk again later. Hey, for sure. And you are led out of the servants lounge back through this winding network of hallways and staircases.
00:33:23
Speaker
and towards the ballroom. And as you are making this journey through the mansion, we will cut back to Faunalyn, who is talking with Ulrin Rothbard, of course, and he's still going, so ah oh well and then you feel a slight tap on your shoulder as one Electra Voon has approached you and says, ah, you made it after all. How nice.
00:33:53
Speaker
Lady Voon, in a moment. Now, Lord Rockstar. Okay, no, no, no, no, no, no. Give me a, I don't know, an intimidation check. That's a two. But I add some kind of number. That's a seven. Ooh.
00:34:13
Speaker
I see you're occupied, perhaps we will talk later,
00:34:24
Speaker
Heracocra, as I maybe haven't clearly stated, but his name is Tick, and I'm tired of dancing around it because I like the name. That's cute. Right? Thank you. Tick, the Heracocra says, now presenting Vidi, La Rasta Guimanche, and her companion, Kant Bozic. And as Voon is walking away, you hear her very
00:34:54
Speaker
Ah, maybe Larasta and her bugbear have arrived. How nice. And you look up the stairs and you see Lady Larasta Gamanch, who is this... Forgot she was a halfling. She is a halfling woman in her 20s. She's got plain features and brown hair. And towering next to her is a man. And you are very certain he is not a bugbear. I don't know if you've ever seen a bugbear, but he's not.
00:35:24
Speaker
What he is, is a shockingly hairy human man. Oh, just thick eyebrows and this bushy beard, and he is just a tangle of hair. And you see that she is, La Rasta that is, is wearing this yellow and gray dress with poofy shoulders and a matching silk burlette. And Kant Bozic is wearing these navy robes, complete with a gray stole over his shoulders. And they are walking down the stairs, hand in hand.
00:35:54
Speaker
Okay, well that's lovely. Lord Bardroth. Rothbard. Lord... Lord... Lord... Lord Rothbard. Yes. You were just telling me how you got that bruise under your eye. So many interruptions. ah So many interruptions, yes. I'm afraid I don't think I was, though. Oh. Oh, that's right. We were talking about something else. Anyway, I'm much curious. I'm very curious about the the bruise under your eye. Why don't you tell me the story? Give me a persuasion check.
00:36:30
Speaker
merely slipped getting out of the bathtub. Should have dried my feet better. But it's hard because you can't dry them while you're in the bathtub. Well, that's quite right. Yes. OK. Well, what do you think of the princess's disappearance? He becomes more serious. He stops going, ha ha ha, and goes, oh, my, my.
00:37:00
Speaker
wilds or in the streets of the Copper District finding. Whoever has taken the Dear Princess,
00:37:19
Speaker
My dear, there is something you breathe. And you look past your shoulder and you see Clay standing by. There's like this wall that's or this door that's painted like the exact color of the walls. Very hard to see. It blends in and Clay is just standing next to that, kind of just waving at you. They have been brought into the chamber. Okay. I nodded Clay to acknowledge that I've seen them. And I say to Lord Rothbard, if you were to go looking for the princess right now on the streets or wherever, where would you look?
00:37:49
Speaker
Well, I would probably search every nook and cranny of the copper district, perhaps the rabble have taken her for some nefarious purpose. Just like as a collective, like every poor person in the city? Who knows what they get up to. That's so true, I don't know, because I've never been poor. Neither have I. I want to insight check his demeanor when I'm asking where he thinks the princess would go. Go for it.
00:38:14
Speaker
19. He doesn't seem to have any strong, like he you get the sense that he is interested in the princess's disappearance because it is the talk of the town because it is a major political event that has happened. He doesn't seem overly interested. It seems like it is similar to talking about a war that's far off on another part of the world where it's like, that's a wild thing that's happening, but it doesn't really impact my life that much. You get that sort of idea
00:39:04
Speaker
about his demeanor regarding the Copper District tells you or implies to you that he's being intentionally obtuse. Lord Rothbard, surely someone as experienced as yourself has been down to the Copper District for a drink, a bit of revelry. I heard from a rather reliable source, our mutual friend, in fact, that your group is always down for a good time. The Copper District certainly has
00:39:39
Speaker
Really, not even once. You've never been to the Copper District. Never. Okay, well... Would you like to make an inside roll? I feel like I know he's lying, but yeah, I'll make an inside roll. Like, I feel like I don't even... That's another
00:40:25
Speaker
my dance card was filled by Lady Crowin, but perhaps I can spare a dance for you, Lady Vedoc. How lovely. Alright, later on in the night then. You ought to go check on Lady Kroll, and I hope I didn't upset her with my presence. I know she's prone to listening and believing unsavory things. Bit gullible, that one. Your words, not mine. And he sets for the door. Excuse me, I'm going to haul ass over to Clay. As you are approaching, which is now becoming my favorite line from this session, a servant nearly trips into you and says, and like Spicy, spicy, spicy, spicy salmon on a crostini? Yes, obviously. I scoop one up and I shove it in my mouth and keep walking. It is not spicy, spicy, spicy. It is smoked. I am dyslexic, but it's pretty good.
00:41:20
Speaker
and you cross the room and reach clay. Oh, floor of honor, you should try one of those. Do they have those in the servants' corners? It was good as hell. Not the point. The point is, bathroom. Now. And I'm going to haul ass into the powder room and expect that clay is following me. Okay, I'm like, keeping up with you.
00:41:38
Speaker
Okay, cool. Also, who was that you were talking with?
Conspiracy Theories
00:41:41
Speaker
That's- Okay, I have like a conspiracy- Oh, not now, in the bathroom. Okay. Zach, is there any barrier to us locking ourselves away in the powder room under the guise of fixing me up?
00:41:51
Speaker
There's no barrier, physical, moral, metaphorical. But as you enter the powder room, you see that... Is there a cue? There's not a cue. There is the Markianess Ren Poulart, who is a halfling woman. She is standing at the mirror and smoking a cigarette, just staring at herself intently. Lady Poulart, I, ah um... I don't know.
00:42:19
Speaker
Oh, you're right. Oh, just the smoking the cigarette. You've seen frazzled, what's wrong? Oh no, I'm just... It's all just ah so much fun, you know, who can... who can contain themselves with so much reverie. You know, they just brought out the smoked salmon crostinis, and they're delectable, but they're going like smoked salmon crostinis. They're just they're flying off the platter. Now I heard that they were spicy, spicy, spicy. Do you like spicy? I cannot stand it. It's very mild, in my opinion.
00:42:55
Speaker
I'm just going to stand there with Clay until she feels awkward enough to leave. So about 15 minutes later, she taps out the rest of her cigarette and says, not perhaps, I will find the spicy smoked to salmon. pa clean Yes, you're not going to follow up on that. And she walks up to me. She's obviously something's up.
00:43:17
Speaker
Uh, sometimes I just throw little freaks in the world, I don't know. She's just enjoying a cigarette. Missed connection, I guess. Could I? Yes. Do you have my nose powder? Yeah, I take it out. That's not cocaine! You smack it out of her hand. Okay, so a few things. I really wish you had my cocaine because I have black leaf. Yeah.
00:43:43
Speaker
Okay, maybe. Oh my god, we should drug him. Okay, so a guy that I blackmailed into oblivion is here. I mean, obviously the last letter he sent me
Exposing the Plot
00:43:51
Speaker
was something along the lines of like, ah I'm gonna freaking kill you, bitch. Oh, so he's here. And I'm not excited to see him. And I don't know what to do but then Lord Rothbard just lied about being in the copper district and he has a bruise on his face and I'm thinking he did violence in the copper district but I don't know how to press him on it without seeming insane. That's what I was wondering because you you mentioned before I think that who was it that saw like a large man around the clubhouse where my friends died? Who was it?
00:44:24
Speaker
Oh, it was the rat men. The rat men told us. Yeah. Do you think that person might be here tonight? I think it might be him. Listen, I think there might be some kind of ungodly menager sink that's five in French going on between Xerxes, Bip-Bap, this guy, and then Lady Crowin because they're all close and they're all except Lady Crowin who just sucks and says mean, hurtful things about me that are true regardless.
00:44:51
Speaker
I think they're all perhaps in on something and they're all like different branches of this conspiracy to get rid of the princess. But anyway, I can't even focus on that. My judgment is crazy because Lord Pilton is here and I don't want to be alone with him. Okay, you won't be alone. Can I stick with you? Like not without us looking weird, but I was going to propose that you knock out the bird man and you steal his clothes.
00:45:13
Speaker
But I don't look like a bird. But the Pao Mi has changed servants so often they wouldn't even know. Just really clearly not a bird person. Oh, but if the guy who murdered my friends is here, do you think they would recognize me? Oh. Oh, you want to, you want to, you want to, you are you saying, what are you saying?
00:45:32
Speaker
I don't know. I was just curious. I don't know. So theoretically, our best guess is, is that who might've killed your friend if he's here? He might be, Lord, why can't I remember his name? Bradford Rothbard. Rothbard. Lord Rothbard. Or I thought it might be Lord Elling Malphurth because he was there and he presumably ran through with his sword, Welfand moon derrick.
00:45:59
Speaker
Yeah, who are Rigg's colleagues. Okay, so you want to present yourself in front of them and see if they have any. We've got to use you as bait. I'm sorry, Clay, we've got to use you as bait. If they are here, they're the ones who killed my friends. I need to, you know, get revenge. Oh my gosh, here?
00:46:19
Speaker
Here? I'm not there. Oh god. What do you think of this? Number one, I'm going to pretend to have a runny nose and it's perfectly understandable for you to stand beside me and hand me tissues all night because that's what a servant would do. Or you can stand with me and smoke for me. Something menial. But the second thing we're going to do is I'm going to stand in front of both men and loudly announce that you are going to do something isolated in the garden in some one hour's time, and should either of them exit the ballroom and head to the garden, we might know that one of them is the one that's after you. Am I literally like the smartest person in the world? I honestly think I should be like running this city.
00:47:02
Speaker
i also heard some crazy rumors that there's a haunted maze in the garden here oh that sounds fun do you want to do that later no no focus we could lure the men to the oh oh it's perfect okay town okay
00:47:21
Speaker
Here's what we're gonna do. You're going to stay with me so that everybody gets a good look at you. I'm going to ah shoehorn subtly and elegantly as I shoehorn everything in front of the two gentlemen that we are going to check out the maze in some one hour's time after all the dancing.
00:47:37
Speaker
And then you are going to excuse yourself closer to that time, but don't tick your eyes off me, because Lord Hamlet is going to kill me. You're going to excuse yourself, make yourself hidden, and we will observe who sneaks after the garden. It's literally, it's perfect. Do you see any flaws? Okay, let's do that. It's a good plan, right? You can say it's a good plan. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm following, I'm following. Yeah, but is it a good plan? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's a good plan then.
00:48:04
Speaker
Yes, okay, so we're gonna do the plan what kind of plan is it I think it's a good plan yeah
00:48:11
Speaker
Okay, that's better than cocaine. That was literally better than cocaine. Should we do Plinkian? He's probably having fun, right? Talking about his alias, finding out who's been pissing on them, because obviously someone's pissing on those flowers, right? Anyone could tell. Anyone with half a brain could tell. It looked to me like he was making good progress talking with the servants, but we could probably call him out to the garden later for for gardening purposes. Okay, that sounds good. Okay, wait, I changed my mind.
00:48:39
Speaker
Maybe you should go back and talk to, no, I don't know. I just don't want to, I don't know. What's the best use of you and your skills? I want to see if any one of these rich people recognize me and if they're the ones who killed my friends. Okay. And it's my solemn promise that once we get the guy who killed your friends alone, you can beat the hell out of him and I will I will take pictures. I'll do a little sketches. I'll wave a little banner and go woohoo, okay? It's all yours. Okay. All right. Thank you. but You're so welcome, Clay. You're so welcome. Next time, bring the cocaine, though. It was so stupid. Okay. We have two thirds of a dose of black leave.
00:49:23
Speaker
Yeah, but I didn't want to mess up my teeth. That's fair. Back to the ballroom. And I am going to walk right up to Elling Malphur with Clay and To. Two things. Oh, my God. Let me walk somewhere unimpeded, man. You walk through the doorway out of the powder room and trip over a servant and they stand up and say, I have a stuffed meat bowl. OK, what's going on here? What's going on with these servants? What's the deal?
00:49:52
Speaker
good at their job. Was he crouched outside of the door? No, it was just short. Okay. Yes, of course I want a meatball, and I'm going to take two meatballs, and I'm going to eat them both, and then keep walking. So that's as you cross out of the room, that happens. As you get halfway through, I say you're approaching Ellingmaufer. If you see him there, he is drifted away from Bap and is talking with the hairy man who introduces Kant Bozic.
00:50:22
Speaker
And as you are approaching them, you hear now presenting the guest of honor, famed actor and comedian, Garfield. What?
00:50:39
Speaker
and you look at the entry hall and there is a orange tabaxi with a he's dressed in all black he's got a turtleneck and he's wearing sunglasses and he walks down the stairs and says I hope they're serving lasagna. And the crowd goes wild. The servants who have been the heir of professionality the entire evening are freaking out. Many of the guests are immediately swarming him. It's going to be a good night. Oh my god. as Is Prince Malphur of those swarming him? He does not swarm, but he chuckles appreciatively. He's like, I thought I'd seen everything.
00:51:23
Speaker
It had yet another voice, but I like this one. We'll see her playing again. Prince Malphur, please, I'm so ah sorry for my um hasty exit. I realized that my nose was a bit runny and I had to summon my servant person. I hand a tissue over to Fondly. Perfect. I dabbed so beautifully and hand the Queen I expect to play. Yeah. How exciting the Garfield this year. I'm so glad the party wasn't hosted on a Monday.
00:51:52
Speaker
Quite right. He hates them. And his cousin, Normal, I've heard. Contract dispute. There's nothing normal about that silly Normal, am I right? He looks past you and takes in Clay, who's just looming there, I i take it? Yeah, holding a handful of tissues. Yeah, he takes you in and then directs his attention back to you, Faunalyn.
00:52:19
Speaker
Can I do an inside check for like recognition, anything? Sure. Give me an inside roll. Yeah, I wanna do the same. Sure. Okay. That's a 21 for me. oh and Would you believe I also got a 21 again?
00:52:34
Speaker
He looks at you, Clay, and he is evaluating you. You don't necessarily see a true glimpse of recognition, but he seems to be pondering you and your presence. And
00:53:10
Speaker
tilted his head ever so slightly as you walked in the door. And in this moment, both of you can't help but wonder if he wasn't really looking at Faunalyn so much as he was looking at Clay.
00:53:22
Speaker
I have chills right now, you guys. It's him! It might be him! I have chills! Do you know, Prince Malphurth? You never did tell me what you were doing at the Drifting Terrace's that night. Ah, yes. Well, when in Aodenine, one must see the Drifting Terrace's as truly one of the wonders of our world. Yes, but it was very late. Is that your preferred sightseeing time?
Prince's Evasiveness
00:53:48
Speaker
Midnight. Depends on the sight. I suppose. You were there yourself, I might add.
00:53:52
Speaker
Oh, well I had been called on illicit business. Yes, My business was purely illicit, I assure you. and Inside check. ah That's another 21. Wait, this is the guy who is courting the princess? Yep, from Onos, the Prince of Onos. Okay. But he's involved in her kidnapping?
00:54:18
Speaker
Maybe. Or in killing the people who kidnapped her, covering it up.
00:54:27
Speaker
I'm an Electra. Might have a thing. I don't know. I don't know. Martyr on the Orient Express style, the entire ballroom seems to look at you and search for them rubbing their hands together. Everyone in the party kidnapped the princess. That's how it's feeling right now. This place is crazy.
00:54:44
Speaker
He is charming. He is good with his words. He is good at deflecting. And you don't know if he's being genuine. You don't know if he's deflecting. What you do know is a servant approaches you and says, now, would you care for a mushroom tart, ma'am? They're quite delectable, I assure you. Okay, fine. Thank you. And Lang says, oh, quite right. Thank you. And Down's a mushroom tart as well.
00:55:15
Speaker
That one actually wasn't as tasty as the others, I don't think. In truth, you've caught me in a bit of a, well, not a lie, but you see, I was intending on a rendezvous of sorts, but alas, I was
00:55:38
Speaker
I had requested her presence in the drifting terraces for a moonlit stroll. I thought it would be most romantic, and at the appointed hour, she did not show, and now I cannot think, or help but think, what might have waylaid her. Well, she was kidnapped, so probably kidnapping. um Did you just sniff? Clay? i Tissue for the man? Of course, ma'am. I hand a tissue over. He accepts the tissue and dabs at each eye gently.
00:56:08
Speaker
I apologize, I didn't mean to bring up such a sensitive matter. I had i had hoped to wed the princess and now I'm just fear for her safety. Yes, well it seems you have some personal attachment beyond the fact that such a union would be beneficial for both of your nations. Indeed. Nothing wrong with a political match, but a love match is best of all. I assure you, Lady Vedoc.
00:56:30
Speaker
The love I have for the princess is genuine and any additional political or economic benefits are purely happenstance. Might I ask a personal question? Of course. Your minotaur. How long have they been in your employ?
00:56:51
Speaker
Um, do you know, I brought them on for a bit of extra muscle after the attempt was made on my life, because according to their ah qualifications, they're not only skilled in many areas, including first aid, but also pretty beefy. So I never knew. Beefy! Yes. I'm very funny. Why do you ask? If you get tired, and he's talking past you, if you get tired of insensitive jokes based upon your race, then Perhaps you might consider a position with me. I think you would make an excellent addition to my staff.
00:57:31
Speaker
Prince Malphur, I respect that you're royalty, but it's not even your station. Excuse me, I am speaking to your help. Excuse me? Okay, well then say something worthy of the slight that you've just committed against me. Go on, we're all listening. Would you care to join the employ of the Crown Prince of Onos, my dear. I would be most pleased to have you join my staff. I promise we can double, nay triple whatever she is paying you. Why do you have need for more staff at this time? There is always need for good help, my dear, and I get the sense that you are hardworking, trustworthy, and reliable. Traits I look for above all else.
00:58:21
Speaker
ah We gotta insight check all this shit. Sure, go for it. That's a dirty 20. Can we consider that he just has a crush on you? Called me a minotaur though. Now in his defense, minotaurs are a race of cow people and clay.
00:58:43
Speaker
Is a cow person. Has he not seen a tiefling before though? I feel like that's for a cow. There's not a lot of tieflings that look like you. You are not the blueprint of a tiefling, my friend. Our minotaur is more well known. You are a humanoid cow person. I think he's within his his right to make that assumption. Okay. But I think as he says that, Clay.
00:59:05
Speaker
I think it's kind of nice if Klaes never thought, oh, maybe. Because tieflings are the result of a mix of infernal ancestry in one's bloodline. You've seen tieflings in Airdadine. You've never seen one like you. And if there happened to be minotaur also in your DNA. That would go a long way to explaining your appearance.
00:59:39
Speaker
I guess, internally, she's like, maybe? But she's completely honest, interested in finding out more about her ancestry, so... ah Well, why don't the two of you get to know each other better and find out more about this very intriguing proposition? I'm going to go talk to people who want to speak to me. And perhaps, Flora Fauna, in an hour, we can meet in the gardens, as we had discussed.
01:00:07
Speaker
Sounds good, my lady. Dick. And I walk off. And I shoulder bump along Clay. I'm gonna walk over to our Lord Rothbard. back Back to... back to Rothbard, eh? Clay, you are left alone with the prince Elling Malphurth. And he repeats himself once more and says, hmm, nobles. Difficult to... hmm. So, what say you?
01:00:33
Speaker
Um, I- Join my staff, we can depart for Onos. Once my work in the city is concluded. I'm currently employed, I'm not looking to leave my current position, but thank you. Yeah, you were kind of rude to Lady- Lady Faunalyn just now, is that okay? I am the Crown Prince of Onos. It is okay.
01:00:59
Speaker
So I heard your conversation with her about princess gal trees. Are you planning to head back to Onos so soon? Once the princess is found, then it is my hope that there will be a royal wedding and then we shall depart for Onos after that. And what ah kind of steps are being taken to find the princess right now? You surely must be very involved.
01:01:26
Speaker
Indeed I headed an expedition into the lands south of here but a few days ago in search of the princess and we found a shambling mound and slew it, but unfortunately, well I suppose fortunately we did not find the princess's remains contained within the creature, but unfortunately we did not find evidence that the princess had been there in the first place. So perhaps in a day or two I shall set out again and continue my search. I will not rest until I find the princess.
01:02:00
Speaker
I see. Well, yeah, I find myself very invested in the safe return of the princess as well, so, you know. Then all the more reason to join my side! But I believe- As Lady Beidarck is worried as I am, does she support your ambitions to find her? I believe so, and I think it's probably best, you know, to have multiple people searching with multiple resources. You refuse me?
01:02:28
Speaker
Yeah, I'm- Then you are dismissed. Turns away. Okay. What do I do? I guess I go find Lady Fallen again. Okay. So as you are moving towards her, a door that was previously closed opens up and you hear a who who whoo,
01:02:54
Speaker
The door swings open and you see this hulking creature clad in feathers walking on all fours. It has just this burly body of a bear and this enlarged head of an owl. It's wearing a spiked collar and at the bottom of the collar is a little tag that says Gus and you hear Bip say, Gus, how good of you to join us?
01:03:21
Speaker
and you watch as the aloe bear walks over to the nearest servant and just knocks the tray of what's left on our entree list. Ah, the marinated olives with cheese and tomato are knocked off the tray and the aloe bear just starts licking them up off the ground. And we will cut back to the servant's lounge with kumki.
01:03:42
Speaker
Nice. I will say in the time that you have been chatting and kind of moseying around, maybe grabbing a drink, maybe some food, there have been some additions to the servants in this room. Okay. And kind of coinciding with each of the, not each of, but many of the guests that have arrived downstairs, there has been a few additional servants that have arrived. There is a dwarf woman, if you recall, dwarf or chybrid with these tusks that protrude and you see that they are have silver tips. She arrived not so long ago, as well as a another human woman who is this heavily tattooed individual wearing these silk gray robes with little red and gold accents. Okay, I haven't snagged their names or anything in that time. or
01:04:34
Speaker
No, they just kind of entered the room and a few of them started mingling and fewer eating food. Nice. um I think in in that time, Glimki would like to take Xander Lauren's advice and go find if I'm able to sneak out to look for the like the garage or something. What did he say? Like the carriage storage area? The parkade. Parkade, yeah. Sure.
Glimki's Investigation
01:04:58
Speaker
I will say you exit the room.
01:05:03
Speaker
We'll say you're unbothered, I think at this time. You walk downstairs and you previously passed a kitchen where there was the sound of cawing birds. The kitchen has not fallen silent, but there is noticeably no more cawing, but there's still a heavy bustle of people running about. Fresh ceviche.
01:05:21
Speaker
You hear a voice from this kitchen area say, all right, people, it's almost dinner time, so let's ah get those let's get those ah first course ready to go. Ready to go? Okay, perfect. And you wander around for a little while unimpeded until you eventually find a door that leads out into the estate. Nice.
01:05:41
Speaker
You are outside is this Partially cloudy night the light of the two moons flickers and filters down through the through the clouds and you are standing on a terrace of sorts is this courtyard that winds around the entirety of the manor and You look around based off where you are you? See a path leading off into the estate nearby and I'd say like you look to the left and you see that path leading away into the deeper part of the estate and to your right you see the terrace that you're on wraps around back to the towards the main door that you first entered into the manor and you see that there's that courtyard beneath it with the fountains and the drift globes and all that and there are these drift globes on this terrace slowly floating around casting light in different shades of yellow and orange and purple just nicely illuminating the space.
01:06:38
Speaker
Cool. I can't see or where, I guess, what's my best inclination for the parkade. It's not following the path, so I guess we're wrapping around, I guess. I would say based off what you saw is you pulled up at the front of this courtyard.
01:06:58
Speaker
carston the carriage driver said he would be back at the end of the night to pick you up and you watched as the carriage wrapped around and did not leave through the same path that you had ridden in on he took the secondary path that seemed to wind off further into the estate Oh, okay. I can, sorry, and I can get down from this terrace?
01:07:18
Speaker
Yeah, it's main floor. It just wraps around the entire area. Oh, got it. For some reason, I was picturing it like a wraparound kind of balcony thing. Now, here's the thing. I looked up a very helpful difference chart which showed a veranda, a balcony, a terrace, and something else. And that's how I know that this is a terrace. Got it. Okay. Yeah, okay. Let's try follow that path deeper into the estate. Sure. Or do I see anybody? Can I do a perception check, I guess? Just let me see.
01:07:46
Speaker
Please do. I got a 13. 13. You look around, it's decently illuminated, as I said. It seems like as of right now, the activity is focused on the interior of the mansion. It is a still night in the distance. You hear the occasional hoot, but you don't really see anybody else around you. Right. Okay. So I would assume that there's owlbears somewhere in these woods.
01:08:16
Speaker
Okay, stay quiet. let's Let's head down this path. So yeah, you walk down the stairs, pass these stone owlbear statues, pass the fountain and the statues of the satyrs until you are back on the main path and you follow it for a few minutes until you hear voices.
01:08:36
Speaker
off off a little ways in the dark. You continue along this path, and you see a collection of horses and carriages scattered around, and you notice that the carriages are kind of formed up into a circle.
01:08:54
Speaker
Not a perfect one, but there seems to be a circle and you know this because you can see light flickering through the gaps in the horse and the carriage and it seems like the voices are all coming from within that inner circle of carriage. Nice. Okay. Can I do another perception just to see if I can make anything out? Am I close enough to hear what they're saying or doing? or Sure. Give me one more perception. Not much better, 12. You hear the occasional word. You hear things like,
01:09:25
Speaker
race. I'll call. Okay. And you get the sense that there's some sort of card game. Nice. Nice. Nice. Nice. Nice. Nice. Okay. Can I walk up still in the shadows? I just want to get, can I get a glimpse of who's around there? can Is, is our carriage driver there from where you are currently? You can't see anybody, but okay. Yeah, I'll get closer. Are you, are you sneaking or just walking? Uh, I can try, but I have disadvantage. You don't, if you recall, cause you are currently wearing your servant's outfit.
01:09:53
Speaker
Oh, right. Whoa, nice. Seven. It always gets me. It never fails to get me. You start creeping forward. And as you approach, one of the horses goes, classic. And you hear a familiar voice say, I think someone's sneaking around out there.
01:10:21
Speaker
And poking his head out beneath the legs of the horses, you see Calston faddle-faddle. He says, oh, it's you. Don't you have work to do? They gave me a break. Clay's got it. I mean, Fauna, I mean, Flora Fauna's got it covered.
01:10:39
Speaker
Sudonyms are not going well for us today. Yeah, I had didn't use it once. All right, well, off you go then. You guys gambling back here?
01:10:49
Speaker
yeah and you're not invited so off you go friends only oh that's crazy i guess you guys don't want none of this you know really valuable gold that i have and i'm just sitting in my pocket waiting to be we snatched up by really talented card players give me a persuasion too it seems low
01:11:21
Speaker
You're not impressing anyone. I hope you know that. Okay, thank God, because that's all I am. But he turns away and but I think that's the closest you get to an invitation to join the group. Perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect, perfect. So, all right. And I have the only two coins I have.
01:11:40
Speaker
You follow Calston into the inner circle of the of the carriages, and you see that there is a little fire that has been put together, and you see that there are five other people. There is a human man wearing a blue collared shirt. He's tall and he's thin. He's got messy brown hair. There's, of course, Calston Fattelfettle, the carriage driver for the vdarks or sorry the the birth holds.
01:12:08
Speaker
There is a hobgoblin man who is pretty pretty short and pretty muscular. He seems a little older, but he's still very muscular. He's got a dark orange skin and buzzed black hair. And as he turns to face you, you see there's the firelight reflects off his face and you see this large scar running from his ear all the way across his throat. There is a half-elf woman who's a little A little older, she's short with really long hair that's kind of pulled into a braid that's somewhat coiled on her lap. And there is a another human man who looks to be in his 60s. He's got wavy gray hair and a full beard, and he just looks a little a little lanky. The man with the collared shirt says, well, gee, Colston, who'd you bring in to join the group? Calm down, John R. Buckle.
01:13:04
Speaker
This is the shithead that I work with. His name's Reggie or something. Original chapstick and I do a half curtsy. Oh, hey there, I'm John R. Buckle. I'm the carriage driver for Garfield, the famous comedian. You may you might know him. Oh, I know, I know, it's it's no big deal. Garfield's here? He is here, yeah, I mean, hey, between you and me, I wouldn't get too excited. He's super depressed and not at his best right now. Oh, damn. Well, hopefully the party cheers him up.
01:13:35
Speaker
Hopefully, but I doubt it. Maybe if they're serving lasagna. You're awfully optimistic. Anyway, this is Marcus, and he points at the hobgoblin. That's Colston, of course, you know him. That's Uwende, and he points at the half-elf. And that's Mendaugus Tuco. And he points at the older human man. Oh, well, a pleasure to meet you. Thanks for letting me join in for a hand here. Or hopefully more if I make it out of this one, you know? Are you planning on going early in the first hand? I, you know, fingers crossed.
01:14:13
Speaker
Luck is really up to the cards here, so let's see ah see what you guys got. And they they sit you down and they deal a hand. We're going to use cards as a backdrop for conversation, and maybe you'll make some money, maybe you'll lose some money. We'll find out. Perfect. But what how are you steering the conversation? Oh, I have a very specific way to steer this. And it has to do entirely with the cards. Very good. I don't know what the game is. You can make it simple, but I am gonna... Let's play the handout with two coin coins. Let's see what happens. Sure, yeah. yeah give me a Give me a deception check to start. As you play in your cards, doing a little bluffing. Okay, I got a 15. Nice, nice, nice.
01:15:01
Speaker
You take your cards, you... I don't know, you're hinting that maybe you got something a little better than you do. What happens is a couple people fold, Colston, Colston folds immediately and John Arbuckle folds. We'll say as you are playing your cards, yeah, a couple people drop out or a fold, a couple of people raise and go in. I'll say by the end of it, you're in for a goal. And it is you and the half elf woman, Uende,
01:15:34
Speaker
And the hobgoblin with the scar. You bluff your way out of a bad situation, forcing them to fold. Do they both fold? They both fold. Okay. Okay. I get my gold, so I'm one i'm up one.
01:15:54
Speaker
Okay, I look at my pile of what, three now? And I look around, what does everybody else's piles look like? John R. Buckle has two copper pieces left. The Hobgoblin Marcus has, he's had like an even two. Colston down to one gold. The half-elf woman Uende, she's got four. And you see the last guy, the older human, has two gold and like five silver.
01:16:23
Speaker
Okay, so yeah, I look around the circle and be like, well, it looks like we're all a little sparse for piles here, somewhere as a little ahead. I don't have the biggest amount here. I had another suggestion. Just hear me out if you guys are into it. I know we all work for pretty significant houses.
01:16:40
Speaker
I'm new to this whole thing and I'm looking to know all the houses and which ones are the ones that you prefer to work for. I'm with the birth holes, you're with the Praille Museum, you know everyone's representing somebody. A good way to to get to know one another is through stories.
01:16:57
Speaker
So I was maybe suggesting that instead of betting coin, we could bet a secret and you could call based on, I don't know, I could give you the lead into the story and if you think it's worth it or you're interested, give me one back and then whoever wins or I guess whoever loses or folds has to ah share their info. I could start if you're interested. Give me a persuasion roll. 13.
01:17:27
Speaker
John Arbuckle says, well, geez, that sounds like a pretty great idea to me. Seems like it'd be a really fun way to get to know each other a little better and find out more about the people that keep us fed. Calston immediately shakes his head and says, no, I'm here for gambling, not for story time. I want coin. Okay, well the half-elf woman says, it could be interesting to hear some more. The hobgoblin slams his fist on the table and shakes his head. And the older man says, it could be interesting to
01:18:08
Speaker
hear what each other has to say. I don't want to force your hands in any way but maybe I could just give you the little the lead in and then you could be you can decide if you want to play. I believe majority rules. At this the hobgoblin tosses his cards that he was holding grabs up his coin and storms off but everybody else stays and John R. Buckle says, okay then, well, don't worry about Marcus. He's just a little, little mad, but I'd love to hear your stories. So what you got?
01:18:51
Speaker
OK, well, I'll give you the the hint. And if you you got to have to it's like a trust system here, you got to think that it's worth the same amount. And here I'll give you the example. I don't know, you know, some of our employers have certain needs. A little birdie told me a certain doctor that has access to a certain black leaf. If you catch my drift, could be some valuable information that could make some of your employers very happy.
Obsession and Intentions
01:19:25
Speaker
There is a couple of people, the half-elf woman in John R. Buckle, they react kind of like a kid from Christian school does when you say a curse word. They're like, oh, that's crazy. Colston actively dissociates every time you're speaking.
01:19:43
Speaker
And the older man, he kind of shrugs, but doesn't disagree or doesn't, you know, detest what you have said. Well, it's up to you guys. If you, if you think you got a story to call, give me the little lead and then we'll see. Fine. Let's try it your way. And if we find it to be insufficient for entertainment for this evening,
01:20:10
Speaker
then we'll go back to the original. Yeah, by all means. So why don't we have a roll off? I am going to roll for everybody and I'm going to have you roll a d20. Okay. Oh God. I got a 15. Okay. I will say that Colston folds immediately. John R. Buckle. He seems happy with his hand.
01:20:40
Speaker
Uwende, she shrugs and decides to stay in, and the last guy, Mendaugus, he tosses his cards, he folds, and says, patience, patience. Something about the way he says that feels familiar, but the game continues.
01:21:04
Speaker
and I'm going to need a another d20 roll, another, we'll call it another deception roll. Another 15. Uende is staring at you and she's like trying to read you and having a hard time. John R. Buckle says, I don't know if I understand the rules of this game exactly, but I'll stay in and you show cards and you beat the two of
Struggling Stardom
01:21:33
Speaker
them. And John says,
01:21:34
Speaker
Well, okay, I don't have much to say. ah Garfield spends hours staring into the mirror obsessing over his fading stardom and aging body. Every day, he's he's down real bad. He even bought a boat recently. It's not going well for him. Wow. And Uende says, my lady, Lady Islecrawan is obsessed with one Lord Ulrin Rothbard, but she's aware that the host of this evening, the Lady Bacra Kremme, is trying to steal him away.
01:22:03
Speaker
She pauses for a second and says, I don't care for Uldrenoth, but he's a ruffian. He's often covered in injuries, and I do not think he is savory.
01:22:22
Speaker
The old man, Mindaugus, speaks up again and says, I prefer the old game with coin.
01:22:30
Speaker
It's better that way. And as he continues to speak, you're like looking at him and you're like you recognize his voice. He sounds familiar, but you don't think you've met him. And then it clicks for you. You heard him on a recording oh by a kenku.
01:22:56
Speaker
ah da chi Oh my god. And we'll cut back to the inside. Oh my god, the cliffhangers. So, Faunalyn, you were talking once more to Ulvren? I forgot that I had asked him for a dance, which I believe I had done. o So I think I want to go talk to Elektra Voon instead.
01:23:18
Speaker
Okay, as you approach, a servant says, would you care for? And then he looks at his tray and realizes it's empty and says, nevermind, sorry for disturbing you and keeps on his way. I wanted to try those.
01:23:29
Speaker
Clay, what are you doing? Are you tailing Faunalyn still? Or are you returning? I will say, people are staring. Not like actively, but you know that you are inconspicuous at the best of times. And like, the host, Lord and Lady, Prami, Bip and Bap, they're kind of looking at you like, why is Vadarch's servant hanging out? But what are you doing? Are you continuing to tail her?
01:23:58
Speaker
I guess if people are giving me weird looks, I'll just go back to the servant's room, where the servants swing. You rat bastard! Not the only rat in this establishment tonight! Okay, wait. um I'm dressed kind of like a servant, right? You're dressed as a servant in very nice servant-y clothes. Why are they all giving me weird looks? I grab one of the empty trays and start walking around.
01:24:27
Speaker
because you're not supposed to be out right like that was like the agreement you're supposed to yes only come to attend a request or something yeah that's why they're giving you weird books okay well i'll go back to fondland then good i needed my kleenex achoo So, Fanlan, you approach Electrovoom, and Kletir is standing next to her, and they are talking to Count Telendir Vrump. And as you're approaching, you catch the tail end of Vrump's last sentence, which is, and she's so old, but she looks so we young.
01:25:07
Speaker
and
01:25:10
Speaker
I walk up and I give Electra like an up and down, and then I say, Electra. So Cliteer, a word, if I may, and I flounce off and trust that he's following. Okay, Frump says, will that happen?
01:25:28
Speaker
and you crash the dance floor and you turn around and Clattier walks up to you and he Yes. You and I should have a dance. Don't you agree? I was thinking the same thing. Very good. Very, very good. So sign the card. Seems like third dance might be in order.
01:25:54
Speaker
So dance it is, yes. I was actually hoping that I could have signed... Who's the last guy that I just asked for a dance? Rothbard. I was hoping to save him for the end of the night, but second is fine. Up to you. No, you can order it however you want. Second is fine. Yeah, second is fine. Okay.
01:26:09
Speaker
clatier Yes, signs the card, and you hear a sudden scream as one of the servants is climbing a pole, like one of the pillars, as Gus is clawing at it, going, hmm, hmm, trying to get at the tray she's holding. And Kedara says, I think it'll be good for us to converse as much I wish to discuss. Yes, you seem rather close with Lady Zun.
01:26:35
Speaker
That was your instruction. Good lad. Oh, I look at Clay and I say, I do so love it when my help is cooperative. i or tissue
01:26:48
Speaker
Ladies and gentlemen. Oh my God. Who's not at this party? Our guests have all arrived. And now it is time for the dining hour. If you may proceed and a bunch of servants open up this set of doors at the back of the room into the dining hall, you will find your assigned seats and we shall begin with our most excellent dinner.
01:27:18
Speaker
Ooh, ceviche time. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh. I'm going to make my way through the crowd as we all work our way into the dining hall up to Electra. And I'm going to close my dance fan. I kind of stop her with it and say, sign it or don't. I don't care, but I think we have things to discuss. Don't you? Damn. I think I'm good. so I guess you're not interested in the conversation I had with Prince Malphurth. Okay. Fair enough. I'm going to boof my fan open and flounce away. Okay.
01:27:48
Speaker
yeah it I gotta find the right string to pull. One day, Faunalyn's gonna say something and something cool will happen and she'll stop looking like such a boob all the time. One day! I thought you were doing good with Rothbard. I got nothing from him. He's wearing concealer. His contours blockier than mine. He's a noble with a black eye. it's interesting and That's That's totally interesting. I mean, I didn't get that from him. I passively observed it, but yeah, thanks guys.
01:28:14
Speaker
You know he's lying about something. Maybe. Yeah. Fight club. Royal Fight Club? That would be kind of sick. Clay, are you continuing to follow?
01:28:26
Speaker
I guess no one's like told me to go back to the servant room. Funny you should mention that. As you are entering the dining hall, the Aarakocra kind of steps in front of you and says, Perhaps you would be more comfortable in the servant's lounge. I assure you our staff are more than capable of taking care of the Lady of Adark.
01:28:45
Speaker
No, she has ah personal needs of me. I don't think I can leave her alone right now. Give me a persuasion roll. Oh, 17. If you insist. Yeah, people are out to kill her. I better stick close with her.
01:29:09
Speaker
I assure you she is no safe here, but as you wish. Well, people have tried to kill her before. yeah He steps aside and you find yourselves in a large dining room. It's a banquet hall. You see that there's this large table carved from a single piece of deep red wood and it looks like it is large enough to comfortably see 20 or more.
01:29:33
Speaker
There is a large set of windows along the rear wall that overlook the rear of the Praelmy Estate, which you can see is heavily wooded. You see moonlight flickering through the tree branches and you are funneling. You look around and you are presented with your seat.
01:29:56
Speaker
at the end. Bap sits down at the other end. And you are second down from Bip. And you are seated between Xerxes and Earl as full of Crastix. And across from you, you see there is Claudine, baal her caretaker Lorraine. And next to Lorraine is Lady La Rastre-Germont.
01:30:19
Speaker
and Lady Blorastrov, Bugbear fame. Yes. Okay, what an exciting, exciting lineup. Clay, what are you doing in relation to me? Are you like hovering behind me? Like, what's the game plan here? I think I'm standing at the edge of the room just watching. Okay, that's good. That's polite. Where's Lord Hamlet in the room? He is near the center of the table. He's on the opposite side from you, and he is kind of near the middle of the table. Okay.
01:30:47
Speaker
Seated between Kant Bozic and Count Telendir Vrump. On our way in, could I have kind of pointed him out to Clay? Give me a sleight of hand. 15 plus five is dirty 20. Okay. Yep. Clay, you are tapped and this older looking man is pointed out to you.
01:31:12
Speaker
Okay. That's all. Can I do a perception check? Is anyone like paying particular attention to me or Vonolyn, I guess? Like is the old man looking at her or is anyone else recognize me? Give me a perception roll. 13. No one is specifically staring at you.
01:31:36
Speaker
you do occasionally catch a glimpse from both servant and the hosts alike. They are very clearly, I will say the the hosts, if anyone, are kind of like, what is she doing here? Like, not on the payroll. They're not supposed to be here. And they kind of shoot questioning looks over at tick, the aracocra. Other than that, no one really is paying much attention to you. As people are kind of hurrying in to get seated, grabbing their seats.
Dining Hour Begins
01:32:04
Speaker
getting ready for the first course, which is of course, as everybody knows, a soup, a fish soup in this case. It is a nice red soup with different sea bass and red snapper and scallops, and it's very nicely seasoned, and that is the first course. And as people are digging in to this, the staff are bustling around, there's gliding past Uclay, no issues. Electra Voon, who is two seats over from Yufonlin, she takes a sip of soup and says, Flint's Malphur, it is so nice to see you.
Tensions and Accusations
01:32:44
Speaker
Has your witch mother burned down any cities recently? And he replies, the cult of the Phoenix has no formal relations with
01:32:57
Speaker
The Church of Feros, as I am sure you are aware, and Onos has made ample reparations for what transpired in Sunfall. What transpired in Sunfall? Do you want to ask or do you want to make a history check? ah No, I'm loudly asking. Okay. Well, is it like super public knowledge? Is it like me asking like, who was the bad guy in World War II? Make a history check for me. Okay. Oh, no, that's a five plus a zero.
01:33:25
Speaker
A five is what you needed. Oh my god. Because this is very public knowledge. The divine octad, the eight primary gods of Zav, of which Mukrog is one of them, are the primary source of worship in this world.
01:33:48
Speaker
They are what most people pray to, what most clerics are in service of, et cetera, et cetera, what the majority of churches are erected for. You are also aware that, of course, there are nature spirits that reside in various places of the world that some folk choose to worship in their own way. An even smaller sect of individuals worship Pharos the Sun Phoenix as a deity.
01:34:16
Speaker
Onos, the nation to the west of here, from which Prince Ellen Malphurth is from, is a country full of many astronomers. They often look to the stars. It is Onos itself that announces when summer, spring, fall, winter has begun. They announce the changing of the seasons because they monitor the progress of pharaohs throughout the year. All that is background for what happened about 20 years ago when a group of religious fanatics The Cult of Faros attempted to use a modified summon elemental spell to pull Faros from the sky. They did this while in the city that would later become known as Sunfall. Fire swept through the streets, thousands were killed, and the city was essentially burned to the ground. And it has been rebuilding for the last two decades,
01:35:13
Speaker
but much of the damage still remains, and evidently, much of the hurt and anger remains as well. Phoneline's gonna keep her damn mouth shut, and she's gonna listen to this interaction play out organically.
01:35:30
Speaker
dear that to the thousands burned in their homes, what your reparations mean to them. And he starts to speak a little louder, he says, lady boom, there is nothing more to be said on them. And Bap kind of speaks out and says, all right, well, why don't we just enjoy this delicious soup and leave politics out of the conversation?
01:35:49
Speaker
Yes. Onto lighter subjects. What an excellent idea. Who else here has had... This is so funny how we do this to each other. Who else here has had a servant poached by someone else at the table? And I put my finger on my nose and I go, who? You? You? Anybody? Larastra puts up her hand. Who? Who poached you, Larastra? No one poached me, but... Oh, your servant. My servants were poached by Lady Crowin.
01:36:19
Speaker
Naughty, naughty lady crawling. I almost just had my servant stolen by somebody here at this table. Can anybody guess who? Everybody on the count of three point to the person who you think almost stole my servant. One, two, three, go. Give me a persuasion roll. I'm being delightful. I should get advantage. Eighteen.
01:36:41
Speaker
Yeah, a few of the more detached members of the table, Lady Pular, Xerxes, Bip, Gleefully are just like, all right, I guess we're doing this. And they start pointing fingers. A few you people keep their hands down. Pilton is just kind of staring at you quietly. While the commotion is happening, and while people are having fun, pointing at other people and checking to see who everyone else has pointed at,
01:37:06
Speaker
Electra Voon is surely within arm's reach. I want to reach behind the chairs and try to finagle her fan off of her. Slide a fan style. Her dance card fan. Go for it. Slide a fan. Can I get advantage? Because I'm scared of what will happen if I fail. You are in a room of 17 people plus staff. The only reason this isn't with disadvantage is because of this distraction you have caused.
01:37:34
Speaker
Okay, okay, okay, okay. That's a 19. And if the DC was 20, a pox be upon me. Amongst the commotion, Voon and Malphurth have fallen solemnly silent. The majority of people are pointing. You reach over and you see the fan and you slide it gently off of Lady Electra Voon's person.
01:38:01
Speaker
As you do, you lock eyes with Lord Pilton, but the fan is yours. He definitely saw what you did, but does not say anything. Cool. I'm going to discreetly, who's on her dance card? It is not entirely filled, but count Telendir Vrump, the Markianos Ren Pular, and Lord Bickford Prelmy have all signed their names.
01:38:28
Speaker
Awesome. I'm signing my name and writing her name on my own dance card to match. And I'm not going to bother like flipping it back on her. I'm just going to kind of drop it under the seat so that it kind of tumbles towards her a little bit closer. Very good. I wanted to dance. We're going to dance. Okay. Apparently. I don't know what we're going to talk about, but I shall not be stood up.
01:38:52
Speaker
Soup is finished. It is concluded. And we will cut back to Glimpy, who is at the poker circle.
Game and Tricks
01:39:03
Speaker
You have just made a connection that the man with the gray hair and the beard sitting across the fire from you, you are fairly confident his voice is the one you heard in the kenku recording. So he's trying to go back to just regular coins. Yes.
01:39:21
Speaker
Okay, well, those were some interesting stories. Unfortunately, you guys didn't get to hear about my blog. Thanks for playing. Did you guys enjoy that? Did you want to try one more? I'll offer up something juicy. But this time I want to hear what everyone's risking up front. Or, and hear me out, we could ah we could do a different version. We could do whoever wins get to ask everyone whatever they want. Give me a persuasion roll.
01:39:48
Speaker
17. There's a general consensus of like, the game's more fun with money, but maybe this new rule could be fun. The old man though, he says, as I stated, I believe the game is more enjoyable with coin. Furthermore, I believe it is unprofessional to tell tales about my employer.
01:40:16
Speaker
It doesn't have to be about just an employer. I mean, mine had nothing to do with employers, just something I know. Could help, could not. I'm sorry. The prince trusts me. I am his confidant, and I will not to be partaking for him. Okay, well, hold on. Before you run off, we can play with coin. I just want to get to know the people around it. How about this time, whoever wins, they just get to ask the people questions, but it has to be just about that person. Give me one last persuasion roll.
01:40:47
Speaker
reeking of desperation yeah we're gonna say it's getting desperate you're like no no no guys it'll be fun i promise i kid you not that one oh plus 424 he is halfway out of his seat and says very well did we want to ask the questions first or just after whoever wins and that's fine let's roll the dice Whoever wins. um As it were, I believe this might be a better game for DICE. It doesn't really translate well to a cards based game. Let's roll. And I think just for ease of just making a game happen, roll 2d6. Okay. I'm trying to think if there's anything that I can do to turn things in my favor. Damn.
01:41:36
Speaker
o Okay. As I roll my dice, can I use Minor Illusion to create a sound by one of the horses to just spook it a little bit so it, like, rears up? Mmm. Now, Minor Illusion, of course, does have a verbal component. You are seated at a... Oh! It doesn't. Interesting. Sematic. It does have semantic. It does have a material component.
01:42:03
Speaker
a bit of fleece. I gotta be wearing some fleece, right? I will say, give me a sleight of hand check to try and do this subtly. But yeah, you pluck out like a bit of material from your nice jacket. Okay, I got a 14. Okay. It seems like nobody sees it happen.
01:42:26
Speaker
Okay, so a sound. The horse ruffles its chains, gets a little uneasy. Do they do they look away? Or look at it? Yeah, I'd say the the group temporarily glances over. I rolled a three and a five. I just want to change one dice. Which dice? I just want to roll the three again. Oh, interesting. I will give you an option.
01:42:53
Speaker
If you take your three, hu what are the four numbers that it is adjacent to? I don't know. I don't have the physical. Okay. We'll use my three. Okay. It is adjacent to a one, a two, a six, and a five. And as I'm saying that, I realize that's every three. That's just how dice work. So it is adjacent to a one, a two, a five, and a six.
01:43:14
Speaker
What do you flip the 3-2? You can flip it one spot. So I can pick? Yep. I'll say you quickly reach over and just tip it over one. Okay, well flip it to a 6. I want a 6 and a 5. For a total of 11. People roll, people show dice, and at the end of it, it is you and Mindalgis who both have 11s. Well, one more for the victor.
01:43:45
Speaker
Single die? Hey, I'll... I'm willing to split the pot. You ask me anything and I get to ask you anything. Again, for the sake of getting to know one another. Fine. Please, ask me anything. The Lady of Aitok. Oh no. Is it true that you are in a sexual relationship?
01:44:11
Speaker
Wow. It's really gotten around, eh? You know, I wish I could give you something more exciting. Unfortunately, no. She has taken a lover, but it's not me. you I was gonna say, make a persuasion roll, but now make a deception roll.
01:44:32
Speaker
uh seven yeah right i bet it's definitely you says john arbuckle come on guys fairs fair what is your question you know i've been trying to figure out what i might ask you and i think it really boils down to and can we just pause for a second what was the date of the night that they were getting up that was the night of obuary the what The night of the princess's disappearance was the thirteenth of Xemphus. Thirteenth of Xemphus. Yeah, so I've been racking my brain for a question that I might ask you. And, you know, as I was thinking, I ah started to get this sinking feeling that, you know, maybe you're not a complete stranger to me after all. My question is simple. What were you doing on the docks in the night of thirteenth of Xemphus? Oh, wow.
01:45:28
Speaker
There is a long pause before he finally says,
01:45:39
Speaker
I'm afraid you are mistaken. I was not at the docks that night. Inside, John. Go for it.
01:45:50
Speaker
Like, I feel like I already know he's lying. I only got a nine, but... Yeah, I mean, you are welcome to think what you think about his response. He does not convey too much. It's a little dark, even with the firelight, you know, you don't get perfect view of him.
01:46:12
Speaker
I'd say even with a nine though, there is a sudden tension in the air that... I mean that pause spoke for itself, I think. Yeah, that only the two of you maybe are fully aware of. I'm just trying to think like, do I do i press him? Or do I make him just nervous that I know? Get him! Damn. Hmm. Yeah, this is tricky. I don't know. Wait, whose servant is this guy again?
01:46:41
Speaker
Hey, what's his name again? And he serves who again? I will say this man's name, he's been identified to you as Mundagas Tuko. And because I don't think it was fully gronked at the time.
01:46:59
Speaker
As you were pressing for the, this version of the card game, the secret sharing gossipy card game, as he was getting ready to stand up, he said, he said, create something. Yes. That he is a confidant of the Prince and would not be partaking, would not be sharing any gossip.
01:47:23
Speaker
of the prince oh shit i actually like don't know what to do i know right like we need all three of us in a room and just a brainstorm i kind of want to press him but at the same time there's maybe it's a power play before you have a chance to decide shit he says this has been fun but i believe it's getting a bit so nippy outside and he stands up wait wait wait wait wait wait that's my mistake he walks away that question doesn't go you guys saw that right he shafted me totally shafted
01:47:58
Speaker
We cut to... friend when denis toco chaptered me We cut to the dining hall once more and it's... What's that? We had soup. Now it's time for that's just a tapestry of fruit and vegetables with these little clusters of flowers sprinkled throughout and you're individually served just this like lovely Hey, you can feel about the promis how you want to feel you are sitting there, has started trying to climb onto Claudine, who is seated at the end of the table, and is trying to grab the salad off of her plate.
01:48:54
Speaker
Well, it wouldn't have happened if I was her date, so... I would have put a start to that. And Bip says, Gus, Gus, stop it, Gus, stop it, stop it, Gus, Gus, bad, bad, bad, bad, go lie down, bad, bad, bad. And Gus finishes eating all of Claudine's salad and then walks over to the corner and lies down, curls up and lies down.
01:49:18
Speaker
A minute later, a servant enters the room and walks to the end of the table and whispers in Elling's ear, and he says, Excuse me, I will return shortly. Please do not delay eating any of the ceviche. I am most excited for it, but eat on without me. And he exits the room. I want to flag down Clay for ah a tissue. Okay, I go up and bring a tissue.
01:49:47
Speaker
I blow my nose, I hand the tissue back to clay, and I use my eyes to gesture at the prince, and I jerk my head the tiniest of motions and then adjust my wig as if I was just fixing it, but meant to imply something perhaps. Okay.
01:50:10
Speaker
Okay, I eat some sweetie. Is the prince leaving the room? He has left the room. Oh, I follow them. I am going to need a stealth check from you. Oh, that's such a bad idea. I've totally just sentenced by the death. Okay, stealth it is. Do I have disadvantage? I'm also not wearing my armor, right? No disadvantage. You just both have lower ACs for whatever may transpire here. Yeah, stealth, stealth, stealth.
01:50:39
Speaker
13. So you step out into the hall, and you see that this dancing hall, the space is pretty pretty quiet. Occasionally servants are coming and going with different plates, but you're kind of between courses at the moment, so it's a little more quiet.
01:51:01
Speaker
and You watch as Elling, you kind of just catch him as he's leaving out the main door. You see the door close and just a flash of his red and gold attire leaving. I go after him. I've done a bad thing.
01:51:22
Speaker
Let the record show. Me pointing at the door, I'll loan up to that. Anything Clay did once they were out of my sight, that's on Clay. Following the man into the darkness, that's on Clay. Ah, God. Okay, I follow at a distance. I have dark vision so I can see them. Right. Yeah. You cross the reception hall, slip out the front door.
01:51:45
Speaker
And you look around and you look to the left. There's no one there. You look to the right and you see two figures walking away from you. Who are they? One of them is Prince Elling Malphurth.
01:52:06
Speaker
You can tell because the light of the drift globes that are swirling around are reflecting off the golden crown that he wears. And next to him is this older looking man. He's wearing simple clothes and a cloak, but he's got this full head of wavy gray hair and they are conversing quietly as they walk. Can I hear them?
01:52:30
Speaker
Nope. You can see that they're talking, but they're talking very quietly. Okay. I'd say from this distance, you can't make anything out. Where are they headed? So the front of the Priyamya State, you're at the main door. There's this large promenade, this veranda, if you will, that wraps around at least the front of the mansion. You don't know if it goes all the way around the back, but they are walking towards the west wing of the mansion. And I'd say as you watch, they walk around the corner out of sight.
01:53:03
Speaker
Okay, I like spy movie glance around the corner to keep following them. You follow at a distance, hurrying as quickly as you can to keep them in sight. And you poke your head around the corner and you see that this terrace continues around the entire west flank of this mansion. But you see that there is a stairway that branches off leading down into the estate.
01:53:32
Speaker
and you watch as the two of them are walking down that staircase. You continue to follow and you see that the staircase leads to this path that branches. You see to the left there is a structure. It looks to be about two stories tall with a peaked roof and to the right there is a vast circular hedge maze at the center of which is this derelict stone tower. It looks almost as dilapidated as Tildes was, but much taller. Ending in this peaked conical roof and you see that there's a small window at the top and you see a bit of light emanating from that window. And it is at the center of this hedge maze. Which way did the prince go? The two of them walk down the path and when it branches they turn towards the hedge maze.
01:54:29
Speaker
Ah, shit. How tall is this maze? It's built for humans. So probably seven, eight feet. If I follow them into the maze, will I get lost or can I keep sight of them and not get seen? Only one way to find out. Okay, I go after them. Okay, I'm going to need one more stealth check as you attempt to sneak up on them in the hedge race.
01:54:57
Speaker
11. Okay. Zachary's side there tells me that that was a DC-12 check. You creep forward, rounding the corner, and you watch them enter the maze. You press forward ever so quietly.
01:55:20
Speaker
as quietly as you've ever been. If you had been this quiet in the past, a lot of jobs with rigs probably would have been a lot of easier. But you sneak into the maze, and you hear distant conversation. And you to take a couple of turns. And you think you've managed to position yourself on the opposite side of one of the walls on one of the hedges. You hear faint hushed conversation between the two men.
Shadowy Secrets
01:55:54
Speaker
Now, might I ask what is so important that you interrupted my dinner? I was about to enjoy a crowsavice, which as I'm sure you know is a favorite of mine and I have not been able to get a good one since leaving Onos. I apologize my prince, but it would seem we have a problem. What do you mean a problem?
01:56:19
Speaker
There is a gnome in the service of House Fadog. He quite bluntly insinuated that I was at the docks the night of the disappearance. What do you mean insinuated? Did he see you? I am uncertain he merely made his insinuation. This is most unfortunate.
01:56:56
Speaker
fortunate
01:57:05
Speaker
as well. Fuck. What do you suggest we do, my prince? We are going to do nothing. You will go back and continue doing whatever you do during these events. And I will call in the butcher to finish the work he started. I don't know why he didn't stick around to finish them off when they had the chance, but we'll ensure this is put to rest and things can proceed as intended. Very good.
01:57:41
Speaker
And the two men walk away. You hear the sound of footsteps departing, disappearing into the night.
01:57:54
Speaker
The butcher? Uh-oh. Dang, okay. But are we actually good at this, you guys? I think so. I think we might to actually be good at this. Okay, can I go back and ask Tik to like tell Lady Faunalyn that she has business and like to get her out the same way that Prince Elling was excused from dinner so that I can talk to her. Give me a survival check as you attempt to navigate your way out of this mess. Ah Stuck in the maze forever. I'm sure it's also haunted.
01:58:32
Speaker
Yeah. Ooh, that's good. 18. Ooh. 18. Nice. You slowly navigate your way out of the maze, eventually reaching the entrance. As you begin the journey back to the main doors of pre-only manner, you glance back at that tower and in that window with the light coming out of it, you see a shape, a shadow, vaguely humanoid,
01:59:04
Speaker
with two blazing eyes, and as quickly as you see it, it moves out of sight. You continue back to the front door, you let yourself back in, and you find the ericocritic,
01:59:26
Speaker
Tell him that you need to speak to Lady Faunalyn inside the dining hall. Bip stands up and says, Now, my friends, it is wonderful for you to be here. I am very excited for you to enjoy the delicacy that we know you have all waited so long for, Crose Saviche. And at that moment, Tick walks up to you, Faunalyn says, You are required out in the reception hall.
01:59:52
Speaker
ah the every yeah yeah And you're escorted into the reception hall where Clay Campbell awaits you. And that's where we'll stop tonight's episode of Bard Zoom. What? Wow.
02:01:06
Speaker
Guys, we actually did so well. Yeah, we pulled on a lot of stuff there, I remember.
Conspiracy Unfolds
02:01:11
Speaker
Oh my god, it's the prince. The prince is involved deeply. But then there's something like if that if the guy with the red eyes in the window was the butcher, why is he at the prale me estate? And what was the owlbear involved with in the humiliation seal? Well, I feel like the guy that was described as the owlbear is maybe the owlbear you saw maybe, or did you see an actual owlbear?
02:01:34
Speaker
I just mean like the owlbear seal. Oh, right. it didn I didn't see it in action. Okay. Yeah. What the hell? Right? It's very complex. Because he's not part of that that like group that with humiliation. Right. Man.
02:01:51
Speaker
The Prince. He must be working with them a little bit. Because Humiliation Boat took it away and Pail Meet Crest. Yeah. Pail Meet Crest is what I got when I did the kidnapping. And then someone sent a letter to Faunalyn with the Humiliation House Crest. That could be unrelated. But it wasn't sign. Yeah. I don't know. It could be unrelated, but the Prince was there when you went there. Yeah.
02:02:20
Speaker
Yeah, he was there. Who's the butcher and he's going to kill all of us, eh? Yeah, probably. That's fun. Dang. Yeah, that's that was cool.
02:02:31
Speaker
Jordan, you inventing poker game rules on the fly was very fun. Yeah, but as soon as they mentioned, I had a lot of time to think when when you mentioned the carriage thing, I was like, Oh, I got it. I want to try this. It's too bad that the humiliation house carriage driver was in the room and not at the thing. Yeah. chks Yeah. Yeah. Chunks. Yeah. Yeah.
02:02:55
Speaker
I don't know we got like I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing but they they know that we know which means like you know it's about to all come out like if they're getting nervous obviously we're in danger now but Yeah, I'm like, I don't even think my dance card matters at this point. I don't think we're gonna leave. Yeah, we definitely need to meet up. Ditching this ball. Yeah, honestly. Yeah. So what is it? What do you this woman that you're trying to get the dance with? I'm just suspicious of her. I don't know.
02:03:29
Speaker
I wonder if there's an angle to play there if we are like we we're able to link up and like share some info that you could and if like if we can like check her off guilty or inno innocent but like just be like hey I know some shit and they'd be like what do you mean and if you could be like involved she's like the fuck they could really just stir the whole you could like turn the houses yeah recruit recruit her because she's she hates the prince right yeah and my beef with her is literally just like we don't get along like she was really nice to me when we first started and then i failed some roles to like impress her and she just doesn't like me and then ever since then we've been like yeah yeah yeah to each other Maybe there's something there. Yeah, but I don't know because my Cliteer Kaldar, I tasked him with keeping tabs on her and he obviously has. So I'm going to dance with him first and get the dirt on her and then that can inform how I leverage things when I'm dancing. Nice, nice, nice, nice. No, we're geniuses. Yeah, we're flibberty gibbets. Flibberty gibbets.