Of Sunshine & Shadows

"Of Sunshine & Shadows" (2x16) is the sixteenth episode of the A Clockwork Brass campaign. The Deviants in Violet finally arrive at Wrowagn with the hopes of meeting with Parsmen Glemkil and escaping Brisbayern after foiling a Furia-Free Wrangler plot to bomb the World Exposition. It took place on Reinheit 4th, 136 N.E.
== Synopsis ==
As the party flies through the air aboard The Silver Mist, captained by Andrzej, a series of conversations are had between members of the party. Firstly, Anastazja confronts Brynn about her actions during the events of Bombs Away, wherein she opted to act out of turn and assault a Free Wrangler that had been laying a trail of black powder. The party had opted, at the time, for a stealthier approach but Brynn's actions nearly costed the party their one chance at foiling the plot. Brynn confesses to Anastazja that her actions were done due to a shift in her defensive reflexes. Claiming that her actions were taken because her fight or flight has devolved into merely 'fight'. Anastazja is hesitant to believe this, but concedes to this truth.
Meanwhile, Eislyn is watching the rains of the Mist season from a porthole in the lounge of the ship. Izolda approaches her and asks her how she is doing with all of this. The two share their thoughts about their current predicament for a time before Eislyn shows Izolda a new trick she had learned from a dream several nights ago. Through sheer will, Eislyn conjures a corporeal, purple-hued dagger in her hand, shocking Izolda. Eislyn then tosses the dagger at a nearby chair, which causes it to thud and rock. She then resummons the dagger into her grasp. Izolda takes Eislyn's hand and listens in closely to the dagger, and she hears thousands of whispers in a language she cannot understand. Eislyn listens in too, but has trouble decoding what the whispers might be saying. When Izolda touches the dagger, a short-lived headache emerges into her brain. Izolda compliments Eislyn, and is impressed by her abilities. She then shares a bit about her time with the Shadowy Figure, and articulates that she had been with him for over two years. Eislyn tells her that she need not worry, and asks if he still loves her. Izolda nods her head and replies with "Yes." Just then, Izolda realizes that she had been holding Eislyn's hands the entire time, and quickly drops them. Sharing this embarrassing moment, the pair look out of the porthole for the remainder of the night in silence. Meanwhile, Cypryjan was alone in his room.
While the party sleeps, they get a rude awakening from Captain Andrzej who announces that they will be landing in the Wrowagn Skyport shortly. Once landed, the group makes their way through customs and begins discussing their plans, openly, about what they will do once they meet Parsmen Glemkil. A passerby, going by the name of Feodor, admits he was eavesdropping a bit and asks if they were speaking about Professor Glemkil. When they say yes, Feodor gladly shakes their hands and tells them he can be found in the Oleg Observatory or in his office at Fyodor College. He makes his way away from group shortly thereafter.
Once the party absconds from the skyport, Eislyn and Cypryjan notice the Hostmen of Wrowagn building and a Rafe's Own distillery. The party jokes about Cypryjan's proclivity towards Rafe's Own and suggests that he get a job while they stay there. He laughs this off and leads them towards Arnelle's Alehaus where the group encounters a bartender named Marcullus. He's a speedy, get-up-and-go sort of man with a friendly face and olive tan skin. Marcullus immediately asks if the group is in need of five drinks, instead they request rooms from him. As he records the names of people, he requests Brynn's surname, to which she gives Anastazja's. Marcullus insinuates that the two are married and they play along with the gag for a considerable amount of time. However, once Cypryjan's name is recorded, Marcullus gives pause and questions if he's heard of Cypryjan before. Cypryjan cannot recall this gentleman but Marcullus comments on how he and his friends used to "kick his ass back in the day." Cypryjan immediately leaves the area and goes towards where he believes his room might be.
Once everyone buddies up within their rooms and drops off their stuff, Izolda asks Cypryjan for help with her whip and sword-cane. She specifically asks for him to work on a process of 'electrification'. Cypryjan works diligently, adding a finer point to the sword-cane initially through the utilization of a large whetstone and a large cut of leather. Izolda decides to take a very short nap in Cypryjan's room while he works before deciding to find a fabric shop with the team. She also brings along Cypryjan, halting his work. Once at Squat & Nimble's Fabrics, Izolda picks out several pieces of fabric and thread.
The party then moves on to Schauer's Kaffee, a small café near the Adventurer's Guild. There they meet Millie, a tiefling barista with deep blue skin and fading purple hair. Once everyone's order is taken, she glides a single finger along Eislyn's back as he leaves. The entire party is signaled at her attraction to Eislyn. While sipping coffee, the team discusses a few bits and pieces about their time together, with Izolda questioning Anastazja in particular about her knowledge on the Underdark. Anastazja shares that she has nothing but disdain for the Underdark, and much prefers the light of Her Lady as opposed to the dreary times her people shared under The Spider Queen. When Izolda inquires about "shadow magic", Anastazja clarifies that it is human code for "weird drow magics", and shoots down any concept of Shadowfell magics being utilized in the Underdark.
After a stint in the kaffeehaus, the party moves on towards the Adventurer's Guild, forgoing potentially meeting up with Parsmen Glemkil this morning. Once inside, the party is greeted by a robotic younger man who is acting as a teller of the guild. Izolda asks for a clarification on one thing, and the teller gets aggressive calling them names and regarding all adventurers as dull and bleak. Brynn and Eislyn jump to defend Izolda, while Anastazja goes blanks for a bit of time. The party asks for any jobs that the teller has and he makes a point about the Bagshot III becoming an issue of piracy in the Pomkjas Coast, and weary merchant marines are hiring adventurers constantly specifically around the trade port of Torr's End. Anastazja gets quiet and confesses that she would rather not go to Torr's End. The party then hears about an opportunity at a local lumber mill and jump at the opportunity of two pounds for twelve hours of work. The party is asked to give a name for the registration, and Izolda jumps at the chance, announcing them to be the Deviants in Violet. The group agrees that this should be the name that they go by, with all members, aside from Cypryjan, agreeing to it. Cypryjan protests and calls himself the leader of the party but despite his position, he is outvoted by the majority. 
Once at the lumber mill, the party meets with the foreman of the mill and discuss both payment and job requirements. The party is meant to walk around, looking tough, and warding off potential bandits or ruffians. While patrolling, Cypryjan and Anastazja spot a peculiar looking man with a shadow visage watching them. Cypryjan takes note of how he signals people the number 5 and a signal of confirmation. Anastazja fully turns to him, trying to ward him off but all he does is slink behind the tree he was at. The party then feints like they are going to continue their patrol while Eislyn slinks off into the shadows to scout the man that was eyeing him. She hears a bit of rustling above her in the trees and is accosted by a gaunt, pale man in leather armor with a bow strapped to his chest. The gaunt man, later revealed to be named Zivek, asks her if she and her coterie were coming to town from Brisbayern. Eislyn refuses to give him a straight answer, to which he replies by saying "Criminals and vandals... The Warden will grant you no clemency." and firing an arrow at her. Combat ensues with the party members rolling initiative. 
=== Highlights of Combat ===
* Eislyn shows off her new ability to create psionic daggers
* Cypryjan shows off Stróż for the first time in combat, with Stróż mainly acting as a pugilist.
* Anastazja utilizes the Spinning the Yarn feature of her subclass for the first time.
* Brynn uses Armor of Agathys for the first time.
Towards the end of combat, Zivek's men have all be slaughtered or had their minds melted. He announces to the group that the Warden's Order will find them and cut them down and aims to teleport away from the group. However, before he can do so, Izolda teleports next to him and Snares him with her whip, causing him to dangle several feet above the ground. After a bit of questioning, Zivek pleads for his life, arguing that his death will only guarantee the party's deaths. Deliberation is urged by Anastazja and had, very quickly, and it is decided that if they let Zivek live their lives are forfeited anyway. Izolda leaves him dangling before Brynn executes him.
== Featured Characters ==
=== Deviants in Violet ===
* Anastazja
* Brynn
* Cypryjan
* Eislyn
* Izolda
=== New ===
* Feodor, assistant to Parsmen Glemkil
* Marcullus, bartender
* Millie, barista
* Unnamed foreman
* Unnamed teller
* Zivek
=== Returning ===
* Andrzej
=== Mentioned ===
* Blausten von Clausewitz
* The Dawnmother
* The Divine Tribunal
** The Silver Maid
** The Grimlady
** The Moon Maiden
* Emmerich
* Lida
* Parsmen Glemkil
* The Rainfather
* Shadowy Figure
* The Spider Queen
== Quotations ==
* Cypryjan to the Party: "Do you think I could hold a job there for any reasonable amount of time? Whilst I am unconscious for about 80% of my work hours?"
== Trivia ==
* This is the fourth city that has been explored in-campaign by members of the Deviants in Violet. With the others being: Brisbayern, Utra-Zimac (Cypryjan), and Malkzor (Anastazja, Brynn, Eislyn & Izolda).
Category:Episodes