Episode 7: The Artificer Fundraising Gala

**The Artificer Fundraising Gala** (C1E7) is the seventh episode of the first campaign of The Table is Yours: A Role-playing Adventure Show. The Faded Fates, now missing One, are given a new mission: get ready to attend a lavish gala.

## **Synopsis**

### A New Mission & An Old Friend

Following One’s departure, Codex explains to Shawm the burlap sacks, the viscera they contained, the removal of the giant rat carcasses, and, of course, the dark mysterious figure that claimed The Fated Fates are now their adversaries. Shawm tells the party he will speak with Maude to see if the guild has any further information. Terrance asks if One is going to be alright, considering she was sent away, alone, without v2. Shawm smiles and nods slowly, chuckling as he explains One can handle herself. Plus, she was formally requested by a client for a very handsome price. Shawm says she will be back in no time to regroup with the newly named party. Codex asks why One left with Orathia, and Shawm declines to answer.

Instead, he tells them he has a mission for them that will help them learn more about Vorano and his operations. Shawm states that in the Ninth Precinct there will be an artificer fundraising gala, hosted by Lady Serafima Rousseau. The Faded Fates, Shawm explains, will be there as representatives of The Red Raven Adventuring Guild, accompanied by Maude. He tells them that by noon the next day, he will have the necessary information for them and that they will be taken to a tailor to acquire appropriate attire for the event. Before Shawm departs, Codex asks about the letter she sent to her friend at Summit. He has little response.

The Faded Fates, minus One, return to *The Iron Woman* and greet Milla, who is surprised by their quick return. Terrance asks her if she can craft a weapon and send it off to be enchanted to enhance in size, like Terrance does when he shifts into Terry. Despite his nervous rambling, Milla understands what Terrance is asking of her. She brings out what looks like the hammer she uses on her anvil. She speaks a few words in Primordial, and her hammer turns into a massive block-topped warhammer. Terrence tells her that’s exactly what he wants. Milla chuckles and confirms that she can have it made for Terrance for somewhere between 1,000-2,000 gold pieces. Terrance lets out a sigh and thanks Milla, saying they’ll return when they can afford the price.

### The Aurel Envoy

As the party leaves *The Iron Woman*, Codex asks if they can all go to a nearby Aurel Envoy office, the postal delivery service in Zobraria. Upon arriving, Codex flashes a Volguard her old badge, and they allow the party into the building. Codex marches straight up to the desk and is met by a familiar face: a tan, humanoid woman with pale blue eyes and long chestnut hair, who Codex introduces as Phoebe. Terrance asks for paper to write a letter to his mother, and Codex does the same, hoping to catch her parents up on her current adventure. They talk about the event in the Ninth, and Phoebe says the Aurel Envoy will also have representatives at the gala, including herself. She then mentions the Red Raven’s sister guild, The Blue Crows, having a rivalry with their guild the last time they were at an event together. Apparently it was quite the scene, and the Red Ravens got kicked out. The party expresses that it will be nice to have a friendly face at an event that is so unfamiliar to them, everyone except Terrance who thinks he is still receiving strange looks from Phoebe every time their eyes meet.

Terrance tears off a piece of his paper to write a note expressing his concerns about Phoebe and slides the note to Shae. He and Codex seal their letters and hand them over to Phoebe. Terrance pulls Shae aside on the walk home, and she reads the note and looks at Terrance, unsure of whether to believe him or not. He explains that this isn’t like when he was suspicious of Old Maeve, Phoebe is really acting weird. He continues that Shawm said Vorano might have higher connections with the major guilds, maybe the Aurel Envoy is one of them. Shae nods sympathetically and says she will keep the idea in mind during the upcoming mission, but she declares Terrance paranoid.

### Wash Can Dance

The Faded Fates return to the guild hall where Shawm and Maude give them a more in depth debrief on their upcoming mission. He explains there will be a lot of important people at this gala and that no one is above suspicion. Terrance, with minimal grace, asks what happened between the Blue Crows and the Red Ravens at the last event. Maude makes silent gestures to Terrance behind Shawm who seems unaware of such an event. Maude shrugs and offers that adventurers tend to make a story out of even the most boring of events. Shawm gives Maude a look and carries on. He explains that Maude will be attending as Lady Liadre, a funder of the guild but in actuality her secondary persona.

With a smug confidence that only Shawm has, he makes his leave and leaves the rest of the debrief to Maude, who seems dismally obedient. She instructs the group she will be taking them to a tailor to purchase outfits for the gala, funded by the guild. The Faded Fates have a fun fashion montage as they prepare for their most challenging mission yet: professionalism.

The following morning, Maude rallies the troops. Everyone gathers their things for the gala, including smuggling in weapons that they may need if things go south. They all board a carriage, and Maude tells the party they are going to get there early for reconnaissance before the event starts. She also asks everyone to list their strengths when it comes to social situations. Shae explains she is a charmer, and she has had to fit in with the upper crust of society before. Codex says she is very friendly and can try to scope out the workers at the event to see if they know anything. Maude looks with concern to Terrance, who is uncomfortable having a conversation with people he already knows. He shrugs and tells her he can keep a lookout for other people who really didn’t want to be there. She reluctantly accepts this answer and turns her gaze to Wash, who simply says, *“well, I can dance”*. Everyone stares in silence for a moment, then Maude carries on. She cautions the group to keep their real identities to themselves, for safety.

### The Polished Wall

The carriage pulls up to the location of the gala, The Polished Wall, a lavish keep with marbled architecture. It is perched on a cliff overlooking The Wilds, with a waterfall flowing upwards through the structure. Many guards stand alert around the perimeter, and they look like they should be members of the Vol Multitude, but their armor is entirely unique to The Polished Wall. The members of the group who aren’t already dressed quickly change, and Maude disguises herself as Lady Liadre. Together, they enter a long hallway into a massive ballroom with a balcony hanging over the cliff.

The party decides to split; Codex stays behind to help set up for the event, Shae and Terrance look for a place to drink and mingle, and Wash wanders off to find a secluded bar. Codex ends up in a coat check, assisting a woman named Lin. The two gossip about the attendees of the gala, and Codex learns that the host, Lady Rousseau, likes a bit of drama and loves when people stir the pot for a bit of entertainment. Wash, meanwhile, is buying an expensive bottle of liquor across town to make his experience at the ball smoother. As he does this, Shae and Terrance find a beer garden of sorts to keep them occupied. Shae leaves Terrance hovering at the bar to mingle with the elites. Terrance sees a few members of the Blue Crows, and he decides to try and talk to them. As he introduces himself as Terry, they introduce themselves as the Mystic Dukes. Their leader seems rather suspicious of Terrance because they are also looking into the Vorano situation. Terrance matches a description they received of the person who created the serums at the Summit. Terrance stammers nervously and decides it is best to leave the situation, and after a devastating blow to his ego, and a heavy dose of paranoia, he thinks it best to return to The Faded Fates.

Back at the event hall, Codex runs into a very tall, gaunt looking man; she quickly apologizes as he brushes her off. She looks into his eyes as she talks to him and notices a glint that almost looks like starlight, reminding her of the creature she spoke with in the woods of The Gray Grove. Putting two and two together, her demeanor quickly changes. She asks him what his name is in an attempt to make conversation. He introduces himself as Balthazar, and she introduces herself in return, ignoring Maude’s previous advice to keep their identities secret. They speak for a quick moment, and the conversation is strained before he makes his leave. Codex runs out of the keep to find the rest of the Faded Fates and tell them about her mysterious encounter. She finds Wash and Terrance, who is already ranting about his experience with the Blue Crows. Codex cuts him off and relays her experience with Balthazar.

Shae makes her way back towards the entrance and notices the Blue Crows. She introduces herself to their representative, Sir Rainer, who seems quite charmed by Shae. On their walk over, he tells her The Blue Crows are on the lookout for some suspicious folks who may be tied to Vorano. Intrigued, she asks him to elaborate. He describes four creatures they think are involved with Vorano, and the descriptions match all of Shae’s fellow party members. Shae listens as they get closer to the Polished Wall, and she notices the rest of her party members discussing something feverishly outside of the entrance. She leads Rainer out of earshot as they enter the Polished Wall, protecting her party and readying herself for the fundraising gala.