Sex, What?, and Rock n' Roll
Leaving the cemetery, the group makes their way to the town square where a large performance is starting. The crowd is swelling and pulling them towards the troubadours, but they notice a fine cloak pushing diligently counter-current in the crowd. Suspecting it may be either James or Blitherby, they set off in pursuit! The town is very disorienting, with the trees appearing to constantly surround you no matter where in the city you are, they twist and turn, Belladonna using her skills as a ranger to track their foe.
It looks like they may have lost their quarry, so Furus sets up a distraction by playing on the corner to draw a crowd and hopefully single out the only person who is not interested in the music. His plan works, his beautiful song drawing a large crowd, who generously give him gold for his outstanding performance. He sees the group catch sight of the cloaked figure and gives them a nod to go on ahead and give chase while he finishes his performance. They run through curving streets, narrow alleys, and finally it appears as though the figure completely vanished down a narrow sliver of an alley. Belladonna squeezed through the alley and couldn't find any windows or ladders that may have been used to get around. Carindrina scaled the building to see if she can find any places they may have escaped and Midna flies over the crowd. She spots 3 cloaked figures, but from her height can't quite determine which is the one they were following. One went into the park, one disappeared into a crowd outside a small building, and one headed towards the brothel and the south east edge of town.
Midna flew down and told the group what she saw. They split up, trying to catch the cloaked figures. A large crowd was entering the park, with many cloaked figures, and the streets by the brothel were completely deserted. Deciding to try the crowd at the small building, they stealthily moved around the edge of the crowd and were able to identify Blitherby in a fine cloak. He was waiting in line at the post office, which had drawn a crowd of festival-goers waiting to buy postcards and send letters home about the festival.
The group confronted him and attempted to intimidate him into going with them, but he stood his ground, maintaining that he had to get letters out to the heads of the other cities and alert them about the death of the baron. Midna was able to quietly pick his pocket and search through his stack of letters, while most did seem to be political discourse, there was one addressed to Lady Elaine Tanglewood that seemed different. She swapped out the letter for a blank paper and kept the letter in her pocket. They let Blitherby send his mail, keeping him distracted so he didn't notice the change in the letter. He seemed rather unhelpful, so they decided to let him leave, and to instead examine the letter.
This was not what we agreed upon. Where did you put it? Respond immediately.
After a healthy debate, the group decided to send the letter in an indirect way by forging more onto the end, saying "please respond to The Bloody Baron Inn c/o Maria Benneton to ensure privacy." Carindrina ran the note to the inn, paid Maria, and returned to the group.
They decided to head to the brothel since Furus and Galia had friends there. Karkov and Avery were outside. They chatted a bit and Karkov and Avery seemed very oddly stilted in their responses when asked about James. The group went inside to talk to the girls and Gutsav, who was guarding one of the doors, and again everyone had very scripted answers or would evade the subject of James altogether. The group was getting antsy and trying to find a way to draw answers out of them. Midna picked up on the fact that the workers all seemed to be speaking like Sweet Shimmer had when she was under the geas from the Fey and couldn't talk about certain things.
Nira was pretty excited to see some beautiful women and blew most of her money on having fun with Quinn and Emily. The group was a little concerned about wasting time, but it turned out to be very worthwhile as she was able to hear some strange noises coming from below her room--and one that sounded like a baby!
After much racking their brains and a little help from a deus ex machina, the group realized that the brothel was a great place for sex, DRUGS, and rock n roll, so they asked Lady Caltain if they could see the White Poppy, the underground drug den.
She had many wares to sell and Carindrina and Midna bought a few pixies sticks. Adalia was able to stealthily open a door and see that James was in a room with a young woman she didn't recognize, and he was holding an infant. It was a very tender moment, and she quietly closed the door and whispered to the group one at a time what she had seen.
They decided to wait for James outside the building since the woman and baby did not seem to be in danger, and they didn't want a confrontation if they didn't need one. While they were leaving, Carindrina flirted awkwardly with Karkov, who flirted awkwardly back. They exchanged knowing winks and she implied that she would be back for him. Quinn flicked Nira with her whip as she left, calling out for her to return soon.
Blitherby's Letter
Adalia managed to pickpocket Blitherby after a long chase through the town and find a letter in his pocket then swap it for a blank sheet of paper. It was addressed to Lady Elaine Tanglewood and read:
This was not what we agreed upon. Where did you put it? Respond immediately.
They decided to send it to Lady Elaine Tanglewood and added
to ensure privacy, send to Bloody Baron Inn c/o Maria Benneton
The Sword of Glasserune
James Glasserune mentioned the sword was missing the morning they found him drinking in the pub, mourning the death of his father. He explained that his family would turn to a vampire if they were not blessed in a ritual with the family sword within 24 hours of their death. When he went to get the sword, it was missing. He sent them to his house to investigate, and told them that the sword was supposed to be in the family crypts in Resteria Cemetary. When they went to the Mausoleum, they found a silver chest with a false bottom, when they removed the bottom, there was a deep well of concentrated holy water and a crystal sheath submerged in the water. It was determined that only those of a good alignment would be able to safely touch the water. The group found the sword through the labryinth under Stoneblood manor after finding a hidden passage from the Glasserune Mausoleum. It was behind many traps and hidden in a pit of flesh, blood, and bone overgrown with ivy. They exited through another mausoleum (one they suspected was inhabited by vampires) into the cemetery, so they ran to the Glasserune Mausoleum and returned the sword to the crystal sheath in the holy water. With a large hiss of steam as the flames hit the water, the sword sunk into the sheath, the chest closed and it all disappeared.
After a lot of questioning how to get it back and a possibly failed summoning, the sword appeared during the ritual for Baron Hanburn Glasserune and showered him with holy water before lighting on fire and stabbing him in the heart. It then vanished again.
Eva Mills
Eva is the only child of Beverly and Glenn Mills. She takes after her mother and loves flowers.
She can frequently be seen shadowing John and Maude Greenblade in the parks around town, especially Spruce Singer Park, which is close to her parent's bakery.
She went missing at Orastava.
Karkov Pebi
Karkov is a half-orc who is a bouncer for the Black Poppy and the White Poppy.
He and his brother Gustav are a fists first, questions later bunch, but don't discount their intelligence. They see everything, but their loyalty will prevent them from ever revealing a friend's secret.
Emily Grey
Emily is a werewolf. Her keen senses help her work better, and sometimes her nature is an "exotic" draw for clients.
In her down time she enjoys relaxing in the Jade Tree Palace with Galia. They can both run together in their natural forms.
Lady Caltain
Lady Caltain is the human owner of the Black Poppy Brothel and White Poppy Den.
She prides herself on being able to satisfy any desire for the right coin, and if you don't have the right desire, she can be sure you want for nothing ever again.
Absolutely no slaves or children are allowed to work in her house.
James' Lover
Adalia saw this young woman with James Glasserune and an infant in a hidden room in the White Poppy. Who is she?
Avery Berry
Avery loves music, but he also helps run the White Poppy. Typically playing outside the Black Poppy to draw in customers, he loses himself in the music.
Friends with Furus, they like to have playing contests. He also frequently bails the groups out of trouble that Karkov and Gustav drag them into after a night of drinking.
Lacey Fairchild
Lacey is a halfling who found her way to Lady Caltain after a rough life.
Excited to be independent, she works hard, but isn't afraid to say no if she doesn't want to work with a client.
Arthur Benneton
Arthur Benneton married the tour de force that is Maria Greenbrush and helps manage the Bloody Baron Inn.
He is a kind man, soft spoken, and always willing to lend a hand. He does his best to make sure every guest is comfortable, and does his best to send them to his sister in law's tavern for "the best breakfast in the village".
Gustav Pebi
Gustav is a half-orc who is a bouncer for the Black Poppy and the White Poppy.
He and his brother Karkov are a fists first, questions later bunch, but don't discount their intelligence. They see everything, but their loyalty will prevent them from ever revealing a friend's secret.
Mary Berry
Mary is a half-elf who is very spritely.
She has a barbed tongue and deft fingers, often taking more coins than the client intended, though when she gets into trouble, typically her brother Avery can get her out of it.
Quinn Lansing
Quinn is a half-elf who specializes in some of the more extreme pleasures, and uses those skills to moonlight as an assassin.
She has a soft spot for protecting young girls and will teach any girls in the village self defense if they come after school on Wednesdays.
Blitherby
Blitherby is the very self-important butler of the Glasserune family. He has served them for decades, training under his father, who trained under his grandfather, and so on. The families are intertwined throughout their history.
He has a bit of a superiority complex, preferring high elves to other races.
Highly organized, he runs much of the day to day work in Stoneblood Manor and arranging meetings for the high council.
What Is Blitherby Hiding?
The Baron's death was suspicious to say the least. The "family curse" is apparently real, and darker than imagined. Who took the family sword and why? Why are there abandoned and hidden temples under the castle? How will James choose between honoring his promise to his love and his father's promise to the Tanglewoods? Blitherby's strange almost-Shinze braid and the strange temples under the house make him a prime suspect--but what did he do?
Blitherby's letter was quite suspicious. Now that Elaine's relationship to James as his fiance has been revealed, how does that impact the baron's death? Should James honor this contract or follow his heart? The group agreed to speak to the Tanglewoods, but when they arrive in Thornyside, the Lord and Lady are gone, and they are told that Elaine is not herself, though they have yet to find her.
Who Is James' Lover?
The beautiful girl and her child are clearly fey-touched or fey. Who are they? How did they meet? How can they ever hope to be together?
Find The Glasserune Sword
The Glasserune sword was found under a pit of flesh and bones in a partof the stoneblood dungeons long ago locked off, it led back into the mausoleum in the cemetary. It was very suspicious. After returning the sword to its sacred altar, the group worried they would not be able to get it back for the ceremony to bury Hanburn, but it worked out.