Expedition 12: Well, at Least we had Crab Bisque?

### Summary

Four adventurers attend the Captain's Ball, to varying degrees of success, but certainly meeting interesting characters.

### Detailed Writeup

**Expedition Objectives:** We all came to the ball with slightly different objectives, though everyone except Brightstaff came as part of the entourage of Delphi Adon.

* **Jamie:** Wanted to mend his relationship with Delphi Adon.
* **Calliope:** Wanted to “avoid going to a negative Renown score” while getting a sense of the centers of power in town.
* **Marzipan:** Wanted to promote his shop and make an acquaintance or two.
* **Brightstaff:** Wanted to make several new acquaintances who could be useful aids or quest-givers in the future.

**Expedition Log:** On the morning of the Captain’s Ball, a pouring rain failed to dampen the festive spirits of Vrall’s upper crust. In celebration of the day The Dubloon had crash-landed fifty-three years ago and founded the city, Vrall’s citizens would make new beginnings, form new relationships, and seek new jobs. The air of possibility suffused the Port, and all of our band were eager to make the most of the night.

We all entered the party with Delphi Adon, who was garbed in a magnificent gown the extended six feet from her in every direction, levitating airily over the ground, ensorcelled to look like the sea. We arrived in suitable splendor ourselves, except for Calliope, who clearly had a last-minute rush job.

The Captain had clearly gone to great lengths to throw a magnificent ball. The decorations, music, and cuisine all showcased the immense diversity of Port Vrall, drawing from the cultures of three continents and the wealth the Port had built up in such a short time.

In fairly short order, we all split off to pursue our own agendas. Brightstaff discussed with Madeira Waynesbottom about how farming in the Nestle was going, and learned that one of the town’s major shipping interests, the company run by Bri’ad, helped smuggle poppy out of Port Vrall for the farmers. Jamie sought out Saphira Goldhammer, the mining magnate with interests in Fyr-roc, and learned that the island had gold on it. Saphira was willing to offer five gold pieces to a group willing to clear the island of monsters.

Marzipan found Fern Copperax, the master mason and architect, and his wife Iridia, and hit it off well with the dwarven couple. Marzipan relayed the story of the destruction of the Demon of Dyr-roc, and Fern was interested in the prospect of more wood from local sources; apparently escalating tensions in the South between Vidhar and Windhome was threatening his supply of lumber. Fern was willing to offer a whole gold piece for verification that Dyr-roc was safe for civilian travel.

Calliope trailed in Delphi’s wake, keeping watch, before leaving to join in the festivities.

As the night wore on, the Procession of Eligibles began. A tradition for those seeking partners in Vrall, the Procession allowed interested bachelors and bachelorettes to look for possible matches in a relatively simple ceremony. Jamie, Marzipan, and Calliope (half by accident) took part, and made the acquaintance of several interesting people: Jamie talked with Jithar Ekeday, a human Vidarian traveller who was seeking a suitable match. Marzipan discussed with Plut Bellhammer, a dwarf from the North of modest nobility. And Calliope, with an impressive string of renown-reducing social faux-pas along the way, met the Red Dragonborn Verrsia, an accomplished sailor and the sole daughter and heir apparent to one of the major traders in Port Vrall, Verrlex.

After the Procession, the party went back to talking. Brightstaff fell in with his acquaintance Amadeus Arbock, who provided revealing details about the major players in Port Vrall. We learned that the Council, who elects Vrall’s Captain and makes laws, was divided into three major factions. These were **farming interests**, represented by Madeira Wanesbottom (mentioned above), Bartholomew Trickhand (a halfling clearly ill-at-ease in high society), and Ven’Cartwrite (a half-elf who was becoming rapidly drunk); the **trading interests**, represented by the major traders Verrlex (an elderly Blue Dragonborn who mostly transported people), Amadeus himself (who deals primarily with bulk goods), and Bri’ad (an elven woman who is known to engage in smuggling and mercenary contracts); and the **other interests**, a group which included Fern Copperaxe, the current Captain herself, and a pair of adventurers previously active in Vrall, Vanis Aukben and Ven’dana; the duo apparently rescued Port Vrall in its infancy (i.e., just after the Dubloon crashed) with a daring sailing expedition to deliver food. Amadeus also mentioned that Saphira Goldhammer was another major figure in town; a trader who arrived recently. Nobody is quite sure how she made her money.

While this was happening, Jamie fell to talking with Verrsia, and made a positive impression (with effort) on both her and her father Verrlex, sharing stories of his adventures and kindling a possible romantic relationship with Verrsia. He also learned about Verrsia’s travels to Ithmaul, and her opinion on the recent conflicts between Vidar, Windhome, and Mermix; she was a firm supporter of Windhome, and an admirer of its culture.

Marzipan made the acquaintance of Blood, a mousefolk in the hire of Bri’ad, who we would later learn knows a fair bit about her illegal ventures in Vrall. Calliope, unfortunately, made the acquaintance of the Captain and then made a very poor impression when Ven’Cartwrite, drunken and swaggering, came over and insulted her armor. Calliope responded by breaking Ven’Cartwrite’s foot, to general shock and horror.

As the night continued, we continued to mingle. Brightstaff headed over to Ven’Cartwrite, shamelessly taking advantage of his injury to make an ally by offering him a draft of healing Goodberry wine. Given Ven’cartwrite’s extreme inebriation, it is unclear how much of this he will remember.

While Jamie and Marzipan returned to Delphi Adon, trying to drive away Plut Bellhammer, who was aggressively flirting despite Delphi’s obvious disinterest, Calliope investigated an argument that could be heard over the music and dancing. Calliope discovered that Jithar Ekaday’s attempts to find love had run him afoul of the halfling Augden Seafinder, who did not take kindly to Jithar’s advances on his sister, Latrellna. Accusing Jithar of being an Emperor-worshipper and generally horrid person, Augden challenged him to a duel, and both parties ran off to find firsts (hired duelists), despite Latrellna’s apparent indifference to the whole affair.

Jithar sought out Jamie, promising, after some haggling, five silver for a victory in the duel. Augden sought out Brightstaff, offering a more modest fee. Both parties agreed to the fight, despite their concerns for their reputation. As the dance floor briefly cleared, Jamie and Brightstaff took the floor as their seconds, the cause of the duel, stepped back. After the grievances were read, the two most experienced and venerable martial fighters in our party battled; only to bloody, not to kill.

Brightstaff outraced Jamie and unleashed a flurry of blows that put Jamie on the ground, bloody, in only six seconds. The swift and crushing victory earned Brightstaff a great deal of Renown, even as Jamie’s was badly hit, and his pay cut. Jamie and Brightstaff agreed to harbor no ill will over the bout, though Jithar left in a huff after his humiliating defeat.

In the aftermath of the duel, the group joined the dance floor as the musicians turned to the traditional Ithmaulian dance, the Lindy Hop. Marzipan convinced Blood to take a break from his work keeping notes for Bri’ad and join in the dancing, cementing their friendship and learning more about Bri’ad’s smuggling. Calliope returned to conversing with Delphi. Already known to be a dangerous individual, Calliope was finally able to convince Plut Bellhammer to back off. Jamie also resumed dancing and conversing with Verrsia after checking in on Delphi. Brightstaff, meanwhile, made the acquaintance of Verssia’s father Verrlex, the first and only individual in Brightstaff’s acquaintance who was able to combine the Lindy Hop with Judo. Brightstaff was extremely impressed, and the two discussed the difficulties of convincing people to travel through Vrall into the night. Apparently, the lack of settlement outside the Nestle scared would-be travellers.

After the Lindy Hop concluded, Delphi Adon awed the guests with an impressive fireworks display. As the guests trickled back inside, the Captain gave a surprise announcement: after an unfortunate delay, famed evoker Uzra’alum, from the academy of Uuron, had arrived. A dwarven man in fine purple robes, Uzra’alum caused Delphi considerable consternation.

Apparently the two had been at the same Academy at one point, but had parted on unpleasant terms. Delphi, Calliope, Marzipan, and Jamie attempted to stealthily disappear and avoid Uzra’alum’s attention.

Brightstaff, blissfully unaware, struck up a conversation with Uzra’alum. He was looking to hire adventurers, preferably skilled mountaineers, to help him place a device on the Frostpeak Mountain. Brightstaff promptly offered to introduce him to master inventor Calliope, currently hard at work trying to smuggle Delphi out of the Ball.

Fortunately, with the combined efforts of Jamie, Marzipan, and Calliope, Delphi escaped unnoticed, and Uzra’alum walked away leaving an open job offer. Calliope accompanied Delphi out of the ball. Marzipan befriended Tom Oaken, a servant at the party, whom Marzipan saved from an embarrassing and likely-career destroying case of falling asleep on the job. In the last minutes, Jamie and Varrsia agreed to meet again, and Brightstaff talked with the Captain to thank her and offer help with anything she should require. The day concluded, Brighstaff left, burdened with the unfortunate news that Calliope had, by the unanimous decision of the Council of Port Vrall, been banned from all future Captain’s Balls.

All told, it was an emotional day, a true Captain’s Ball experience. Relationships bloomed, jobs were negotiated, friendships were forged. Reputations were besmirched, violence erupted, and mistakes were made. But one thing was universal, for every soul in the party. All could agree that the Crab Bisque was divine. And really, what more could we ask for?

**Expedition Result: Marzipan and Brightstaff’s quest for the Magic of Friendship was successful! Jamie failed his quest for Delphi’s affection/undying respect. Calliope failed to trace the lines of power in the city, and also had a terrible time.**

**Expedition Loot/ Connections Earned:**

* **Jamie:** Lost two Renown. Gained two silver pieces in compensation for dueling.
* **Calliope:** Lost one Renown. Is now banned from Parties.
* **Marzipan:** Made friends!
* **Brightstaff:** Gained two Renown. Gained four silver. Made friends!