Favor, Episode 16: Fashion Fatale

## Starring

Sage Stafford as Aoife FlanneryCeleste Conowitch as the DM

**Episode 16: Fashion Fatale** *(2x16)* is the sixteenth episode of the first arc of the the second Venture Maidens campaign.

> **CONTENT WARNING:** *This episode contains depictions of* **spiders** *and the* **possibility for possession.**
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## Synopsis

*Ribbons, zippers, buttons, and bows*

*Are some of the things to make clothes*

*But even Aoife can't make a thing to wear*

*If she is pulled into a realm of despair*

### The Surprise Invitation

This episode starts in Coven, in one of those rare moments when Aoife has a whole day to herself. The night before, she had received a letter that read:

Darling Fifi,

I am thrilled to hear you are back in Coven and I took the liberty of setting up a little surprise for you! Be at the Witch’s Brew tomorrow at 10 AM and make sure you look CUTE!

Love,

Uncle Bertie

Aoife, unable to contain her excitement, woke up early and picked out her outfit. Overnight she had set her hair in pin curls, with perfect finger wives that curl around her horns. She chose a very lacy, cream colored shift dress with scallop-capped sleeves and a long pearl necklace that drapes down her front. Her hooves are draped in maroon calf warmers and she makes sure to grab her little matching clutch purse before heading out the door.

Not wanting Lu to worry, she scrawls a note letting her know where she has gone, and who she is meeting up with, leaving the note on the kitchen island for the chef to find.

Making her way into Coven, Aoife notes that little about the place changes, other than the occassional bout of strange weather. She enters the Witch’s Brew, noting a few other patrons dotted about the room having coffee. She spots Tandy drifting about the room, before the Dryad sits at a table with two other people that seem confused by her presence.

### Fun Mortal Games

Aoife waves excitedly when she catches Tandy’s eye before looking around for Bert and Ernie, but she does not see them and sits at a table closest to the door so as not to be missed.

After a few minutes, Tandy calls over to ask if Aoife wants anything, but Aoife isn’t sure how long they will be staying at the establishment so she only orders a drink. Tandy disengages with the confused patrons and pulls a notebook and a pencil as she walks over, but she stares at the items for a long moment before telling Aoife that Lu told her that she should carry them for work, even though she isn’t sure why.

Aoife explains that she had a friend that owned a restaraunt, and that the polite thing to do when people order something is to write it down. Even if you can remember the order, it makes people feel better and more secure that they would get the right order. Tandy thinks it is a fun mortal game and asks Aoife what she would like to drink.

Aoife orders a honeysuckle mead and Tandy joyfully writes it down before showing the order to Aoife before ripping the paper off of the notepad and leaving it on the table. Aoife almost says something, but just watches the Dryad disappear into the back.

Aoife waits a while more, but Bert and Ernie still have not shown up. She decides to wait a half hour more before going across the square to their place of business.

### Tall, Blue, and Handsome

Tandy is just returning when a tall individual stoops through the doorway. They are dressed in rough spun clothing and carry a shoulder bag with a bunch of tubes coming out of it. Clutched in front of them is a large padded book. They are covered in a slight blue fuzz with a wide nose, and large ears that stick out to the side, and Aoife recognizes this to be a firbolg.

The firbolg looks around the Witch’s Brew with his honey colored eyes and he brushes some blue hair out of his eyes before walking up to Tandy, explaining that he is looking for an Aoife Flannery. Tandy points Aoife out and the firbolg holds his hand out for a professional handshake.

Aoife reaches out meekly and takes his hand and watches as some fabric swatches fall from the book onto the table. He explains that Bertrum told him that she had placed the order, and wonders if this is a good place to talk, or if she would like to go somewhere else.

The bard looks at the fabric samples on the table and gets excited, telling the firbolg that Bertrum didn’t tell her anything specific, just that there would be a surprise for her at the Witch’s Brew. He is confused, telling the satyr that he has a reciept from an order in her name for some fabric, but no pattern or design had been included.

Aoife guesses that Bertrum put the order in her name and is giving her the option to pick out a pattern. The firbolg explains that he works in textiles and presents his book of designs. He asks how Aoife knows Bert, explaining that she isn’t like the man’s other friends. She says that she is new to Coven, and that she had met him in an act of happenstance.

Pivoting conversation, Aoife tells him that her nanna makes doillies, but she prefers working with fabric. The firbolg asks if Aoife is related to the inventor of lace, and they both gush for a moment.

Aoife listens to the man explain his creative process and why he chose the fabrics as she goes through the book. Through conversation, she discovers that the firbolg has only been in Coven for about ten years with his dads. He hasn’t really made many friends outside of his family since arriving.

The satyr admits that she has met many great people, including a soldier and a chef that she travels with. They get along great, but they don’t have much in common to talk about; not that they have had a lot of time to talk since their lives have been in danger since they got to Coven.

The firbolg offers his friendship and Aoife touches his arm, excited to have met a new friend. She asks him where he is staying and he tells her that he is staying in an apartment with his dads, but he is looking for a place of his own soon. He has been doing a lot of business lately with Mistress Silk, the best (and only) dress maker in Coven.

### The Dressmaker

Aoife is curious to know more of this Mistress Silk and the firbolg happily obliges her request. He tells her that Mistress Silk supplies the Sovereigns and the Courtiers, and everyone on the Witch’s Council. He has recently been working on a deal to be her prime supplier, which means that there is going to be a lot more business out there soon. He offers to introduce Aoife to Mistress Silk and she excitedly agrees.

They venture out into the crisp early autumn afternoon, evident by the people shopping and looking for places to take their lunch. The Firbolg, named Kell, offers his arm for Aoife to take and they walk happily through Coven.

He tells her that the shop is a little bit of a walk and hopes that the young satyr doesn’t mind. Aoife affirms that she doesn’t mind walking, especially since she is from the Valley of Yalanthanil and was used to hiking as a result. Kell tells her that he is from the islands to the east, and he came by boat, but does not want to repeat the experience. He doesn’t consider himself much of an adventurer, and turns the topic to Aoife and the danger she had previously mentioned.

Aoife waves her hand at the thought of being called an adventurer. That was absurd. She left home with the inkling that she was starting a new adventure and opening a new chapter in her life, but she only wanted to open a shop and design dress. She has no great desire to slay the great monsters of the kingdom and just wants to settle down one day.

The bard goes on to explain everything that has brought her to Coven, from her time as a seamstress in the encampment outside of the Wildes to dealing with a Corellon. Kell has never directly dealt with a Corellon, but his fathers have, but he knows what it is to be ostrasized based on the way one looks, emphasizing his lack of success in the Empire and his blue furred skin, but he is really glad that he is here now.

They arrive at a shop whose sign read “Silk” in an elegant script. Aoife can see the outside is made of redwood, stained glass accents frame dress display windows, and the building is obviously high end. The curtains are drawn across the door windows, and Kell is confused as to why it would be closed given that it is inventory day. He approaches the building and can see that the lights inside are on.

Aoife knocks on the door, reasoning that Mistress Silk must be busy as the only dress maker in town, but nothing happens. Kell tries the door to find that it is locked. He admits that he has a key, but he knocks again and waits. Aoife assures him that if they gave him a key, they would trust that he knows how to use it.

Kell leans down to check behind one of the fancy planters on either side of the door and spots packages and mail that have been tucked away, but he notices that they have been piling up. He picks up the packages, reasoning that he would take them inside and if Mistress Silk was in a meeting they could just see themselves out.

He pulls a delicate golden key that perfectly matches the door frame, trying to balance an arm load of boxes and his swatch book as he inserts it and unlocks the door. He steps inside, followed by Aoife, who deposits the boxes she was carrying onto the nearest surface.

The bard looks around, noting that all of the lights has been left on. The front of the shop is lit by glowing orbs, revealing a posh lounge surrounded by mirrors and dotted with mannequins draped in flowing dresses and gowns. A long counter, where a receptionist would normally sit and where Aoife deposited her parcels, rests towards the front of the store.

She notices a curtained area that probably leads to dressing rooms and another door that is marked with an Employees Only sign. The room is awash in thick, luxurious purple and red fabrics, making people who enter feel welcome and important.

### Cold Tea and Bad Vibes

Glancing over to the reception desk, Aoife spots some opened accounting ledgers and receipts from the day with a cup of half-drunk tea sitting off to the side. The rim is smeared with lipstick and Aoife touches the cup to see if it is still hot, but discovers that it has been sitting out long enough to grow very cold.

She looks to Kell, telling the man that it is odd for the mail to be piled like it was, and that the tea had grown cold. She reasons that it must have been a day or more since anyone stopped by. Kell agrees because Mistress Silk is always very busy and is meticulous about staying open. Aoife is also confused as to why the lights would still be on if she was not there.

She pops her head into the dressing area behind the curtain and sees that everything had been tidied up, as if someone had already put all of the discarded garments back on the rack. She makes for the Employees Only door and checks the handle, finding that it opens easily. The back of the shop is a seamstress workshop, full of half finished garments pinned to old mannequins. The walls are covered in shelves full of bolts of fabric. Kell points out the fabrics that he was going to show Aoife.

Aoife comes to the conclusion that someone closed the shop before disappearing. She makes her way to the back of the work room, finding a trap door that lead to the basement. She goes over everything that they discovered within the last few minutes before Kell opens the trap door, discovering that the lights had been left on there as well. He offers to go first, but Aoife tells him to let the brave adventurer lead the way. He insists, saying that he would never be able to live it down if he let her go first.

Kell drops his backback on the floor and squeezes through the trapdoor and down the ladder before calling back up that there was a locked door and he doesn’t have the key. Aoife curses, telling the firbolg that she knows someone who could bust it open. She starts looking for a key, hoping one had been left nearby.

She sits at the desk, trying to picture where Mistress Silk would put a spare key when a ceramic figurine catches her attention. It looks like a googly-eyed spider on a mushroom and seems very out of place considering the sleek and modern surroundings. Lifting it up, she tries to see if it has any way of opening and can hear something rattling inside of it. She quickly discovers a panel on the bottom of the mushroom and opens it so that a key falls out onto the desk.

She calls out that she found it and heads down the ladder into a small storage space. She finds Kell sizing up a sturdy metal door and she moves him aside to unlock it. Kell admits that he has never actually been down here and doesn’t know what to expect, but Aoife reassures him that they are probably just down here doing the inventory. She calls for Mistress Silk and they wait for a moment before opening the door.

They both freak out for a moment when they are met suddenly with their own reflections. An ornately carved standing mirrorrests in this small closet with black velvet cloth bunched around the base. The walls contain a bunch of cork boards, sheaths of paper, and a calendar. Aoife admires the mirror and reaches out to touch it, pondering why something this beautiful would not be in the fitting rooms before guessing that it is probably magical in nature.

### Mirror, Mirror

She and Kell pull the mirror out to get a better look at it. In the light, Aoife sees a sticker label on the back full of numbers and names like a spreadsheet that has been filled in by hand. Aoife leans it against the doorframe to prop it up and examines the handwriting, quickly determining that it is the work of a single person. She turns to Kell and asks if he knows any of the listed names.

Kell looks over the spreadsheet and tells her that he recognizes a few and determines that they are Mistress Silk’s customers. They find it odd that the spreadsheet is on the back of a heavy mirror shoved in an underground closet, but Kell thinks they may be clients that owe the mistress a favor, or who have maybe wronged her in some way. Aoife guesses differently, thinking that the mirror may do something else, changing somehow depending on the listed client.

Kell stands in front of the mirror and Aoife speaks one of the names. The mirror shimmers and they can see a different place inside. They no longer see themselves in the reflection, but are replaced by a gorgeous fairy glade full of bioluminescent mushrooms against the backdrop of a waterfall. Kell is impressed that Aoife figured it out.

The satyr assumes that the mirror is used for scrying and calls out the name of Mistress Silk, but the mirror doesn’t shift. She checks and notes that Mistress Silk is not one of the names listed on the spreadsheet on the back of the mirror. She says the last name on the list and the mirror shifts to a dark castle interior.

Kell points out one of the calendars on the wall and asks if the name on it, marked a few days ago, matches a name on the mirror. Aoife confirms the name and checks the calendar, matching up with a date marked Edwin’s Consult. She steps in front of the mirror and calls out the name, watching the mirror shift to reveal a workshop full of similar implements from upstairs, as well as wood carving tools. In the back, she can make out shadowy doll-like figures.

Aoife reaches out and touches the mirror, gliding her hand through the surface like jelly. She reaches her other hand back for Kell, but he asks for her to wait and goes to grab a large dowel to wield like a bat. They both step through to the other side together.

### Through the Looking Glass

They step into a large, lightless workshop covered in various types of wood carving, fabric implements, and paints. Their eyes travel up along the back wall where they can see hundreds of porcelain dolls hanging on the pegs. They can see that it is evening by glancing out two large windows and dark stormclouds have rolled in, flashing lightning that illuminates the room.

They turn around to see the area of the room that they could not glance at from the other side of the mirror, finding a table that contains an antique sewing machine with a woman slumped over it, as if asleep. The woman is dressed in all black, and her long black hair is plastered to her face. Something casts a silver glint at her wrist, but a rush of motion from one of the corners catches the duos attention.

A flash of lightning illuminates the space once more, but they don’t see anything in that corner now, and glancing back Aoife no longer sees a mirror where they had entered before, as if they had teleported directly into the center of the room. Still grabbing Kell’s hand, she presses closer and he gently reassures her.

Sensing that there is something else in the room, Aoife casts See Invisibility and glances around the room once more but sees nothing out of the ordinary. She leans over to Kell and asks if the woman is Mistress Silk and he tells her that it looks like her since she always wears a lot of black.

### Lions, Sailor Scouts, and Needles, Oh My!

He goes to check on Mistress Silk and as he touches her shoulder, she shudders and coughs. From somewhere to the side Aoife sees a flash of silver as a tiny figure launches itself towards the firbolg and digs a large pin into his back. The pin resembles a large sewing needle and Kell cries out. It brings the needle down again and another lightning flash reveals a porcelain faced doll in a sailor scout outfit stabbing him.

Kell cries out that there is something weird about the needle as he rips the doll off his back and slams it onto the table. The doll pops back up and skitters away. Kell reaches out and continues to shake the woman.

She turns her face up so that they can see her and it looks like all of the color has been drained from her body and her pupils look like two red hour glasses. She pulls at her wrists where a pair of silver cuffs have her chained to the table.

Aoife rushes forward, taking a defensive stance around Mistress Silk and Kell, readying a Thunder Wave spell in case the doll comes back. She doesn’t have to wait long as a lion doll comes running at her. She stomps her hoof against the floor and sends a shockwave of sound outwards, sending the doll flying backwards, shattering pieces of its porcelain face. It reorients itself and comes running in again, stabbing the satyr with its needle. She winces and can feel some kind of magic tugging at her soul.

Mistress Silk hisses that those things killed “him” and that they need to get out of there. She pleads as she struggles against the cuffs and her canine teeth begin to sharpen in her panic. Aoife looks around the room, spotting a door and a row of floor to ceiling wall cabinets. One of the cabinet doors has a broom shoved through its handle to keep it closed.

The sailor doll pops out of nowhere and comes for Aoife, and Kell calls out to her to get her attention. The needle pierces her skin once again and she receives the same magical sensation. Kell brings the dowel on the sailor doll’s head, splitting its face in half. It still does not fall dead and Kell determines that they should all leave.

Aoife grabs some mallets and chisels and tosses a set to Kell, but he interrupts her and offers to break the chain while she fends off the dolls. She whips around casts Viscious Mockery on the sailor doll, betting that he can’t even swim. She reaches back and stuffs a Little Blue Moon charm into Kell’s pocket, granting him Bardic Inspiration.

The lion doll attempts to hit Kell, managing to pierce the firbolg’s unarmored form. It drives the needle deep into the man’s hand, sending a spray of blood to fly out as Kell yelps. He manages to keep his wits about him and screams at the doll before sending it hurtling into a window.

Mistress Silk, still chained to the table, fixes her gaze on the lion doll as a calm washes over her. Her jaw distends and a white thread shoots out of her mouth and onto the doll, where it adheres to the floor. The sailor scout doll manages to prick Aoife again, drawing blood with its magic needle.

Kell brings the hammer down with a shattering sound, breaking Mistress Silk from her chains as Aoife casts Cure Wounds on herself, stitching her own wounds closed and tosses Mistress Silk a Pot of Gold felt charm.

The lion doll struggles against the webs holding it in place, but breaks free and cut through the webbing. Mistress Silk stands from the table for the first time in days and steadies herself against Kell. She tells him that they need to get to the mirror and points towards the closet shut with the broom.

The sailor scout doll lunges for Kell, digging into the man. From within his pocket, the bright blinding light of love and friendship erupts forth, fending him from the needle’s curse. He levels Aoife with a look of pure adoration and time stretches for a brief moment.

Aoife looks upon the dolls with ire and disgust before raising her hand to cast Bane on them before rushing to help Kell with Mistress Silk. They get to the door and exhausted woman reaches out and fractures the broom with unexpected strength. With the wedge gone, a body tumbles out onto the floor. They quickly make out the form of an old man whose eyes have been stabbed out and his body covered in puncture wounds. Glancing into the cabinet, they see a similar mirror and Mistress Silk repeats her name until her shop shimmers into view behind the glass.

They heave themselves through the mirror, followed closely by the sounds of pattering feet behind them. Mistress Silk touches the mirror, causing it to go flat just in time. They all catch their breathes, and Aoife offers her healing services to the Mistress before remembering that Kell is injured and casts Cure Wounds on him. The Mistress is hungry, but reasons that that is not something they can help her with.

### Proper Introductions

She asks who Aoife is and is confused by her sudden appearance with her fabric guy. Aoife introduces herself as a dress designer and part-time adventurer. She explains that she is a recent business partner of Kell’s and that he brought her there to show her some fabric samples for an order she had placed, but when they arrived they found the place in an odd state and had an inkling that something bad had happened. Luckily, Aoife is a nosy older sister and went snooping and found her.

Mistress Silk tells Aoife to take Kell upstairs for a moment so that she can collect herself. They head upstairs into the reception area and await the Dress Maker. They can hear thumps and the sound of something large being dragged.

Aoife leads the high-strung Kell to one of the velvet couches and comforts him as she takes the dowel he has been clenching. He asks if Aoife is a superhero since she does this kind of thing all the time and makes dresses on the side, but Aoife assures him that she feels the exact way he is feeling currently, all the time. He gushes over her, telling her that she is amazing, as Mistress Silk comes up through the trap door.

The color has returned to her cheeks and she looks more put together. She thanks them for coming to get her when they did because she doesn’t think she would have lasted much longer. She is using this opportunity as a good lesson in why you shouldn’t always do house calls. She also mourns the loss of one of her best clients. She doesn’t know what Edwin was into, but it went awry, however she is glad not to have to make a bunch of doll clothes anymore.

She and Aoife speak of dress making for a moment and the bard shows the seamstress her designs. The woman flips through the book quickly before stopping and fixing her eyes onto Aoife without saying anything. The satyr doesn’t balk under the spidery woman’s gaze, resolute to stand tall.

Mistress Silk confesses that this is some of the best work she has ever seen and wants Aoife to work for her. The bard contains her giddy excitement and says that she would be honoured. They work out a quick exclusive deal for Aoife to produce the next series of designs and the fey offers a favor for saving her life.

Before they leave, Mistress Silk pulls a small jewelry box from under the counter and offers it to Aoife. Inside is a gold spider brooch with a bright yellow peridot laid within. With this brooch, Aoife has a direct line to Mistress Silk anytime she is in Coven and once a day when outside of the city limits.

Mistress Silk tells them that she must close up, but for Aoife to let her know when she is back in Coven next and to reach out if there is anything the satyr needs. Aoife promises to reach out with a new portfolio of designs soon before beind shooed away.

Now out onto the street, Aoife pulls Kell around a corner onto a side street and lets her pent up giddiness spill out. He tells her that Silk isn’t nice to anyone, and she was being really nice! She carelessly throws herself around his neck in a hug and they are spinning and their faces are inches apart. They lean in and share an awkward kiss in their excitement.

They pull apart and he sets her on the ground. Taking her hand, he tells Aoife that she is incredible and she laughs, promising that their first real date would be somewhere not dangerous. Kell says that with her, he isn’t scared no matter where they go and Aoife confirms that they are going to be a good team.

This is where our tale comes to a close, until next time! -Venture Away

## Featured Characters

### Non-Player Characters

* Kell
* Mistress Silk
* Tandy

### Mentioned

* Bert
* Ernie
* Fittonia 'Toni' Silvertail
* Lu
* Rook

## Locations

* The Wildes
	+ Coven
		- Silk
		- The Witch's Brew

## Inventory

* Aoife gave Kel a lucky charm shaped liked a blue moon.
* Aoife gave Mistress Silk a lucky charm shaped liked a pot of gold.
* Mistress Silk gave Aoife a gold spider brooch that allows them to cast the *message* spell back in forth while in Coven, or the *sending* spell once per day while outside of Coven.
* Mistress Silk offered Aoife a future favor in exchange for saving her life.

## Quotes

“Oh, I don’t know if we’re staying for a long time so I’ll just take a drink, you know, just make it easy. I’m not hungry yet, you know Lu…er…Marnie always feeds us in the morning.” -Aoife

”Oh! Not because you’re a satyr, you’re just so pretty…” -Kell

“I didn’t belong anywhere for quite a long time.” -Kell

“I bet you can’t even swim!” -Aoife

“Get off! I’m busy!” -Kell

“I am hungry, but I don’t think that is something you can help me with.” -Mistress Silk

“So you just do this kind of stuff and also design clothes? Your just some kind of superhero, I guess?” -Kell

“Whatever this story is, you’ve gotta open that book. You’re gonna be famous, get used to it now.” -Mistress Silk

## Trivia

Aoife leaves a drawing of wildflowers to pay Tandy for her drink.

Kel has a fear of sailing.