Crowd Controlled

## **Synopsis**

In Chapter 81: Crowd Controlled, Beezaura started the long trek toward Na-Qhusi with thoughts of questioning Butez about his experience with "metallic attunement" – but her trip was interrupted by a fellow halfling who was keen to finally make her acquaintance.

Pibraf Lazruud Vodzothangi was long in the name but concise in his dialogue, explaining that we had a mutual friend in Rayna Quiros – which was the driving motivation behind his assistance back at Leopold's Garrison as well as his future investment in Beezaura obtaining the Lightwhistle chess pieces.

Though less than pleased that she was considering keeping the pieces for herself (and thus potentially prolonging his own terms of service with Thomas Pindle) – he was kind enough to share the details of another pawnchaser who was present in Navika-Pura, setting up the possibility of another showdown that could yield lucrative results.

At the Upa Alehouse, Bremise Yorde's first song drew to a close – and with it came a curious game of musical chairs designed to keep Erland on his toes as he waited for word from Marvyn Bishop's captors.  Finally, the stomping of feet and clapping of hands from the audience provided cover enough for one man to speak freely – revealing that Marvyn was being held as part of a plot to get the Lemonade Man to negotiate his stranglehold of power on Mukmu.

Our interest in Marvyn was the source of some confusion for this man – who wasn't sure where our loyalties lay or whether it was simply a personal matter.  He confirmed that under the right circumstances Marvyn was available to speak with, but he needed to see our hand first – which meant a test of our investigative powers in an environment that demanded subtlety.

Dispersing false notes among the members of the audience, we were challenged to find one true letter that contained Marvyn's whereabouts – though the patrons were instructed to feign ignorance, making it more than a matter of simply asking.  Using intimidation, bribery, a discerning eye and sometimes just trusting our gut – we tracked the notes while doing our best not to interrupt the concert.

Checking in on each person of interest was more than a one-man effort and we may have given away that Erland was not acting alone – but by the ballad's end we successfully acquired the correct letter to learn that Marvyn was in a safehouse just south of Wampurani-Na.

It was the most definitive lead we'd acquired since the Natural Studies Institute, so it seemed for that reason (among others) we would soon be heading as a group to the coast – but there were a few things left to take care of in Na-Upa and it was late enough that spending the night here seemed the likely course of action.

After Beezaura stopped by the Mailhouse in her return to Na-Garwas, one of the Advocates appeared to give her a condensed version of Khlyff's meeting with the rest of the party – and clarified that if she wished to join us on our quest, she would need to prove her combat prowess like the rest of us did at the Burial Grounds.

Taking the Steederway to the westernmost township, Beezaura was led to a remote location and introduced to the tiefling warrior that was set to take her spot if the Advocates had been unable to locate her.  A duel would take place to determine who was worthy, stopping just short of killing your opponent – and as Beezaura began to swing her flail in preparation for the fight.

## Trivia

* Natural one count: two natural ones were rolled in this Chapter. 1 each by Anthony and John.