Death and Debts: Episode 03

### Reddit Thread

***Death and Debts* Episode 3** was streamed on Arcadum's Twitch channel on August 19, 2020, and premiered on Arcadum's YouTube channel on October 28, 2020.

## Summary

             The Session starts with Madeline speaking to Mercutio while she dances across the floor. The two bond over their similar styles, eventually leading to learning about gossip between Haxtal Vale, Cliffface Bonechewer, Lord Lassiter Brone, an unnamed man who is later revealed to be Xin, an unnamed woman, and Deboranda Deldrassil, as well as learning there was something on the second floor, as well as a guest going up there, leaving behind bloody bandages. The two share a cocktail called a Popper before Mercutio leaves to find “swords in need of sheathing.”

             Meanwhile, with Terryn, she leaves Deboranda to further investigate. Using her newly-remembered powers as a Changeling, she tracks down a waiter and takes his place. She first listens in on Vaeri and Lonalas Choral dancing. Despite not thinking there is any useful information to get from the two, Terryn still offers them H’dorvres. Lonalas takes one while Vaeri takes six. Terryn is unable to see his hand to confirm if it was injured. Terryn then moves to Madeline, who convinces her to take a moment to dance. The two chicken dance.

             Meanwhile, in the library, Revlis’s sorrow turns to thoughts of revenge, but decides to start by warning Vaeri. Leaving, she passes by Lord Lassiter and Sellebembem Ditzybitzy, who she ignores. She goes strait to Vaeri, who pretends to not know her until Lonalas leaves and exits the room, much to Vaeri’s anger. However, the two do go to the side to talk about their information.

             Meanwhile, Zara leaves the unconscious Beltathar Bronzeshadow. She reenters the dance floor and meets Xin. He confides that he has been unsuccessful in catching the eye of Haxtal, and agrees to dance with him to try to make Haxtal jealous. In the end, it is more Zara pushing Xin into Haxtal’s arms, but the two men do start dancing with each other. Zara gives up and goes back to the Beltethar, only for the dwarf lord to pass out.

             Meanwhile, with Umi and Cliffface, the half-orc manages to ask the mermaid to dance. Cliffface tells Umi the tale of how he was caste out of his tribe, and how it was prophesied that “a melodic voice would lead him to his fate.”

             Elsewhere, mysterious woman goes to talk to Deboranda. Lord Lassiter and Sellebembem leave to the library, fade to black, and Tonya Vice leaves the room.

             With Mercutio takes this moment to make a move on Cliffface, taking him away from Umi before either of them can react. Umi, offended, tries to tell Mercutio off. He first ignores her, but then just leaves Cliffface behind, pissing off Umi more. Therefore, she confronts Mercutio, and tells him to get his “tiny ass sword” out of there. Mercutio breaks down crying and leaves the party. Cliffface interprets the action as “Mock Erote,” an act of Romance in Orcish culture. Cliffface acts accordingly, but Umi, thinking the move too fast and still trying to focus on her mission, tries to let him down gently. He fails. He leaves the ballroom while Umi breaks down crying in the middle of the dance floor.

             Madeline sees Umi crying and leaves to go comfort her. At this time, Ratai Kengan goes to the bar. The disguised Terryn therefore moves to Haxtal and Xin, only enough to see that their hands are not injured. She then moves to talk to Bennota Ad’daire, whose hands she cannot check because of her hand wraps. She mentions about guest wandering the halls, mentioning the noise in the library, Cliffface crying in the halls, and Lonolas leaving out the East Hall. After accidentally walking into the fade-to-black in the library, Terryn reconvenes with Vaeri and Revlis. At the same time, Haztel and Xin leave the room.

             After Terryn messes with the two a bit through her shape-changing powers, the three compare notes. Terryn shares the information about the cut hand, leaving out information about Wode. Vaeri informs the two about the stuttering man and how they need to keep a look out for him. Elsewhere, in the bar, Zara and Ratai hit it off and decide to dance together. Lord Lassitar and Sellebembem leave the party together.

             Meanwhile, Madeline convinces Umi the best thing to do is to try to talk to Cliffface, but first tries to leave to a side room to talk more privately. However, in the hallway the two see Cliffface. Cliffface offers to recite the Orcish Chant of Affection to Umi. Madeline, trying to be supportive, offers to watch it with Umi, though Cliffface awkwardly informs them it if for “intimate moments.” Madeline manages to pull Umi aside to talk while Cliffface starts painting himself in ritual paints in the study. In the side room, the two find a scrap of yellow cloth. Madeline tells Umi about the rumors, partially involving Cliffface, and tells her to be cautious for the sake of the mission.

             At this time, a servant screams.

             Ratai moves to investigate. He discovers the servant Terryn knocked out, but ignores him. Instead, he keeps moving until he finds the dead body of Haxtal Vale. Because they were the only people who were first timers at the party, Ratai calls the entire party into the room. He gives them until sunrise, three hours total, to prove they were not responsible, else they would be sent to jail.

             Investigating the body, they find the body is impaled with the flag of Dolten. A medicine check shows the cause of death was a neck wound caused by a katana-like weapon. In the pocket, they find the holy symbol of Glory. Umi fails to vibe check the corpse. Dio finds the body has the scent of “water and shit” on him, and is able to trace the smell. Using these clues, the six decide Xin is the most likely suspect and decide to follow the trail of the smell.

             The group walks past Tonya without acknowledging her or asking her questions. The path eventually brings them through the room where Cliffface is. Zara tries to convince him to have a wrestling competition. He denies her, saying there are more important things to take care of. He then, despite the crowd, finds the courage to do the Orcish Chant of Affection and present his tusks for Umi. The group is confused, especially Umi, who eventually decides the only thing she can do is show her own fang back. Seeing this as a return to his affection, Cliffface leaves to get the required materials for the Orcish Ritual of Mating.

             Throughout this, 15 minutes have already passed.

             The group return to the smell to a small conference room with a note written in Thieves' Cant, that says of the Don rising and about the killing of a traitor which was signed by a single letter -L. Below the stone table they find a path into the sewers. The first thing they discover is a Vagabond House. The only things of interest within are druidic vestments and a Sending stone with the symbol of a top hat and a mask with three black holes in it. On it are messages sent by Derek, renouncing his druid hood and hoping for Glory’s mercy.

             The group go deeper into the sewer. Revlis, being Chaotic, kicks Vaeri down into the sewer water 10 feet below. Vaeri manages to keep her head above water, but begins to be pulled away by the current, only to be saved by the Otyugh Puckpickle. Terryn fails a Wisdom check and therefor develops a tentacle fetish. Puckpickle tells the group briefly about Derek and other brief TOPS references. Zara briefly fights one of the Otyugh’s tentacles for fun. Telling him about the murders, Puckpickle tells them about a man in golden robes and who speaks about Glory who is somewhere in the northern part of the sewers. However, the Otyugh does not give the group a ride; be tells them he excretes a mucus from his back which causes people to “fornakill” each other. This excites Terryn, who manages to convince Puckpickle to drug her.

             He gives everyone a health potion before returning to a yaoi book, Roasted Fish, excited about the romance between Raost and Eustace. The group, with a high Terryn and a Vaeri who is questioning her life choices, go deeper into the sewers.