Session 18: A Dance Upon a Summer Night

* We started off back at Balthor’s bath house
	+ They soaked for a long time before Balthor approached, offering to properly clean Morgan’s hat
	+ They also flirted with Ramzi which was politely declined
* After soaking for a while and doing a little bonding, the party did a shopping spree in order to search for their ball attired
	+ There’s big gay time between Clara and Tato
	+ They attended Estelle’s, a boutique run by a blue tiefling woman named Estelle
* She was over the moon to serve them, taking measurements and their specific clothing desires
	+ Morgan: Empress’ has already ordered his outfit
	+ Ramzi: burgundy suit, open high collar, black shirt
	+ Tato: Amber, colour of Clara’s eyes, contemporary, whatever style
	+ Marcus: blue with silver trim, part military, part caster chic
* Upon realising Morgan was the ambassador, she explains that the empress had already sent payment for the outfits
	+ Spotting Allegra, she kneels down to ask about the girl’s outfit preferences. Allegra whispers it to the seamstress and the two conspire
	+ Marcus mentions that he has plans for Pogo’s attire for the ball. Fear.
* The party return to the palace where they were greeted by Thia Nailo, Clara and Eora, all of whom join them for dinner
	+ Upon noticing the absence of his brother, Morgan called Entari up, only to find that he was dressed nicely with his hair in intricate braids, eyeliner and highlighter on his face.
	+ It appeared to be the triad’s date night but they didn’t have dinner plans so they would come join them if they were welcome
* Upon arriving, Thia gets obviously uncomfortable and it seems that she and her son have yet to properly make up just yet
	+ Regardless, the dinner continues, light conversation is had until Thia excuses herself, unable to look at Entari
* The triad bring the party along with them to the BackAlley Brew, a series of interconnecting back pubs that span an entire street. It’s basically a series of ongoing parties
	+ Eora stays behind to read Allegra a bedtime story
	+ Voldi uses Bing as a set of noise reducing headphones and fashions out a small set for Marcus
	+ They find a few familiar characters: the Duke Leaflade and Estelle
	+ Tato lights up a smoke and plays his pipes, having a jolly old time with the other bards interspersed. Another bard lights their fiddle on fire to smoke up too
	+ Entari and Chartreuse immediately swing into a fast-paced, fun dance, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. When Voldi jumps in, it seems perfect
* Amongst the crowd, incredibly popular, a tall, muscular hobgoblin swings with various partners, in an ongoing dance and laughing as if she has no care in the world
	+ Tsunder is familiar to Tato, as she saw her down in the Facility, and Morgan, who was kidnapped by her
	+ Tsunder approaches and, seeing Morgan about to bolt, chucks him into a headlock
	+ She does not care about being threatened, she seems pretty blasie about everything
	+ Eventually lets him go and they wish to ask her questions so they head away to get some semblance of privacy
* Tsunder drinks a shot and over pays the barkeep. He knows her by name and it seems she’s a frequent guest down this alley
	+ Tsunder is the Child of the Chariot, often used as the muscles of the division and spent a long time as Eora’s bodyguard
	+ She asks how the halfling is doing as she grew to really like the girl, something that Marcus echoes
	+ Tsunder explains that the Facility wants a Child for each of the deities, the purpose that only One seems to know. She also refuses to tell who the Judge is, though the party successfully deduce that it’s Elphira
* She explains that Elphira was broken before she came but apparently her and the original Midnight were incredibly close. The black hound, to the best of her knowledge, is an amalgamation of both her memories of him and of her mutation manifesting, giving it a form of consciousness
	+ Eora once entered Elphira’s dreams, to speak to the real her, and found that she didn’t want to help herself. She was in her own dream world within her mind, living alongside the dream version of Midnight
	+ Tsunder chooses not to help those who don’t help herself
* With a cheery farewell, Tsunder wishes the party well and rejoins the festivities, leaving the group to ponder her parting words

And that was our 18th session! Next will take place on Feb 16th, 2022!