Haute Couture (TF007)

**Haute Couture** is the seventh session of the Team 3.5 campaign.  Picking up from the attack in Arborro, Team 3.5 sets back out on the road for Crusene, hoping to get to the bottom of the odd plant infestation business.

## Synopsis

### Abralis 10

Picking right up from last session, the party gears up to return to the road.  Aine pops her head into Oregold Goods, where the hobgoblin Reskitt sold her a health potion to replace the one she used on Nesro.  Zolis saw the three of them off, reminding them that they had a place to stay in Arborro whenever they needed.  They made good time that day.

### Abralis 11

A chill day was spent on the road.  Lath really started digging into *Love, Distilled*, triggering Aine’s curiosity.  It was revealed that, at the Solari monastery, there is a thriving underground network of cheesy romance novels that circulate around, with heated discussions being argued in the dead of night.

### Abralis 12

It was this day that the party was beset by three hardy bandits, looking to make a bit of money off of the “road tax” for the Empire.  Lath was seriously injured during this bout.  The party managed to kill one of the bandits, and Aine convinced the other two to run off.  Aine dealt the killing blow and struggled with the ramifications of killing another mortal being that was so desperate that they resorted to assaulting random people on the road.

Aine made it a point to bury the bandit according to Areuic burial practices: away from shade so the grave would be in full light of the sun whenever it was shining.

Lath was notably touched by Lemmy’s encouragements during the fight, even if he didn’t show it outwardly.

### Abralis 13

The mood on the road was very subdued this next day, with Aine still working through the emotions of the fight, and Lath even more recalcitrant than usual.

### Abralis 14

Lath prompted Lemmy to sing a road traveling song.  While this did not fully lift the fug they had been in, it did lighten their spirits a bit as they arrived in Crusene.  Getting directions from a Legion member, they were guided to the Chateau Aesthetica.  They were soon ushered in by Hunter Gordon to meet with his mother, Lady Duff Gordon.

Lady Gordon recounted a bit of family history for them: in the immediate aftermath of the Great Madness, the immediate area around Crusene was beset by a very similar flora infestation as the one they have currently.  Lady Gordon’s grandparents, in an effort to keep their people safe, bent the knee to the Artus Empire, becoming a component piece in exchange for safety.  After relinquishing the crown to their son, Lady Gordon’s grandparents took three artifacts with them: the Pelt of the Winter King, Isangrim, and the Crusene crown, and led their forces into the Avonstead to stop the infestation.  They apparently succeeded, but disappeared and haven’t been seen since.  And now the issue has returned.

Lady Duff Gordon officially hires Team 3.5 off of Frenosta’s recommendation, hoping to rely on her own forces and outside help rather than call on the help of the Artus throne.  She also charges the three of them with returning the family crown to her: she doesn’t care to regain the Pelt or Isangrim.

As the party pondered their next move, Lemmy was beset by a very passionate metal worker by the name of Melise, who wished to replace Lemmy’s glued on lion stache with an intricate metalwork one directly onto his face.  Lemmy kindly and firmly turned him down, and Melise began throwing an absolute tantrum.  After trying to talk him down, Aine knocked him out and left a note saying that inspiration could come from anywhere.

## Featured Characters

### Player Characters

* Aine Solana
* Glath an Latha
* Lemmy

### Non-player Characters

* Reskitt, the hobgoblin purveyor of Oregold Goods
* Hunter Gordon, human lordling of Crusene
* Duff Gordon, human Lady of Crusene
* Melise, borean metal worker