Life of the Party

**"Life of the Party" (1x19)** is the fifth session of the third chapter of A War On All Sides. The party gets decked out in some fancy Shimmerweave and pays a visit to The Eltivo Gala.

## **Synopsis**

The group received their victory payout for the victory in The Trials of Talahad over Bastion's Bastion. The group received congratulations from many people, and a servant of Veramere Eltivo approached to present an invitation to The Eltivo Gala. Nearby, Tyrael and Fel'dagon were watching, and once the coast was clear they gave congratulations and discussed next plans. They wanted to help the party get clothes to properly present themselves at the function, and then discuss the plans for the Gala at the Sanctum of Sages. As the party began to depart, Crawmi first made his way to Bastion and chided him, angering the brute who attempted to offer rebuttal but fell too exhausted to fight back. Feeling satisfied, the group left for Upper Riann's Landing to acquire some Shimmerweave.

Upper Riann's Landing is perhaps the most stuffy and exclusive ward in all of Skyreach, save for Cloud Top. The party paid a 5gp entry fee to license their weapons, and were met with many stares from the haughty folk here who looked down on their drab appearance. Tyrael and Fel'dagon quickly led them through the street to Aravast's Illustrious Threads, a shop ran by a lavish gnome who is one of only two shops in all of Skyreach to make Shimmerweave. Here, the party tried on various clothes and put in their requests for custom Shimmerweave, which Aravast completed with expertise and speed. The group then went to a shop called Transmutation, where they could acquire different beauty modifications, however only Crawmi and Ronwe partook in this. As the group headed through the streets, a member of The Unknown bumped into Ronwe, leaving him a vial of Opaque, a mysterious potion...

Properly decked out, the group made their way to the Sanctum of Sages, where Tyrael led them to one of his study rooms where he researched the Corrupted Lightshard. The party learned more of its properties here. Lightshards themselves contain the pure essence of Vaseres who created all life on the planet. When Molod the Devourer's influence corrupted these pure crystals, the essence became tainted, and as a result, possessed the ability to corrupt life itself. That is why those who bond with a crystal turn into foul beasts resembling the Molodari, the fiends who call Molodar home. However, the one perk that Nowun uncovered is that this corruption seems to allow one who is in contact with a shard to hear nearby 'thoughts' of what they assume to be Molod. With this intel, the group felt confident in their plans and headed off towards the Gala.

The group boarded their eccentric Skycoach and flew higher above the clouds towards Cloud Top. Here, they saw vast towers stretching into the orange sky, including the castle of King Markus Silvertide XVII, called Skykeep. Once in the Brilliance district, they departed their coach and entered the lavish Eltivo Manor. The foyer itself was large and expansive, and once the party made their way up towards the actual event, they were transported into a magical world where the classical architecture combined with magical augments and decor to create a wonderful scene. Leaving their weapons and armor in a private chest, the group met with Veramere Eltivo briefly, and began conversing with the guests to take advantage of the opportunity.

* Ivantar was called over by a large red dragonborn in a fine military uniform. He introduced himself as Kazz'teki Lana'duul, the Lieutenant to the High Commander of The Silver Legion. He expressed his admiration of Ivantar's fighting prowess in the Trials, and sought to recruit him to the war effort. He revealed that recently, Ratin forces had shot down a Rammheim Airship over the Ratin capital of Makin using one of their 'infernal' war machines. As Silvertide forces advance in the south, it appears that another thread could be looming to the West near the Silvertide Kingdom city of Korwald, a major trading hub. Apparently, forces from the Xorian Republic were seen nearby, so a scouting party is being formed to investigate. Kazz'teki asked for Ivantar and his group's assistance with this, should their goals line up...
* Crawmi followed an attractive woman named Ebbi Vinzen into the dance hall, where he let his flirtations run wild. He learned that Nowun was possibly part of some nefarious underground organization, and she seemed to have a great distrust for him. Ebbi was also at the party with Veydum d'Vaxil, the head of House Vaxil's Mercantile Guild. Though their relationship is unknown, Veydum expressed displeasure at Ebbi throwing herself on another man, and seemed to cut off a certain business relationship with Ebbi unless her new 'man' (Crawmi) would assist with a trade mission.
* Ronwe spoke to a halfling named Briar d'Argus, who ended up being the leader of Clan Argus, a prominent organization dealing with various forms of trade. Also in the group was Brennan d'Sirum, the patriarch of House Sirium, the bearers of the Mark of Finding and notorious bounty hunters and seekers. Brennan revealed that Briar was a member of The Quarum, a reclusive but important group who dealed in antiquities and relics. And on that note, Brennan revealed that a rival group of bounty hunters calling themselves Iradar were seen excavating a site in the Eldin Desert believed to possibly be the ancient city of Sol'mir. This city possessed great but cursed power, and Brennan and Briar seek it for themselves, and seemed to imply that Ronwe and his party could assist in dealing with this 'Iradar' if they wished. Briar also expressed frustration at a certain group called Therogg's Clutch which was imposing on his trade, and asked that Ronwe keep his ears open for any information pertaining to how they operate or create their main export, Bleakroot. Should he hear anything, he can report to the headquarters in Little Kas, the halfling district in Middle Galantis plateau in Skyreach.
* Nowun followed a priest of The Glorious, Shay Broward, into a hidden room. Upon investigating the wall that Shay slipped into, Nowun found a secret mechanism that allowed him to pass through as well. Sneaking in, he overheard a conversation between two men and a goblin. The conversation seemed to be led by the goblin, who was revealed to be Gobi. Gobi spoke of how Bleakroot was causing all of these nobles to be wrapped around Therogg's finger... "even this priest!". Nowun then revealed himself as another man was getting up to leave. He met face to face with Nellek Vazerio who was leaving. After a brief conversation, Nellek told Gobi that Nowun could have Bleakroot "on him". Nowun obliged as Nellek left, gaining 3 vials. He was able to feign taking the drug, leaving Gobi feeling as if he had power. Nowun then offered some to Gobi, who obliged and became incapacitated. Now feeling safe, Nowun investigated Gobi, finding a dagger hidden in his boot. Taking it and several more vials of Bleakroot, Nowun got up to leave. As he did, his lust for death took over and he flung Gobi's own dagger into his neck, killing him. As Gobi's blood pooled on the floor, Nowun planted the dagger in Shay's hand and left the room, expertly concealing the hidden wall behind a potted plant he not-so-quietly slid in front of it.
* The group conversed with the boistrous Ernesto Darroway, the leader of the Darroway Foundation. He invited the group on a hunt in the Uro'mae Valley, which seemed to conflict with an offer from Errond ir'Lanios. Errond offered the group admittance into the Clifftop Adventurer's Guild if they would complete a test of sponsorship. This test involved meeting with a contact near the city of Shady Run in southern Xoria. Here, a tavern called Roc Bottom was abusing and taking captives patrons and other competition. Apparently, the owner had taken a roc hostage through some method and used it to gain business and eliminate opposition. The contact for the quest wanted this put to an end. If the group would do this, they would be full fledged members of the Guild.

After the conversations were had, the guests were called back into the main room for a toast by Veramere Eltivo. Eltivo congratulated the party, and thanked all of the guests for their continued support and diligant work. During the toast, Nowun overheard via the corrupted shard that those whom Molod sought were "outside of Redblade's Tavern in Deathsgate." He also said that guests were soon to arrive... Nellek then quietly responded (but not too quiet for Nowun's feline ears) nearby that he would go at once and that it never fails to have a backup plan. After the toast and introduction of the main course, Veramere once more approached the party and stated there was apparently an auction among various patrons for the right to hire on the party for personal matters. As Veramere revealed the name of this person to be Mirrum Dositch, a man ran from the dance hall shouting "fiends!".

## **Featured Characters**

### **Player Characters**

* Ivantar
* Ronwe
* Ashok
* Crawmi
* Nowun
* Omaronim

### **New**

* Shay Broward
* Veramere Eltivo
* Clan Argus
	+ Briar d'Argus
* Darroway Foundation
	+ Ernesto Darroway
* Therogg's Clutch
* House Sirium
	+ Brennan d'Sirium
* Ebbi Vinzen
* The Silver Legion
	+ Kazz'teki Lana'duul
* Veydum d'Vaxil

### **Mentioned**

* Molod the Devourer
* Mirrum Dositch

### **Returning**

* Errond ir'Lanios
* Nellek Vazerio
* Tyrael Mynteres
* Fel'dagon Myrron

## **Inventory**

* Shimmerweave acquisitions
	+ Ivantar: A very fancy knee-length coat that tells the story of a man and woman finding love, flying through the desert, uncovering treasure, and speaking to a draconic fortune teller. The cloak moves and transitions effortlessly through these scenes.
	+ Ronwe: A dark grey robe with a blood red 'flowing' river starting at the base of the skull and moving down and splitting up to wrap around the lower sections of the robe. Eye drops that set his eyes to be a sinkhole, with his color falling into the pupils.
	+ Crawmi: A lavish long coat in a greenish-blue color like the ocean. The cloak seems to roll and crash like the waves. Eye drops that set his eyes aflame.
	+ Ashok: [ ]
	+ Nowun: A plain drab purple doublet with a spinning white dot that orbits around the waist.
	+ Omaronim: [ ]
* Nowun: 6 vials of Bleakroot, 3 of which were pilfered the from dead body of a Therogg's Clutch dealer, Gobi.