Ornthas Observatory Ordeal

Ornthas - Winter 721 - Fillmore, Ernst, Nax, Roberto

On the first day of winter in the year 721, Fillmore, Robero and Baron Ernst received an unusual letter from a hand maiden of Queen Cilliren. The letter stated that the Royal Magician Tesla Borden had rapidly grown of power and influence in recent months, all the nobles of the court seemed to love he bard, the Queen also seems under his spell, as the pair were now bethrothed.

They were summoned to a meeting at a tavern in the Capital city of Ornthas. Fillmore sent word to Nax to meet them in the city, the wizard was already there waiting in the quiet inn. Baron Ernst was first to arrive, he did not seem convinced by this letter from a lowly handmaiden, but as it convernced his liege he thought it worth investigating. Roberto would arrive next, wearing a new outfit of black and grey cloth, he blasted the front door open in an unpatient rage, he would eventually join the others at the table.

> *"Where is she?!" - Roberto Angier*
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After some drinking the handmaiden arrived, she seemed spooked, and would not speak of what she knew, she was however miming out a writing motion. Roberto gave her pen and paper and she wrote what she knew of Tesla's dealings. He had cast a spell on the handmaiden so she could not speak of him. Tesla had frequent visitors dressed in black robes and masks to his chambers, this could be a lead to follow for the group. Roberto used his magic ball to scry the Queen, she was in court, leaning affectionately on the shoulder of Tesla.

The four adventurers were always welcome as heroes of the realm, they would be in a good position to gather information. Ernst suggested financial gifts in order to act out swift politics. When the group arrived at the court, they were greeted and introduced to the Queen and her nobles, Nax took the time to speak with Bernard Hopesworth, the emissary from the Holy Empire of Om, the emissary was also extremely fond of Tesla.

Ernst spoke around to try to find if any other nobles may not yet be swooning for Tesla, he spoke to his friend Silvar Gilbar, who told the Baron about the "Traditionalists", these were advisors of the Queen, appointed by her father who had recently been dimissed. These nobles were not aligned with Tesla.

Nax sneaked off upstairs to find Tesla's chambers. He was allowed passage as the guard thought he was making another delivery. He found a chest that once held potions, there was also a mechanical creature in the corner of the room, when it moved towards Nax, the rogue used his magical cloak to create a smoke screen, as he left the room he noticed a partially burned letter in the fireplace. Nax seemed to be losing his faith in Om, perhaps due to his transformation he now thought of "The Great Serpent in the Sky". He ran into another masked man, there was confusion but ultimately the two started to fight, before the mysterious man fled through the window he mentioned the name "Shaloxthur".

Nax returned to the group in the banquet hall, he told the others what had happened, but not about the potions. The masked man arrived in the hall and spoke whispered words to Tesla then left. Nax immediately excused himself to follow the man. The other three follow as well, however Ernst was easily noticed in his plate armour, The Baron tried to convince the masked man he was to meet Tesla also but the ruse did not work and a fight broke out in the corridor.

Roberto filled the hallway with grease, the assassin stabbed Nax then misty stepped his way down the corridor only to take a firebolt in the back from the wizard Fillmore and then be killed but a sorching ray from Roberto. When unmasked, the assassin was a Red Dragonborn, on his way to kill the handmaiden.

Music started to play from behind the party, only Roberto turned towards it, the others snapped him from the influence and the party ascended to the observatory tower to away Tesla. Nax set a clever trap, a bear trap rigged to the ceiling with a tripwire below. The party hid behind the pillars, waiting. They could hear flapping on the still night air, a Red Dragon landed on the platform of the tower as Tesla arrived from the stairway. Ernst almost convinced the magician that he was there to help, but Tesla commands the party to leave, this was counterspelled by Fillmore.

The Dragon, Lord Baeleashk became angered and asked who these interlopers were. Fillmore ran from his hiding to cast haste on Nax, who then rushed to stab Tesla. Roberto dealt a great deal of damage with his whistling fire magic.

In a daringly stupid maneuver Baron Ernst grappled Tesla then tossed himself down the 50ft of stairs, as this didn't quite do the job Ernst stabbed Tesla, but the magician remained alive.

Nax and Roberto turned to attack the dragon, who had breathed fire into the tower. Roberto then turned to launch a fireball down the stairs, it hit both Tesla and Ernst, knocking them both unconscious.

Fillmore tried to keep the dragon occupied but summoning aid in the form of a bear made of dust and then two earth elemental. Throughout the night, Nax would also single handily kill this Red Dragon, but the task was too great and the assassin was knocked unconscious.

Roberto had descended the stairs where he helped both men to regain consciousness, then he would teleport to the very edge of the tower. Here Roberto would force feel his foe a love potion, as Tesla began to tell Mr Angier that he respected him, Roberto fireballed his rival into a red mist.

Meanwhile Baron Ernst cast a spell which turned him into a potted plant.

Fillmore attempted to web the Dragon but it was too stong, Roberto cast sleep on the Dragon but it wasn't powerful enough. Ernst rushed in to swing his sword but he could not get though the red scales. Nax awoke and lunged at the beast but was blocked by his spiked tail and again fell unconscious.

Finally the Dragon was killed by the combined effort of the party.