The Wedding

## Synopsis:

The wedding of Dushah Adrian Baris and his pregnant bride Ellaria had been quite an anticipated event, sure to go off without a hitch. At least, aside from the hitch that was supposed to happen. The plans were made, the details arranged (so were the flowers), and everyone gathered excitedly for the event of the season which was sure to be a beautiful and peaceful moment in history.

Except that pirates had begun to siege Abishot. In spite of that, the nobles of Abishot's Court and the mercenaries of the Whispering Cutlass were going to make sure the wedding was a success, one way or another.

## Mercenaries:

* Asher "Whiffle-Tongue" - Lizardfolk Wizard (Sponsor: Relenam Heavyfeet)

* Edith Seuss - Human Cleric (Sponsor: Contessa Meridian Selvaggia)

* Erthish Nescoria - Dragonborn Barbarian (Sponsor: Carnelian Trusk)

* Gnarlap Dunbar - Dragonborn Warlock (Sponsor: Reyak the Revealer)

* Maribelle Ariyassa - Dragonborn Fighter (Sponsor: Pattycakes the Cunning)

* Xel Harrow - Tiefling Paladin

* Xilon Harkus Starrati - Half-Elf Wizard

## Adventure Summary:

### Pre-wedding Jitters

Mere hours separated Abishot from its royal wedding. Nobles and mercenaries walked together in a city abuzz, streets packed with children, aunts, cousins, merchants, people all gathered to see the union of Dushah Adrian Baris and Ellaria. Guards had heads on swivel, eyeing everyone and everything. It was Abishot, after all, and a big public event. Something bad would happen.

Something bad had already happened, with the attack on the docks and the siege of pirates. The attack hadn't made it inland to the Stefarni and Zattari side where the wedding was happening, so those mercenaries and nobles near the temple to Revina had little knowledge besides that pirates were afoot. Distant booms also ripped the air, unfamiliar explosions, not House Shadhavar's estate making mock cocktails, but a more thunderous sound. Unease added a somber note to the celebration, enough that people knew there was a threat, but not enough to inspire evacuation.

Of note, a group of six nobles and their mercenaries neared the temple. Maribelle Ariyassa, a bulky White Dragonborn with fancy armor and a refined country twang in her voice, walked while priming the hair of her noble, Patrice Shadowchaser, more commonly known as Pattycakes the Cunning. Maribelle was alert, but also chided her noble's lack of wedding-guest accouterments. Pattycakes was wearing a burgundy outfit with a flowing skirt, and she grumbled that all extra frills were unnecessary and hampered mobility. Like Maribelle, she maintained vigilance.

Asher "Whiffle-Tongue," a Lizardfolk, marched near the back of the group, carrying Relenam Heavyfeet piggyback. Asher wore loose white dancer pants with an iridescent stippled stripe down the front of his right leg, his Stefarni scarf draped as a sash down his left thigh. Other than a silver necklace, his torso was bare, vibrant scales glistening as if oiled. Relenam had on a fancy outfit gifted to him by the Most Esteemed Xekral Shadhavar, though he was not swishing the cape as he usually did. His face was pallid, and he looked out in the direction of the explosions, wincing to a beat that didn't seem to match the booms. He snuggled into the crook of Asher's neck and clutched him tighter. Asher took his noble's illness in stride, keeping the ride as smooth as possible.

Gnarlap Dunbar was another large Dragonborn, though his scales were silver rather than white. He wore a smart black suit with the Hudson sigil embossed on his tie, going barefoot due to a lack of dress shoes in his size. He walked alongside Reyak the Revealer, who wore a slim-fit, pale blue suit with a black tie and vest, hair done up in a tight braid, nails painted a deep purple. Both chattered nervously, obviously alarmed by the attack. Gnarlap looked every which way, not paying attention to what his sponsor said.

Xel Harrow, an androgynous Tiefling with obsidian horns, wore a chainmail dress and a huge sword on their back. They took in the crowds without any sense of tension and hoped the crowds took them in, used to the spotlit life of a professional wrestler. They had no noble at their side, sent alone by the Whispering Cutlass as extra security.

Erthish Nescoria was another Silver Dragonborn, not wearing armor or party clothes at all, instead clad in commoner's garb. Even more distinguishing than that was the massive greatsword strapped to her back, and hung from her waist was a small starium statue decorated with a red gemstone. She looked protectively over Carnelian Trusk, her noble, who was dressed like the miner stock from which she came, though Carnelian did plan to change into a blue dress with carnelian and gold trim closer to the actual event time. Carnelian's hair was already styled, red highlights added to the blue hair.

Edith Seuss, a little brunette who spoke with an unrefined country twang, accompanied Lady Contessa Meridian Selvaggia, whose red hair spread wildly. Edith wore a flowing dress the color of cornsilk, decorated with depictions of wheat. Contessa wore a blue dress accented with stripes of golden banana vines. Contessa spoke without ceasing, going on about how flower arrangements had been placed upside down and backwards so she had to redo it all and she hoped no one touched the fondue fountain and—wedding plans, Ellaria, the baby, and on.

One noble who recently had joined the Whispering Cutlass also accompanied the group, Apatite Xilon Harkus Starrati. He wore a white suit specially designed for the wedding. Blue vest, sheer red tie and red inner lining to his coat, with accents of blue flowers and red leaves, blue and red feathers as a brooch, a star pattern smattering his tie and the lower lining of his coat, and a few gemstones.

As they marched through the city, Maribelle noticed an odd sense of deja vu, as if she had seen all this before. A little boy was digging up things, his mother calling him clumsy. His shoes were on the wrong feet. They couldn't attend the wedding with him acting a fool. The boy ignored his mother, continuing to pick up small pieces.

There was something familiar about the situation, though Maribelle couldn't place it. She didn't bring it up to the party.

The nobles flaunted their high standing so that they and their mercenaries could enter the temple earlier than the commoners. The Dushah and Ellaria prepared themselves in opposite wings of the building. Attendants put finishing touches on decorations and provided accommodations for those guests who entered.

Contessa headed straight for Ellaria's room, ready to wish her friend all the best. Pattycakes stuck to Contessa's side, and their mercenaries followed.

Carnelian, being a newer noble and unused to royal decorum, thought it would be more appropriate to see the Dushah. Reyak and Relenam agreed, with Relenam whispering his hope that his relationship with the Dushah might finally have reached the point that they might share a hug.

Gnarlap, Asher, Erthish, and Xel went to the east wing with those nobles. Guards at first barred entry to the common mercenaries, but because Reyak, Relenam, Carnelian, and Xilon were with them, they were allowed in. Six guards stood outside the Dushah's room, three inside. All were on high alert. Echoes of assassination rumors and other issues spread from lips to lips, but also a pledge that the Dushah would be safe.

The guards were tense. Adrian, in contrast, was completely calm, looking on his allies with a proud mien. As the group entered, he said, "Hello! Fine day for a wedding, yeah?"

Carnelian bowed, honored to have been brought in, and introduced herself as a member of House Stars. Adrian nodded in her direction.

Xel wished for the seven Hells to bless the Dushah and Ellaria's union. Adrian's brow quirked, he called that an unusual blessing, but he was grateful.

Reyak bowed deep and said there wasn't much they'd change about the day—another explosion rang out at that moment—a couple of things could be different, but it was a good day for a wedding. Adrian agreed, stating that the city had capable people. The event would not be threatened by a group of petty pirates. This he said while maintaining long eye contact with Reyak.

Relenam let out a glad cry of greeting, lifting his arms into the air. He still looked pale and pained, but he said his congratulations and assured the Dushah that the day would be spectacular … no matter what was going on outside.

Adrian smiled, chuckled, and shook his head at the child-like noble. Then he thanked them all for coming and told them to go out, have fun, and enjoy the refreshments. The group took their leave to the guest area in the main chapel.

In the west wing, Contessa burst into Ellaria's room as if she owned the place, so excited. She knew the wedding would go well, and no shadow would overcome Ellaria's special day. Pattycakes, along with Edith and Maribelle, trailed in.

Ellaria, in her wedding dress and getting alterations from her seamstress, giggled. The dress didn't fit quite right, a pucker in the side caused by her extreme level of pregnancy. The seamstress continued to work at it, but Ellaria would not sit still. The bride gestured to Pattycakes to step forward and not be shy.

Pattycakes approached, neck buried in her shoulders and eyes on the ground. In a mutter, and more to herself than anyone, she asked if Ellaria was sure about this wedding. Weddings were contracts. If Ellaria already owned the business, there was no need to—

Maribelle smacked her patron. "Pattycakes, manners!"

Pattycakes hung her head. As an aside, Contessa stated that she liked the way the two could show love to each other.

Chastised but not dissuaded, Pattycakes continued, asking if Ellaria was sure it was love. After all, Pattycakes' one love had tried to kill her, and she had seen no such behaviour between the Dushah and Ellaria.

The rest of the group stared rather blankly at Pattycakes. Ellaria cleared her throat and said that Pattycakes' love test was an interesting concept, but she thought everything would probably be fine regardless.

Just then, Ellaria let out a yelp as the seamstress accidently stuck her with a needle. Ellaria's face contorted in a way that seemed unnatural, as if melting to a shivering goo before reforming into a glare at the seamstress.

It was a flash, a fleeting shift. Edith noticed it, but wasn't sure what it was she saw. She lifted a brow and frowned, but said nothing, returning to her on-guard position. Maribelle missed the contortion, but she did see Edith's reaction to it. She eyed her ally, but since Edith didn't seem any more worried, Maribelle didn't press for information.

The seamstress meanwhile continued to poke at the pucker. Ellaria growled and nearly shoved the seamstress, telling her to get off, growing far angrier than any would expect. However, Ellaria composed herself. The seamstress apologized for the accidental stabbing, but doubled down on her assault against the errant dress, begging Ellaria to be still. Knowing that this would take a moment, Ellaria shooed the group out, telling them to enjoy themselves.

In the temple's main chapel, the nobles and mercenaries gathered with others, mingling or sitting in assigned seating to await the ceremony. From the east wing, the Dushah emerged, crossed the area, and entered the west wing. Just a few moments, and then he was out of sight.

Carnelian watched him go. Remembering his almost emotionless appearance of control, she looked to the other nobles nearby and asked if he was always like that.

Relenam said that Adrian was not. The lack of excitement struck Relenam as odd.

Reyak shrugged, saying that the last time they saw the Dushah excited was when he blew up a table with his magic power.

Relenam added that the Dushah was also excited during the baby announcement. Contessa wondered if the nobles might have been projecting on him then; yet Adrian had yelled out the announcement with a massive grin.

In the end, the nobles chalked up their Dushah's current attitude to a bit of overcompensating and left it at that. Pattycakes poked at Contessa, asking if she had any candy, and Contessa revealed a massive pouch from her dress, brought just for Pattycakes. It even had sugarsalt from Zachalas. Pattycakes was much obliged, glad that her friend knew her so well.

A few more minutes of mingling passed. Then an odd sound, unlike the explosions, drifted by. It was a door slamming in the temple.

Almost immediately after, startled voices demanded that someone stop Ellaria. On cue, the woman appeared, a weird smile on her face as she sprinted from the west wing and out the back of the chapel. Four guards ran after her.

Reyak and Relenam made eye contact. Both leapt from their seats, rushing towards the west wing, where they had last seen the Dushah heading. Contessa meanwhile called after Ellaria, asking where she could possibly be going, and ran after her. The other nobles and mercenaries in the party followed Reyak and Relenam.

Mayhem permeated the west wing, guards calling for help. In Ellaria's dressing room, the party found the seamstress dead in a pool of blood, a gash running from her neck to her right underarm. The Dushah was alive, but bewildered, woozy, having been hit across the head. He looked to the nobles and said, "That's not her. Get her."

Reyak glanced at the seamstress, analyzing in a second how she died, and then analyzed the Dushah. They knelt by their leader to tend to him and try to get more information, then looked to Gnarlap. Gnarlap charged out.

Pattycakes scoffed at the irony of Ellaria apparently trying to kill Adrian. Every time! It had to be love, then. She gave Maribelle a "sick 'em" look and then stood by her Dushah, keeping an eye out for danger.

Carnelian gave Erthish a similar look, but with less "sick 'em" in the gaze. She remained to aid the Dushah as well.

Upon seeing the body, Relenam skidded over to it, heedless of the blood in which he knelt, and held her shoulder. After a moment of silence, he stood, looked to Asher with a glare, and said, "Let's go." Little legs pumping to keep up with his mercenary, the two joined the chase with Xilon following quickly after them.

Xel, ever the athlete, saw the race as an opportunity. They surged forward the fastest, reaching the streets ahead of the other mercenaries.

### Chasing "Ellaria"

Outside, not much had changed, people still everywhere. Plenty of nobles roamed about, including Koppodrazi Ueshiba; Ducamis the Shadow up on a rooftop; MattyBo with his Gnome assistant carrying a tray of cinnamon rolls; maybe even a whiff of Xekral Shadhavar, though reports conflict on their whereabouts at the time. Some of the people appeared confused about the apparent bride running away.

Xel, as the first on the scene, caught a glimpse of the wild-haired Contessa running down a southern street. They pointed this out to the rest of the mercenaries and led the charge with a dash. Trying to anticipate Ellaria's movements, they passed her and blocked a fork in the road with their body, arms spread to catch her.

Edith gave a defeated sigh, disappointed that the day would not be simple, and bolted past a fountain to the south street. Xilon ran alongside her and saw, in the distance, their quarry still fleeing. He waved a hand and sent out a Mind Sliver, but Ellaria appeared unaffected.

Asher stepped up on the fountain and spied Ellaria. He looked down at Relenam and asked, "This is not her?" At Relenam's nod, the Lizardfolk shifted to a fighting stance and shot a Ray of Frost at Ellaria, careful not to hit anyone else. Unfortunately, he was too careful, and the shot went high, crashing into the side of a building.

Gnarlap also dashed, and as he passed by Asher, Edith, and Xilon, he called out to them, "We need info, don't kill her." Erthish, Maribelle, and the city guards joined in the chase, many running as fast as Gnarlap and keeping abreast of him. The guards shoved people out of the streets and told them to ignore the commotion, they had it handled; however, they nodded to the mercenaries, implying that they wouldn't mind the mercenaries' aid.

Ellaria came to a dead stop in front of Xel, glared at them, and told them to get out of her way. She shoved them with strength far exceeding expectations, knocking Xel flat on their back. For their part, Xel had noticed someone in the crowd saying, "Hey, is that Xel Harrow, the wrestler?" and so had been distracted. Xel took the opportunity to fall fabulously even as they were shocked by Ellaria's force.

With the path clear, Ellaria continued to the west, out of the mercenaries' sight. From that direction came an odd whistle that none could identify.

Edith ran to Xel's side to help them up. Asher bodyblocked the path in front of Xel, giving his prone ally cover. Xilon came alongside them, but still couldn't see Ellaria.

Xel got to their feet and ran after the bride, getting her back in view and moving as close as possible to try to grab her. At the same time, their eyes flashed in flames as they looked about with Divine Sense. To their surprise, the shapeshifting Ellaria appeared to be neither a Celestial nor a Fiend.

Guards wove between the mercenaries, who for the moment had become more an obstacle than an asset. But one guard next to Maribelle fell forward, dead, a crossbow bolt between his shoulder blades. Maribelle glanced around to see where the assassination came from, but can't find its source. She continued forward.

Gnarlap charged straight at Asher without any hint of slowing down. Just before colliding, however, Gnarlap disappeared in a puff of mist; an instant later, he reappeared in front of Ellaria, the Misty Step complete. "Let's talk," he said, grabbing Ellaria by her arms. But she shook him off, the maniacal smile still on her face.

Erthish passed the crossroad and flung a javelin at Ellaria, but the projectile went wide and crashed through a window. Then she winced as a bolt plunged into her shoulder.

Edith groaned when she saw Erthish shot. She scooched up the street and saw that a man, marked by orange, crouched on a roof, a crossbow aimed at Erthish. Edith slammed a hand to her shield, releasing a Toll of the Dead, but the assassin didn't seem phased.

The sound of the bell, however, attracted the attention of the other mercenaries. Most looked up to see the assassin. While their attention was drawn, Ellaria screamed. Gnarlap and Xel saw her hit with a bolt. Her features suddenly melted for a split second before remerging into Ellaria, a horrific sight.

With the rain of bolts all around, Xilon took a moment to cover himself with glowing Mage Armor.

Relenam had cringed when the guard behind him dropped. He looked back, saw the dead person, skittered away from Asher's side, slid beside the guard, touched him, then rushed back to his mercenary. Meanwhile Asher, realizing that the assassins were trying to kill Ellaria as well, hoped that the melee fighters could subdue Ellaria and focused himself on preventing her assassination. He spotted the assassin who had shot Ellaria, this one marked with green, and cast a Ray of Frost at him, freezing the assailant's knees.

Hoping to distract Ellaria, Xel bent their fingers and cupped their mouth, screaming out a call as if they were one of the guards shouting for Ellaria to stop. However, the voice came out down the path ahead of Ellaria as a booming cry, enhanced by Thaumaturgy.

The guards tried to hold down their panic. They called for bystanders to get out of the street. One threw a spear at the orange assassin, but it broke ceiling tiles, not flesh.

Another shooter marked with blue appeared from the roofs and sent a bolt into Ellaria, straight through where her heart should have been. She crumpled to the ground, Gnarlap trying to catch her, but she melted in his grip. The dress remained the same, but the creature definitely was not Ellaria.

With that, a whistle rang through the air.

Erthish stared at the melted Ellaria and muttered that this was just another day for her. Gnarlap looked down at the puddle in the wedding dress, looked over his shoulder at the assassin in blue, raised two fingers, and fired an Eldritch Blast. It barely scathed the knee, but the blast hardened, lassoed the assailant, and yanked him off the roof, causing him to hit the ground with a plop. The fall likely cracked a rib and left him prone.

Not finished, Gnarlap stomped over to the assassin and glared down at him, unsheathing his bone greatsword. "I was hoping to get answers from her," he said, "and I doubt you have the fortune to know what those answers were."

That assassin apparently taken care of, Erthish leapt to grab a roof ledge and muscled herself up onto a building. Now with a better view of the green assassin, she threw another javelin, this one plunging into his arm. He screamed, but kept his feet.

The assassin in orange watched as Ellaria fell, then studied her prone figure, as if making sure she was really dead. He clambered over roofs to the north, fleeing the scene.

Maribelle rolled her neck and copied Erthish's move up the building, but with more huffing effort. She took a pause to catch her breath.

The streets were in chaos by then, people horrified by the sight of the "bride" collapsed and melted in the street. Most fled of their own accord.

The Ellaria creature moaned, near death, but still fighting for survival. Edith bent over with a hand glowing to aid her, but upon seeing the melting form, she reared back and cursed in shock. The magical light in her hand faded.

The green assassin, clutching his wounded arm, fled. He jumped from platform to platform to the west, a rough journey, his knee giving out at one point, but still he ran.

Xilon looked for the orange assassin, moving down a side street until the fleeing man was in sight. He cast another Mind Sliver, but his opponent didn't seem to notice.

Asher moved closer to Ellaria, eyes roaming for any more assailants. He kept his fingers splayed, ready to shoot any assailant who came into view.

Relenam blinked at the melted Ellaria, but appeared more concerned for her life than for her form. When he noticed Edith hovering above her and the paladin Xel in front of her, he looked relieved.

Fire appeared in Xel's eyes and flowed down to their hand, which they laid on the Ellaria creature's dress. The creature's wounds stopped bleeding, though they didn't close. It was enough, however, for her to regain consciousness. Xel grabbed her by the wedding dress and held her up, demanding an explanation.

The Ellaria creature recomposed into her womanly form. She hissed and said, "Not performing so well today, are you?" Xel's eye twitched, and Ellaria's manic grin returned. She put her hands together between Xel's arms and swung them apart with muscle-ripping force, bruising Xel and threatening to break their grip.

Edith was not impressed. She sent out another Toll of the Dead, this one aimed at Ellaria. The creature vibrated and melted, again knocked out, now slumped in Xel's arms.

With the green assailant out of sight and the blue one at Gnarlap's feet, the guards chased after the orange assassin, barging through a building to get a more efficient route to their quarry. One used a shortbow and hit the man with an arrow, but the assassin kept running.

The blue assassin growled at Gnarlap and said, "Last I checked, you're not the target." He got up, not looking the slightest bit afraid, and added, "Leave us alone." He then disengaged, heading towards the market through a street now clear of bystanders.

Gnarlap sprinted after the blue assassin and reached out to grab him, though he tripped and fumbled with his grip. Even so, he caught hold of the tip of the assassin's cloak. Stabbing his bone blade into the ground, he yanked the man close and gave him a full bear hug, lifting him off the ground. With his mouth next to his opponent's ear, he whispered, "Tell me more about the target, who hired you, and why."

Erthish followed the green assassin's flight with more grace than he had, hopping from roof to roof. She chucked another javelin, but it merely skipped over the tiles and fell to the streets.

Maribelle looked at the athleticism of Erthish. Her nose twitched in annoyance. She jumped off the building and approached Gnarlap's captured assassin at a leisurely pace. "Darlin'," she said, "we're done with this running. Listen to him, won't you?"

The green assailant turned and shot at Erthish, but the bolt went wide. He jumped off the roof and landed with a tight roll—

—only to get blasted in the hip by a Ray of Frost. He yelped in pain and glared at Asher in the distance. The Lizardfolk was already lining up another shot, and though the assassin tried to dodge, this one connected as well, spinning him by the shoulder.

Xilon decided to help the guards with the orange assassin, aiming to head him off by dashing back to the fountain. The wizard was sweaty, but not out of breath, used to chasing his pet cat, Pearl.

Relenam gasped upon seeing Edith blast the Ellaria creature into death throes. He pouted at the cleric and asked if she would stabilize the creature. Edith scoffed at the noble, but his babydoll eyes were relentless. She rolled her own eyes and promised she would comply.

Xel looked around in confusion, unsure why the Ellaria creature was knocked out again. They began dragging her back to the temple, chugging along at a steady pace. Edith chased after them, her hand glowing once more. She warned Xel not to wake Ellaria up until they were ready to deal with her. With a shudder, she touched the creature, and the magic infused the fake Ellaria, sparing her life, but leaving her unconscious.

Gnarlap continued to squeeze the blue assassin, an attempt at intimidation. The assassin gritted his teeth, but then Maribelle cleared her throat and tapped her foot. The assassin told them that the Sea Witch had put out a bounty, something about the Trinity Accords.

Sensing that there was little more information they'd get out in the field, Gnarlap leaned over to Maribelle and jerked his head over to the crippled green assassin, saying, "He's yours." Gnarlap then dragged the blue one away towards a guard.

Erthish, still fixed on the green assassin, jumped down from the roof to get close and personal, pulling her greatsword while in the air and aiming to cut him in half. Unfortunately, her trajectory was off, and she instead cut the cobblestones.

The orange assassin, with guards below him, took a risky running leap off the roof. He landed badly, but away from the guards, and bolted towards the temple.

Maribelle hustled over to the green assassin. She pulled her glaive and tried to slam it into his face, but he ducked and sent out two wild punches. He missed Erthish, but clocked Maribelle's jaw. She staggered back, but even with such a well-placed, critical strike, she probably wouldn't even bruise beneath her scales.

With the orange assassin in sight, Xilon stood straight, breathed deep, and sent out a Fire Bolt. The blast smacked the assailant in the back, and though it barely singed, Xilon looked relieved that he finally hit something. Asher too, who had moved to guard Xel's flank, nodded approvingly at the budding wizard. He then pointed at the orange assassin's feet, and the ground around him suddenly became a greased rainbow swirl. The orange assassin slid and slipped, but remained upright.

The guards were less than impressed by the mercenaries and their performance. They squeezed through the alleyways to catch up to the orange assassin. Another guard just arriving from the south was met by Gnarlap and assisted the mercenary by manacling the blue assassin, then took over holding the man.

Sufficiently relieved, Gnarlap headed down the main road towards the temple. He saw the orange assassin slipping and tried to help him down with an Eldritch Blast, but he missed.

Erthish swung again with her greatsword, and this one bit deeply into the green assassin. Maribelle also struck with her weapon, though it was more of a glancing blow.

While the orange assassin continued running towards the chapel, Edith went back to check on Maribelle and Erthish. She used Toll of the Dead on the green assassin, who shivered under the assault. The green assassin flailed about, striking Erthish in the arm, a weak blow that made the woman laugh.

Xilon sidestepped around Asher's grease puddle and slammed his hands together, his own Toll of the Dead, but the orange assassin didn't flinch.

Asher was done with the nonsense. Three Magic Missles shot from his fingers, ramming into the small of the orange assassin's back. The force bowled him over and left him sprawled on the ground, dazed.

Meanwhile, Xel continued to lug the Ellaria creature, huffing past tree and fountain. They were obviously displeased to be out of the action.

The guards slid by the grease, passing Xilon, and surrounded the orange assassin. Seeing that there was no chance of escape, the assassin surrendered.

Gnarlap did an about-face and shot an Eldritch Blast at the green assassin. In his care to miss Maribelle and Erthish, he aimed wide and missed them all. The crackling energy distracted Erthish, whose next attack hit air, but Maribelle was unperturbed and sliced the assassin across the face, and then the assassin cringed as Edith cast another Toll of the Dead at him. Badly wounded now, he disengaged and ran for the marketplace, but before he could go more than a dozen steps, Gnarlap appeared in a puff of mist behind him and obliterated him with a final Eldritch Blast.

With the assailants defeated, Xel carried Ellaria into the temple. Relenam looked over in the direction of where the green assassin fell, but Asher picked him up. Relenam didn't fight as Asher piggybacked him into the temple as well. The guards took the two captured assassins to a safe holding location, and the rest of the mercenaries collected their weaponry and made their way back to the temple.

### Investigation

The guards interrogated the assassins while the mercenaries interrogated the Ellaria creature. The assassins had been hired by the Sea Witch, they learned, who had placed a bounty on "all the Dushah's heads." The security at the wedding venue immediately doubled.

In a secure storeroom with the nobles and mercenaries regathered, the Ellaria creature was bound and sat in a chair. Erthish wondered if this was the original Ellaria who had simply been hiding her true nature this whole time. Few thought this was the case, but it was a possibility.

As Edith began to awaken the Ellaria creature, Xel warned the group to be careful of her mind tricks, she could get in their heads.

When the creature awoke, it resumed its Ellaria form and hissed at the group, the maniacal smile still on her face. Xel got up close, face to face, and said, "I think my performance has improved."

"Perhaps." She looked about. "You carried me back to the temple."

"Well, you were supposed to have a wedding. What happened?"

"It hasn't happened yet."

"Did you lose interest?"

Silence met this question.

Xel unsheathed their greatsword and shoved it with precision between the Ellaria creature's toes. They asked what she was. She smiled, tilted her head to the side. The crowd watched in horror as the creature shifted, its skin changing tone until she appeared to be Xel, but in a wedding dress. "What are you?" she asked back.

Xel just looked confused. They mimicked the creature's behavior and began admiring their features in the mirror-form.

Sensing that there was little more to be had in the storeroom and remembering that the real Ellaria was still missing, Gnarlap left to find an attendant. He then halted and swiveled, looking to Contessa, who had acted as Ellaria's attendant for much of the day, and asked for the day's itinerary. Contessa stated that Ellaria had been pampered, hair fixed, fed lunch, Edith gave her a massage… Contessa had been with Ellaria all day, save for when the Lumbermonk had left to get dressed at the Stefarni Monastery. Nothing strange had occurred, except that Ellaria had gone to her room for a nap about two hours prior to the incident. She had been unsupervised for maybe an hour in total.

Gnarlap and Erthish went in one direction to search for Ellaria, Contessa went in another. Maribelle left to find Harrint the Pure, Ellaria's mother. It took ten minutes to find her. She was rattled, stating that things weren't right, her divination powers didn't seem to be working as they should. The Dragonborn then returned to the interrogation room.

Adrian came into the interrogation room, hale, but incensed. With restraint, he asked the creature what she had done with Ellaria. The creature gave a taunting smirk and said, "You found her once, surely you're Threadtouched enough to find her again. Good luck."

The Dushah stared at her, a vein pulsing in his neck. But he breathed deep, turned on his heel, and exited, beckoning Pattycakes to follow. Once out of the creature's hearing, he told Pattycakes to gather the House leaders. They needed to confirm whether they had been replaced by those things or not.

Meanwhile, with a neutral face, Relenam pulled a needle from his inner robe pocket, moved alongside the Ellaria creature, which was still wearing a Xel disguise, and poked her in the thigh. She flinched, but didn't show any sign of change.

Edith looked at the boyish noble askance, and Relenam in turn explained that during the chatting earlier in the day, Maribelle had mentioned that Edith seemed to notice something when Ellaria got pricked by the seamstress. He surmised at the time that it must have been a drop from her giddy bridal mien to something more cross, but now…

Edith's eyes lit up. She agreed that the Ellaria creature had definitely appeared grotesque for a moment, as if her features slid off. She hadn't been able to ascertain why or how it happened, however. She suggested that Relenam maybe poke the creature again, see what might happen.

Relenam gave a sheepish look, as if embarrassed at having poked the creature in the first place; but when the Ellaria creature's eyes were elsewhere, he jabbed her once more. This time, she did shift, melting out of her Xel form and into goo for a moment before congealing.

Xilon, Asher, and Maribelle saw the shift this time. Maribelle didn't know what to make of it, and Xilon pulled a thought strand, wondering what it could mean; but Asher's eyes went wide with sudden inspiration. He stuttered that it was concentration; if they could break the creature's concentration, it would slip. Xilon snapped his fingers, frustrated that he didn't realize it, but was pleased to add that tidbit to his knowledge bank.

Keeping their mind on the search for Ellaria, Xel asked the creature for a hint. She didn't give one. All doubted there was much more they could get from her, so after confirming that her bonds were secure, they left her with a guard and returned to the main chapel.

While this occurred, Gnarlap and Erthish investigated Ellaria's room. Gnarlap, though normally not too investigatively minded, was sharp-gazed, ignoring the chambermaids in a tizzy and instead noticing the scratch marks around the door of Ellaria's walk-in closet. He opened it, and there on the floor, Lady Contessa Meridian lay unconscious, bound and gagged.

Gnarlap rushed to the noble's aid, kneeling to unbind her and hold her up. She was woozy as Gnarlap led her to the bed and sat her down. Contessa acted as if she hadn't seen the mercenaries that day. Gnarlap and Erthish explained how Ellaria and she had been replaced. Contessa then described Ellaria's itinerary from her perspective: pampering, lunch, a massage, Ellaria laying down for a nap… From there, things blanked.

Contessa suddenly stiffened. Where was Ellaria, she asked, and where was the other Contessa?

The mercenaries blinked and shared a look. Erthish bolted to warn the others while Gnarlap remained with Contessa, brainstorming to determine where Ellaria may have been deposited. Gnarlap sniffed about, trying to sense any magic, but wasn't sure what magic might even smell like. After determining that the alternate Contessa returned to the monastery to change into her wedding outfit, the mercenary and noble chose to track her steps there.

Erthish ran, looking for Edith, and found her in the chapel. Erthish sidled up to Edith and discreetly said that the Contessa who had accompanied them to the temple was a fake, like the Ellaria creature.

Edith groaned loudly and asked if they had ever really left the Mouth of Chaos. Erthish agreed, as the events seemed just as bizarre as their last journey in Vilithk's domain.

Just then, the alternate Contessa joined them, asking if everything was alright and if they'd gotten any more information.

All subtlety gone, Erthish said that everything was fine, and she smiled such a fake smile that the alternate Contessa raised a brow. Erthish said that the smile was a Dragonborn thing, it's just how they looked, nothing to worry about. Edith continued to mutter about the insanity of the universe.

The alternate Contessa backed up a step, awkward. She said that was all fine then, she was going to go do … stuff. With one more look at the beaming Erthish, she turned to leave.

Maribelle, having heard the "it was a Dragonborn thing" line and knowing that such a smile was not a Dragonborn thing, came close behind Erthish, glanced between her and Edith. Edith whispered that the Contessa walking away was a fake.

That alarmed Maribelle. In three steps, she was upon the alternate Contessa. She grabbed the fake noble by the back of her dress, pulling her into a headlock. "I'm done with today, Ma'am, sorry." With that, Maribelle tried to choke the alternate Contessa unconscious. However, her squeeze was too gentle, more like a hug than a strangle, and had little effect.

The guards in the chapel saw the mercenary assault a noble and immediately drew their weapons. Xilon waved them off, saying that it all would make sense, let them handle it.

The alternate Contessa struggled, but couldn't break free. She pleaded that she didn't know what was going on.

Maribelle squeezed again, and again was too gentle. The guards looked at each other and began to approach.

Edith, tired of it all, said, "I'm going to be real pissed at y'all if this is wrong, 'cause this is how someone gets fired." Then her hand filled with murky shadow. She touched the alternate Contessa, and the shadow rippled over the supposed noble, an Inflict Wounds spell with such strength that most people would be dead on contact.

The alternate Contessa was not most people. She squealed in pain and thrashed, melting to goo in Maribelle's arms.

The chapel erupted in chaos. Maribelle cringed and continued her sleeper hold, saying, "Go to sleep, darlin'." Now absolutely certain that she didn't hold the real Contessa, her grip was strong enough to choke, but not quite enough to knock out.

Xilon cracked his knuckles and shot out Magic Missiles that unerringly hit the alternate Contessa right between the eyes.

Erthish bellowed in rage and plunged her greatsword into the alternate Contessa's throat, a reckless strike that nearly sliced into Maribelle as well. But while Maribelle survived unscathed, the alternate Contessa was decapitated.

The fight lasted less than twelve seconds. Guests scattered in panic, some puking at the gore. Guards stared in confusion at the wild mercenaries, then were stunned by the melting creature that had once appeared to be one of their nobles. Mercenaries blinked at the fountain of shapechanger blood. Erthish and Maribelle set about disposing of the body with a wincing Relenam in tow, Xilon explained the situation to the guards, Edith tried to calm the guests, Asher began to Prestidigitate the floor clean. If they had anything to say about it, the mess wouldn't interrupt the wedding.

Some time later, Gnarlap and Contessa returned to the temple, escorting a dazed but uninjured Ellaria. She had been magically put to sleep, hidden in the monastery; but other than that, she was unharmed and yearning to see her husband-to-be. After confirming that Ellaria was in the hands of the guards and attendants, Gnarlap and Contessa rejoined the other nobles and mercenaries, glad the excitement had passed and the bride and groom were safe.

## Outcome:

For some, the excitement made the wedding all the more enjoyable. Xel was pleased that they got to show off and help save a bride. Erthish chattered about how she had gotten up on a roof to chase after the assassin, something she'd never done before. Pattycakes and Relenam enjoyed being able to spend time with their mercenary even in the midst of the busy and crazy times. Gnarlap was thankful that he had sharp eyes and good aim that day; Asher was glad he didn't freeze; and Xilon was ecstatic that he not only got to hit a target with his Fire Bolt, but also survived an entire fight without getting his wedding garb soiled.

For Edith's part, she swore everyone to secrecy about how she used such a potent Inflict Wounds on her "sponsor." She didn't need any rumors or inferences floating about.

Some questions remained. Reyak and Relenam wondered what the shapechangers were really up to. Since the Ellaria creature seemed to be fleeing with a smile on her face, she must have accomplished her goals; but what were those goals, exactly?

Pattycakes' mind was on her orders from the Dushah. What if the other House leaders had been replaced? What would they do then? Relenam took it a step further, wondering if the Dushah himself had perhaps been replaced.

Xilon wondered who was behind both schemes, the assassinations and the shapechangers. Was the Sea Witch the top of the chain, or just another link? What if Diamondrock, the person whose appearance no one could ever remember, was involved in any of it? Were the Echo behind it? Just whose side were the Echo on, anyway? And as for the bounty, was it for just the Dushah, all the Dushahs, or all the leaders of each nation?

Few answers, many mysteries, but with a wedding to be had, the questions were held for another time. The party mingled with the other guests and tried to enjoy the pre-wedding ceremony, awaiting the union.