Session 71

The party heads to Wolis in hopes of finding some relaxation after several harrowing adventures. Instead, they find the answers to several mysteries that had been lurking in Renn's shadow. 
== Summary ==
Sending ahead word to Azaria Burnett that they were on their way, the party used the sigils given to them by Belxari to teleport to Wolis. They found themselves in a large chamber filled with knickknacks, props, and old sets, which Renn recognized as being used in the Fortune Theatre. Finding it to be rather early in the day still, they decided to do some shopping on their way to the Burnett estate. Frustrated by their inability to communicate well over long distances, they purchased several rockie talkies, one for each member of the group. They retrieved the armor and pauldrons they had commissioned, sending Mingal his armor as well as one of the rockie talkies. 
Miren, Ephemera, and FOUR decided to pay Life is Pain a visit. There, they learned that Xelbari had created a device that allowed Alan to clone himself several times each day. With multiple Alans running the store, and with three times the pay, Alan is tired, but generally doing alright. Out back, FOUR discovered forty-seven different kinds of mold on the bread in the dumpster. 
Akaros informed the group that he needed to take Sors elsewhere for a while. With Sors' body being located in Nox's False Lair, the two needed to make some preparations. He refused to explain anything specific, only offering an ominous allusion to having to visit an "ex" of some sort. He asked Kiono to cast Teleportation Circle for them, which she did, sending them to the Platinum Disc. 
As the group finally made their way to the Burnett estate, Renn purchased a newspaper. She learned that the Wolis city council had taken a recess after a series of votes concerning the situation in Auguste. The conflict between Auguste and Oceanside had escalated when an Oceanside destroyed had itself been destroyed without evidence of the perpetrators. She also searched for any mention of Barovia returning to the material plane or the battle at the Platinum Disc, but found nothing. She did learn that Talthis Vim had been suspended with pay pending investigation into the fire at the Daltimer estate.
Azaria checked on Kiono, to see how she was fairing after Concludion's departure. Kiono attempted to dismiss the matter by saying that it didn't matter. Azaria informed her that her feelings never didn't matter, then offered herself as someone to talk to if she needed to. She also told her that Izora was working on a project at the library and would not be home until much later that day. 
Renn checked in on Teer, who was upset and worried about Akaros and Sors leaving. He expressed his fear that Akaros might not have been planning on returning. Renn validated his feeling, and said that they would likely settle after some time had passed. Renn, in turn, was nervous about being so near her family. Teer suggested perhaps sending Jeffrey a note requesting that they meet somewhere off-site. 
Izora, upon returning, found Ephemera slumped over the back of the couch, considering the things that had occurred recently. She gave Izora an update on the party's adventures. Izora then went to find Renn to update her on what she had found while watching the Worthing estate. Worthing Family#Tovaris had only been visiting the council every other day. Similarly, Adrienne's contacts had not heard much from her in recent days. Talthis Vim had taken to visiting frequently, about once a week, but things had mostly seemed quiet. Tovaris and Adrienne had been having some arguments, and had been avoiding making any public appearances together. Because they were apparently lying low for the time being, that didn't seem particularly strange, but was still noteworthy. Jeffrey and his many cats appeared to be doing alright. 
Kiono and Izora spent the evening catching up before supper. During the afternoon, Teer took the Skybike on a ride around the city. He discovered that there were guards patrolling the skyies, though he did not encounter them. During supper, FOUR returned, dejected. The Burnett's compost heap, which it had earlier sat itself in, had asked it to leave. Ephemera attempted to explain the concept of consent to FOUR. After supper Kiono and Izora headed off to discuss their projects and their plans with the leyline nexuses. 
Miren sought out Sylmore to discuss her plans for the Worthing estate. She wanted to take over the estate while her parents were still alive, as well as use the Worthing influence to remove the Purifiers' presence in Wolis. Having viewed Adrienne's recent actions as suspect, Sylmore was willing to agree and assist Miren, but was concerned about their responsibilities being placed on Miren's shoulders immediately. They discussed several means of potentially accomplishing this, and ultimately landed on having Renn speak with Ekram Swain, Wolis' Children of Similus praetor. After the fiasco that had been Miren's marriage, Adrienne was not in his good graces, so he might be willing to assist Renn. He also explained that Izora might be worth talking to, as she had been more in charge of the underbelly of Wolis than he had since Belxari's departure. 
After conferring with Ephemera about the matter, Renn and Ephemera return to Sylmore to confirm that the Burnett family was indeed in charge of the organized crime in Wolis. He confirmed this, explaining Belxari had reformed the thieves' guild in town after they had previously fled. He also informed them that Adrienne was an information broker that was supposed to pass along important information to those working in the city. She had not told the Daltimers up front that their mission was in the home of Talthis Vim, leading them to suspect that she had intentionally caused their deaths. Confident in her decision, Renn began to make plans to speak with the praetor and Jeffrey. 
The next day, Teer visited the Lab to visit Harbinger and Rigg. The two were getting along well, with Rigg teaching Harbinger how to play sudoku. Teer gave Rigg the laser gun he had found in Rama va Arel, hoping he could perhaps repair it. He also asked if Rigg had any ideas or uses for the city's core. Rigg had no ideas immediately, but would contemplate on it and let him know later. 
Halberd in hand, both as back up and as a means to covertly find something for her and Teer to steal on their date later, Renn went to the Worthing estate to visit with Jeffrey. As she approached, Tovaris emerged, prompting Renn to hide. Once he had gone, she knocked on the door. Jeffrey answered, surprised to see her, but let her in. They went to the kitchen to make cucumber sandwiches, passing several cats being naughty along the way. Renn apologized for how she had previously treated him, having matured a lot on her adventures. Jeffrey seemed tense, perhaps because of how she was acting. Intending to relieve the situation, she told him some of the things that she had been up to with the party. Using Ephemera's group telepathy ability, she then told him about her hopes to take over the Worthing estate. She asked about the arguing Izora had told her about, but he simply said the she would have to ask one of her parents about that. 
Ephemera then privately asked Jeffrey about any weaknesses in the house and items which would be beneficial to steal. Jeffrey offered a few suggestions. She privately made a call to Teer to let him know about the information she had gathered. With a bouquet of flowers in hand and wearing a hawaiian shirt, he proceeded to the Worthing garden to await assistance into the house. 
While Jeffrey was in another room, Adrienne came upon Renn dusting the trophy room. She asked to speak with her in her office, which Renn cautiously agreed to. Adrienne demanded to know what she had expected to happen if Purifiers had noticed the family was changelings. She also asked Renn what she had been told about the death of the Daltimer family, which Renn replied to honestly. Renn tried to discern whether Adrienne had intentionally sent them to their deaths, but Adrienne maintained that it was an accident. Finally, Renn tried to use her secret code to check whether Adrienne really was who she said she was. Unable to return her secret code, she called for Jeffrey, who removed Renn from the house. Gathering Teer from the back garden, the trio sneaked back into the house and into Renn's room, finding another cat being naughty by sleeping on her bed. 
Renn used a potion of invisibility and took the halberd to look for things that were out of place. She checked Adrienne's office, intending to look through her paperwork and Tovaris' briefcase, which had been in there for some reason. They found that her mother had already left, but that Jeffrey had entered instead. He went through some of her documents, before returning them to their place and cleaning the room. They found nothing of note on that floor, so returned to Renn's room. While discussing their next move, they noticed that Tovaris was returning home, but wearing a different outfit than he had been wearing earlier. She signaled for him to join her in her room, which he seemed agreeable to. The trio then trapped who they thought was Tovaris, only to find that it was actually Jeffrey. 
Though suspicious, they asked Jeffrey to go fetch the briefcase from Adrienne's office. They themselves went downstairs to search for the Tovaris they had seen enter, assuming him to be fake. Before they had gotten far, they heard a gunshot upstairs. Teleporting to the source of the sound, they found Jeffrey, shot in Adrienne's office, with another Jeffrey standing over him with a gun. The Jeffrey holding the gun demanded of Renn whether she had anything to do with the deaths of the Daltimer family. When she denied involvement, he asked what she would do if she had proof that Adrienne had intentionally gotten them killed. Renn convinced him to put the gun down so they could discuss things calmly. He did so and revealed himself to be Revan Daltimer. 
The immediate threat gone, the remaining Jeffrey revealed himself to have been Tovaris. He explained that he did not think Revan was worthy of marrying Renn, and then with barely any effort used magical vines to incapacitate Teer. He continued to explain that he was impressed by Revan's plot for revenge, having taken a lot of work and thought to put into action. Renn attempted to cast Hold Person on him, but he also incapacitated her with vines. Tovaris then picked up the gun, ready to shoot Revan, but Ephemera shouted at him to stop, distracting him long enough for Revan to attempt to take the gun away. After a lot of tussle, Ephemera's form was poofed, and the gun was lost in the darkness Tovaris had summoned. Using more vines, he captured Revan and went to retrieve the gun, intending to end Revan's life. Miriam Frazzlepaws was dragging the gun down the hallway, but before he could retrieve it from the cat, Talthis Vim burst in through the window, glowing and clearly visible in the darkness. Combat nearly ensues, with Talthis landing a solid sword strike on Tovaris, but Teer cast Hold Person on the group, succeeding in only capturing Tovaris. 
Freed from the vines, Teer tied up Tovaris while Renn stood between him and Talthis, demanding that the violence stop until they could figure out what was going on. Talthis relented, and instead helped Revan to his feet and checking that he was okay. They explained that the pair had been working together to figure out who had sent the Daltimers into his home that night. 
Talthis explained that two assassins had been sent after him, whom he had pursued into the Daltimer home and killed. He had burned the bodies and left them, but the house had been in-tact when he left. Later, the house had burned fully and a third body had been found among the debris. Revan had approached him then, asking questions and suspecting foul play. Seeing an opprotunity to bring light to the darkness, the Purifier had agreed to aid the changeling. Ultimately, Tovaris admitted that he had fed Adrienne bad information. He had believed that Revan was not worthy of his daughter and the family being tied to his own would ruin his legacy. There was not a way to convince the praetor to change the betrothal, and so had resorted to murdering the family. 
They began to discuss what to do with Tovaris then. They could not call upon the Children of Similus, because, as Tovaris then demonstrated, he had been masquerading as Zed Willaby for some time. If they spoke to the praetor, he could just call the Purifiers down on the Children. Assured of his victory, Tovaris explained that the only thing they could do now was continue on with their lives as though nothing had happened; Revan would leave, Talthis would return to the Purifiers with no information, and Renn would continue to be his legacy. Renn slapped him in response. Tovaris, not nearly as helpless as he had let them believe, prepared to once again capture those present, but was shot multiple times by Adrienne, who was standing in the doorway. She had been disguised as the cat, taking the gun in the chaos. Tovaris passed out, and Adrienne slumped in shock. Renn and Adrienne hug and apologize to each other. Talthis, wanting justice and not vengeance, healed Tovaris back to consciousness; Teer immediately punched him and knocked him back out. 
Zed Willaby being revealed to have been a changeling would bring unneeded danger and violence upon the changelings in Wolis, so they decided to have Revan take over playing him for a time. They would then stage his retirement so his replacement could be chosen appropriately. Their plan made, Talthis and Revan left. 
While Renn shared an awkward, traumatized silence with her mother, Teer called Sylmore for assistance. He, along with FOUR and Belxari, arrived shortly to discuss what to do with Tovaris. Renn wished to rehabilitate him rather than imprison or kill him. As he was an exceptionally powerful sorcerer, it was decided that removing his powers entirely would be their best option. Belxari hugged Renna and assured her everything would be okay, then teleported away with Tovaris. 
Sylmore explained to Teer that as Andy's appointed heir, he was a trustee of the phone company as well as a few other elements of Wolis' infrastructure through the Lab. He wasn't in charge of anything, but did have some sway if he wanted. Before returning him, Sylmore said he would help cover for Tovaris' disappearance, claiming a vacation on his behalf to the council. 
In the garden, FOUR learned from the plants that there were bodies buried beneath the ground. FOUR asked permission for those bodies, utilizing its newfound understanding of consent. They were given to it, and FOUR attempted to spread to these new bodies. One of these bodies, it was revealed, was Adrienne's mother. 
== NPCs ==
=== Introduced ===
* Adrienne Worthing's mother (deceased)
=== Returning ===
* Alan
* Esteban
* Azaria Burnett
* Sylmore Burnett
* Izora Burnett
* Harbinger
* Rigg
* Tovaris Worthing
* Jeffrey
** Miriam Frazzlepaws
** Peanut Butter
** Rumblesbee
** Bricks
** Tubbers 
* Revan Dlatimer
* Talthis Vim
* Adrienne Worthing
* Belxari
=== Mentioned ===
* Xelbari
* Sobel Daltimer
* Carlisse Daltimer
== Items ==
* Rockie Talkies (4, one for each party member)
* Dragon scale armor (sent to Mingal)
* Dragon claw pauldrons (Teer)