The No good, Very Bad Day

Valac, Kismet, and Florian drink wine in a pillow fort constructed in a tavern room

### In-game date

18th - 25th Sydenstar, 835 PD

"**The No Good, Very Bad Day**" is the sixth session of the first WGA campaign. Returning from their somewhat successful mission in the Pearlbow Wilderness, the party spends some downtime in Rexxentrum.

## Synopsis

### Bathhouses, tattoos, and piercings

On the morning of the 18th of Sydenstar, the party reconvenes downstairs. The night before was spent drinking and recovering from various near-death experiences, and more than a few members are hungover. Kismet uses a few spell slots to cast Lesser Restoration on himself, Florian, and Valac, making it all too easy to recover from a hard night.

With their pockets lined, shopping and some relaxation is in order. The first stop is a bathhouse, the only one to not get into the baths being Asriel. Instead, he remains to the side, simply pouring water over his head, bracers and clothes still on. This draws curious glances and exasperation, but ultimately he isn't budged. The others engage in meaningless small talk, and despite the relaxed atmosphere, almost no one learns anything new about the others.

The logical next step with new coin is to get tattoos and piercings, so Arabella, Kismet, Valac, and Florian head to a tattoo parlour. Arabella gets her tongue pierced, Valac gets his nipples pierced, Florian gets a tattoo around their arm, and Kismet gets a back tattoo. Florian's tattoo is a band of flowers his names are based on. Kismet gets a raven skull surrounded by six raven feathers, and does not comment on the meaning.

### Kismet gets punched

The next day is due to be uneventful with only shopping planned. On the way out of the Bloated Puffin, the party runs into Asriel in an alleyway. He is visibly unwell, his hackles raised, scared. Kismet decides he knows what's best to do, and tries to hug him. He's met immediately with a swift punch as he touches Asriel's back. This immediately sets everyone on high alert, but before they can do something, Kismet tries again and is kicked to the floor. At this point, Agatha steps between them, visibly agitated, while Valac lashes out a Mind Sliver at Asriel. At an impasse, Florian and Arabella incredibly distressed, Kismet backs off and leaves, Arabella following him in tow. Agatha urges Valac to leave, sensing that the situation can escalate significantly otherwise, and after resisting for a while, he finally does with Florian trying to catch up to him soon after.

Kismet, nose bleeding and broken, scarpers. Arabella is close behind, and heals his nose when they finally stop. When Valac and Florian catch up, the tiefling examines Kismet's face, remarking that Asriel is no animal to be treated like a cornered wolf. Kismet lashes out, frustrated, saying that a broken nose can easily be fixed, but whatever is happening with Asriel is not so easily fixed. Valac chooses to spend the day away from the group, Arabella retreats inside the Bloated Puffin, and Kismet goes invisible as soon as eyes are off him. Florian is left alone and distressed in the street.

After trying to calm Asriel down and understand what happened for him to lash out, Agatha returns, meeting Valac on the way back. There is a confrontation between the two and harsh words are exchanged, Agatha accusing him of being insensitive while Valac points out her savior complex. Valac leaves the altercation, and is not seen again until the next day. Agatha storms off, finding Florian before returning to the tavern as well. Kismet returns alone, remaining invisible, avoiding the sight of blood on his hands.

### Trent

The day after the attack on the Zauber Spire, Asriel is called away to Trent Ikithon's tower. In the foyer, a pair of golden wings is hung up on display. Trent refers to Asriel as "Maynard". It is revealed that Asriel Phobos is actually Maynard Callus, an undercover Volstrucker agent. He is given his next assignment: to find the drow that attempted to steal the Beacon from the Zauber Spire. There were two of them. "Agent Phobos" told Trent about the book the party stole back, and about how Sarven is actually a drow.

### Mayday

In the early hours, Kismet receives an urgent message from Sarven. He requires everyone's assistance, and to meet at the Platinum Veranda early tomorrow morning. They will discuss payment, favours, anything, after they meet.

## Out of session events

The following interactions happen during a short time skip between the 20th and 25th of Sydenstar. Most of the party remains at the Bloated Puffin, crossing paths with each other. Instructed by Sarven that they ought to lay low and wait for news for him, the party seems to be stuck in the city for the moment.

### 20th Sydenstar

The day after the altercation in the street, Kismet is more determined than ever to act alone. He uses the Ring of Sending that Sarven left him, and organises to meet. Sarven teleports them both to a study in Rosohna. Kismet, having not been back to the place of his birth in over a century, is noticeably distressed, only vaguely trusting Sarven. The drow assures Kismet that they are in the most securely warded location in the city. Kismet takes the opportunity to ask Sarven questions about his family, about the current state of Rosohna, having been out of the loop for a while. Sarven mentions an enchanter in Zadash who can make special glasses to help with sunlight sensitivity.

### 21st Sydenstar

Florian is not sleeping well, and Kismet worries after Asriel. The pair talk over breakfast, apologising to each other. Kismet shakes Florian's hands, calling them friends, and as he leaves he scruffs Florian's hair. Florian has a crisis over this, as does Kismet. The older elf seems to be falling into long-forgotten habits. After leaving the tavern, Kismet shops for ink and paper, sells his old armour, and buys a new coinpurse for the party funds.

Agatha spends the day purchasing what appears to be every bouquet in Rexxentrum. She hires the use of the kitchen in the Bloated Puffin and cooks up a huge feast. She invites Arabella to her room, which has been decorated with flowers and a picnic laid out. Since they can't leave the city, Agatha has brought the outside in. During the date, Arabella struggles to clear her mind. The flowers help, but not quite. The pair dance and enjoy each others' company despite the fog.

A number of other conversations happen that day, along with Valac returning to the tavern. Florian and Agatha speak earnestly, Florian voicing his concerns that they can't return home. They talk about Agatha's past life as Zeker, of taking lives. In the other room, Valac searches out Arabella, and they have a short conversation about Arabella's mind. Valac finds his way to Florian's room, hearing Undercommon from Agatha and ends up smashing a window closed in his distress. He laughs it off to Florian.

### 22nd Sydenstar

Kismet heads out to find ingredients to make a sleeping aid for Florian, but ends up running into Asriel. He's more sick than before, and Kismet hurries to make up a tincture to help clear his cold. Asriel is disoriented and confused, slipping in an out of coherency. Kismet, worried, tries to recall him back to the present moment. Asriel mentions a name, "Beckett", in a context that Kismet is very suspicious about. Asriel snaps back to stability, hand wreathed in fire, and tells Kismet to run. The elf does so, dropping his hat in the process. Unseen by Kismet, Asriel picks up the hat, apologising.

Valac comes across Asriel, and seeing him crouched and cornered in the dark, casts mage armour upon himself. He snipes at him with words, trying to wrest him from his stupor, until he sees Kismet's hat. This stokes a rage in him, and he demands the hat back using simple orders. Asriel complies, which confirms a few things for Valac. The tiefling misty steps away, and returns to the tavern to give Kismet the hat. Upon seeing the hat, Kismet breaks down into tears. Faced with a situation he has no familiarity on how to deal with, all Valac can do is leave Kismet to cry.

That evening, Kismet is writing a letter, interrupted by Agatha. They have a short conversation, Kismet assuring Agatha he will still be there to catch her, to catch Asriel. Agatha turns the conversation around, assuring Kismet that she'd lay down her life for any of them. Kismet displays a sliver of true vulnerability, reaching out and holding her hand. In this moment it's almost clear how alone he has been.

### 23rd Sydenstar

Agatha spends some time shopping, and buys a skirt. Content to enjoy her time being a simple citizen of Rexxentum, she heads to a nearby park and runs into Kismet who appears to be taking a nap. They talk as they usually do, in doublespeak and roundabout philosophical ways. Kismet winds Agatha up with his dogmatic view of fate, and leaves her to ruminate.

The Chaos Trio (Kismet, Valac, and Florian) build a pillow fort and drink wine together, playing truth or dare. Valac flirts viciously with both of them, flustering Kismet and thrilling Florian. The game escalates, Valac daring Kismet to get on his knees to show how his tongue piercing is healing. Kismet, not wanting to lose the whole game, does so, surprising Valac. Kismet reveals his age, Valac does their makeup, Florian asks about the notch in Kismet's ear and Kismet has a minor flashback. After this, drunk and tired, the three curl up to sleep. Valac stays awake the whole night, at one point crying while the others cannot see, and leaves before the others wake up.

### 24th Sydenstar

News spreads that there was an attack on the Zauber Spire, and war is imminent. Valac seeks out Florian, exchanging truths for truths. Valac reveals he is from Asarius, and Florian says that he is from Rosohna and he ran away from home. He never told his family he was leaving.