GET THE DUDE!

"**GET THE DUDE!**" is the 41st session of the first WGA campaign. After being attacked, the party makes it to a safehouse offered by Essek without any issues, and settle for the night. The following morning, Kismet sends a message to Essek, asking for a private meeting. Him and Valac visit Essek's tower, where they have a conversation with him, Sarven Cauchemar and Verin.

### A tentative alliance

Kismet and Valac regroup with the rest of the Red Thread, informing them that they've extended an offer for an alliance with Essek for protection and finances. They've also returned with a number of diamonds for worst case scenario revivals. In return, the group can be of use to Essek on various matters. The duo explains that this offer only works if everyone in the party is on the same page, to which Kalypso, Kaulmyn, and Keldrym readily agree. Florian stays silent, while Maynard quietly shakes his head, muttering something before walking away from the conversation. The remaining party members discuss the details of working with Essek.

### Beckett appears

Alone on the side, Maynard receives a message from Beckett Phobos, asking on his whereabouts. Maynard immediately reveals the location of the safehouse, and Beckett informs him he'll be there in a bit. Maynard keeps to the window, looking out to see Beckett approaching, and after a bit goes to leave without a word. Just before he does, Kalypso and Valac call out to him, and Maynard tells them he's meeting Beckett.

While a bit off-put by the fact that their location has been shared, the party quickly devolves into joking. Valac expresses impatience to finally meet Beckett, having heard so much about him, and Kalypso teases that she didn't know the man was so famous. In turn, Valac jokes that he could ask for an autograph on his body. Everyone inquires if Beckett is hot. In the background, Kismet is quietly and inexplicably casting *Meld with Stone.* Florian volunteers to accompany Maynard out because of the buddy system, to which some party members audibly doubt that's the main reason. Finally, after growing exasperated with the delay, Kalypso yells at Florian and May to leave and get the dude.

Outside, the two wait for Beckett by a xhorhassian shitty horse statue, where they talk about how they both aren't ok with what happened the previous night — all while unbeknownst to them, Valac eavesdrops on them with *Clairvoyance*.

Beckett than appears, donning the same disguised self as he did during the ball — a purple tiefling going by the name Faust. He's taken to the safehouse, where the rest of the Red Thread immediately question his trustworthiness and what he could bring onto the table in terms of eliminating Xuton Mirimm. Beckett admits that he went through volstrucker training with May, and that the reason why he is here to help is because he heavily dislikes mages abusing their power. Valac asks if it's just mages that he has a problem with, to which Beckett confirms that. After the party finish their questions, the discussion turns to how to deal with Xuton, and everyone agrees on murder. Kaulmyn is particularly eager, and Kismet and Valac try to talk him down from prolonging Xuton's death if they have to act quick and get away with it, or pin it on someone else. Beckett explains that if they want to walk away with their hands clean, they'll have to play the long game. It is also revealed that Xuton’s supposed fiancé is actually his sidekick — the one who does the dirty work and the one who most likely stabbed Kismet. This sidekick also appears to be a changeling, just like Kalypso.

Throughout all this, Maynard and Beckett appear to hold constant telepathic conversation, which only Valac notices because of his own innate telepathic abilities. Nevertheless, he makes no comment on it.

### The party orders takeout

After this conversation, Kalypso is tasked by the group to get ridiculous take out orders such as mac and cheese, potatoes, and pizza, by virtue of being the only one relatively safe leaving because of her ability to disguise herself. Kismet is particularly picky, asking for no cheese because he doesn't like it, so Kalypso ends up getting him none pizza with left pepperoni. On the way back she's sneakily stabbed by a cloaked figure and unfortunately drops the takeout. Kalypso recognizes this person as Xuton's fiancé. Two more attacks follow, one hitting and one missing, but Kalypso doesn't retaliate, feeling conflicted by the fact that the only other changeling she's met is actively trying to kill the party. The attacker then slips away, and Kalypso successfully returns to the others.

### Commune with The Raven Queen

Following this encounter, Kismet attempts to cast *Commune* for the very first time to contact The Raven Queen and possibly learn how to better deal with Xuton. However, instead of getting a response or feeling a presence, Kismet only feels a void unlike everything he's experienced before. Stunned, he remembers that when she brought him back, The Raven Queen told him she would only speak to him once he's grown stronger. It appears that he still retains his magical abilities, the tether to his god remaining in some form, but he's disconnected from speaking to her. Devastated and in tears, Kismet returns to the others, where Valac and Florian comfort him and offer to help build a shrine together, Valac telling him that he knows exactly what he's going through.

### Kaulmyn attempts to talk to Becket

While this is happening, Kaulmyn approaches Beckett to ask about his interactions and relationship to Essek. He reveals that he saw the same purple tiefling talking to the Shadowhand at the Ball. Beckett quickly shuts down that conversation, refusing to reveal any details, and suggests that Kaulmyn walks away. The wizard complies.