Ep. 91 Shadows at Tea Time

## Watch

Shadows at Tea Time| Khyber Shards #90 | D&D 5e Actual Play

—Ari

Esri confides in the group about his suspicions of Gerald. They visit his store, with Ari and Shade hanging back, and and invisible Pog accompanying Esri. In gas form, Esri floats around the shop. He finds, in the dark back room, Esri finds Miravella Uruvai. She tells him that with no options left, Gerald fled town. Esri drops his gas form and calls the other in—Pog stays invisible.

They talk about Lady Ilmarrow and Esri's mark. He agrees to give her some blood, if she and her associates stay away from the manor(and they've been put on a list to visit Shadows).

They talk about what happened on the way back to the manor.

## Synopsis

At some point the bar closes, and the Stryke Force return to the manor. Esri wakes up well before anyone else. Gradually everyone gathers at the official Styke Force table. Esri starts telling them that they might have to kill his contact—with some difficulty, what with Noshaeran disapproving in his head. Whether anyone will accompany him or not, Esri is going to see Gerald. They plan on going during the night at closing. Esri will turn into gas and drift in, Pog stays invisible as backup, and Shade and Ari are on standby.

Their first inconvenience is that the door is locked, and therefore Pog can't get in.

It's dark inside. Esri drifts into the backroom. Sitting at the table is an Miravella Uruvai, sipping some tea. She says hello. Gerald has skipped town after Medani let him go; he was seen snooping around town, asking questions rather aggressively. He was "strongly encouraged" to leave, and did not *willingly* rat Esri out. She's been waiting for Esri since Blackbriar. He drops his gas form and tells the others what's happening inside. Esri unlocks the door and lets the others in. She's set out tea to everyone. None of them drink it.

Miravella suggests Esri not be so familiar with Lady Ilmarrow as to call her by her given name. The version that spoke to Esri in the woods told Miravella about it. Esri shows her his mark. She's impressed; thousands of years have gone by since anyone manifested a Mark of Death. She says eventually he'll have to meet Lady Ilmarrow. Her mother was technically the last to bear the mark, as the Lady herself was killed and brought into an "alternative form of existence" by her mother.

Miravella has been keeping an eye on Esri through various means—the White Raven being one. She asks for some of his blood, so she can learn what line he comes from. Esri asks what he'll get in exchange for it, and she promises access to her very high-end club. He gives her some with the promise that she'll tell him everything she learns, and she nor any of her associates come near the school(and lets them into her club). Ari and Shade think it's a bad idea. Miravella says she'll be in touch, if Esri is interested in meeting Lady Ilmarrow.

Esri tells her about Tommel being in the jungle. She isn't much interested in the jungle, except for some specific things.

As they leave, Esri looks for the person she was talking to. He sees an elf leaning against he storefront, eating a pear.

When they're a good distance away, Pog pops back into view, gasping for breathe. He doesn't know if it's required to not breathe to stay invisible, but he's not taking any chances. They unload what just happened on the way back.

## Locations

* Gerald's Goodblades
* Greymalkin Academy

## Spells

* **Esri**
	+ Cure Wounds on himself
	+ Gaseous Form
* **Pog**
	+ Invisibility

## Quotes

"I have not had my kaf and Pog has not had his bacon."
*—Ari*

"I run a very high-end club. I could get you in."
"Esri looks down at his appearance."
"Yes, even dressed like that."
*—Miravella and R.A.*

"So, that went well."
"Did it? I must have not seen things right form invisible."
"I need to stop joking. That's another coping mechanism, that I joke too much. That went very weird and very bad and you gave her so much blood."
*—Ari and Pog*

"The more stuff we do, the less I understand about what we're doing."
*—Pog*

"Is this who you're supposed to have babies with?"
*—Pog*