ARC SUBPLOT: FAMILY TIES
Ambiance Faira, Astrid Berge, Jalivia de Vaironne, Amadeus Orpheus Hart
More details to come...
CORDIALLY INVITED
Main Party: Lardriira'xyra Nallisoth, Grimmwood drifting by Jormungandr, Jalivia de Vaironne, Ambiance Faira, Astrid Berge, Amadeus Oprheus Hart
Side Characters: Rio Saoirse, Xi Bloodwood
Our session opens before the school year actually begins, with each student moving into their apartments and seeing a vellum letter on their desk. Each student opened it, to reveal a grand invitation to this year's Magister's Masquerade, the theme being "A Starlit Night." Enclosed was also everyone's Masque Charms that they would need for the dance, as well as a second invitation to a meet-cute reception at the Bow's End Tavern hosted by Javenesh and Manneo. With time on their hands, the party accepted, and were swept up in the whirlwind of the party.
Ambi went to the bar and had a chat with Javenesh, and he asked her to help him pull a prank on Astrid. Not harmful in any way, he just wants to get a little bit of revenge and let bygones be bygones. He left the creative details up to her. Javenesh also let slip that Dean Tullus wants the focus of the ball to be about Deroulex's history, which is quite boring. When Amadeus rattled Astrid, Javenesh had a change of heart, thanking Ambi for helping with the prank, but deciding to back out.
Jalivia and Xi had a pretty serious chat about Xi's humanity, as Xi frantically tried to cover by saying that they've never drank alcohol (instead of just saying they don't drink period.) The two shared a Riesling, and had a nice chat about helping each other. Jalivia and Manneo then had one last conversation regarding Manneo's new management position at the Bow's End Tavern, and how he's admittedly a little bit nervous to fill Javenesh's shoes. He's a little bit nervous about his experimentation with food, but Jalivia was able to reassure him that he deserved this position. Manneo's confidence skyrocketed thanks to Jalivia's help. Much later in the night, Xi confessed that he wanted to dance at the dance, and asked Jalivia to go with them, which Jalivia said yes.
Grimmwood caught up with Grayson and the two of them challenged each other to try an exotic snack. Grimmwood found some pickled lotus root, and planned to bring it back to Grayson. Wouldn't luck have it, Grayson found the mushrooms, and the two had a great time together. Grayson also let slip that one of the founding dragons might make an appearance at the dance.
Rio caught up with Aurora, and the two of them talked about their summer plans and their new classes, talking about their professors. Melwythorne and Rio then bond over snacks, and the two vow to try every one. Eventually, they were able to make their way around, leaving Melwythorne satisfied, but also with a stomachache. He also lets slip that he's heard rumor that the Magister's Masquerade is actually a secret fourth exam, which he's worried about.
Xi had a chat with Javenesh, and Javenesh took them under his wing. Javenesh also let slip that the staff are trying to "peacekeep" the Mage Tower rules after incidents last year, which has students up in arms. Xi and Melwythorne then had a chat, Melwythorne commending Xi about being kind enough to try and bond with the Silkball team. The two talked about their breaks, and how Melwythorne wished he was a better student like Xi, who is always so dilligent with studying. The conversation was cut short by Melwythorne needing to visit the bathroom, but he did mention that he was still feeling on edge after Mage Hunters invaded campus last year.
Lardriira'xyra went to get a drink with Manneo, and the two talked about creating exquisite food dishes. Manneo wished he could bring his dishes to the ball, but without being a third-year or having a proxy, there's not much else he can do.
Amadeus got absolutely waisted and fell deep into the uncanny valley in appearance, but eventually, was approached by Astrid. Astrid wanted to use Amadeus's magic as insurance to prevent herself from being pranked, asking them to cast an illusion to get back at Javenesh. Amadeus instead had most of their face melt off (in a harmless changeling fashion), and they fled, screeching. Dean Tullus went after them. Many students nearby muttered around it being "the ailment," but they didn't seem to care much.
Manneo and Tilana were forced to escort a sick Melwythorne out of the tavern, as they claimed to have had one too many eel rolls. Astrid and Amadeus later had a falling out over their differences, Grimmwood moving to comfort the former while Jalivia moved to comfort the latter. Jalivia discreetly scoped out Amadeus to make sure they didn't taint the snacks, but found nothing. Ambiance and Lardriira'xyra went to check on Melwythorne, discovering that the scan just came back with indigestion and a headache that was chalked up to being drunk and having eaten too much food. Tilana later let slip that Melwythorne missed Silkball Practice that day for a meeting with a teacher, but she didn't know which teacher, or why.
PARANORMAL PAROOZE
Guest DM: Manuel (Player of Rio)
Main Party: [Players go here!]
[Recap goes here!]
DEROULEX DEMO DAYS
Guest DM: Tina (Player of Captian Grimmwood drifting by Jourmungandr Bramblebright-Velveth)
Main Party: Rio Saoirse, Astrid Berge, Jalivia de Vaironne, Lardriira'xyra Nallisoth, Vaerith Stormaeris
This Recap shall be told by one, Seraphina Bramblebright-Velveth
Hi! I'm Seraphina, I'm thwee years old! My big bwother and big sibling goes to this college. My Da-da and Pa-pa had someting improtant to do so i gets to play with my siblings and dere fwiends! Dere was a scawy tent, and a pweety lady said it was weallly sacawy. So Riddy and Vae stayed outside to protects me! And the pweety lady sang some songs for me! She was weally nice. Then we visited Sha-va-dwy and she gave us yummy lemon-laid. Dere was some wude puppet and Wio and Havla taughted dem manners! Den dere was an arm wwestling group and I gots a cute spidew toy. Den we visited Woody and dey had lots of yummy treats, some was weally spicy dough. Wio gots huwt cause one was too spicy! Woody warned dem buts dey didn't listen. Den we visited Gweta, she was so cool and stwong! Just like Riddy and me! Riddy helped me use da hammer and I wang da bell! I gots a muscles hero metal! Oh! And den we taughted that mean ol' Claptwap mannerws, he spat watew at peoples which is so wude! I maked suwe he leawned his lesson wit a good smack! By den I was getting sleepy, but I stayed up a little bit longew for the awtwowk game and de monster shotty game. Den Astrid cawwied me back to Woody's dowm and we had a good nap!
THE SECRET LIFE OF FAMILIARS
Guest DM: Keller (Player of Jalivia de Vaironne)
Main Party: Lardriira'xyra and Arda, Ambiance Faira and ying, Dela Pierre and Cocoa, Vaerith Stormaeris, Astrid and Ophelia
The famous witch and Deroulex alumnistt Gertruda Grimmsly and her tortoise familiar Sheldon were visiting the campus to give a guest lecture on all things familiars. As Isonhound's foremost familiar expert, Gertruda came to share her knowledge and to help the Deroulex students through some simple trust exercises with their familiars. For students that did not have familiars, she had also brough her collection of Faux-milliars, magical dolls and plushies that could temporarily be animated with familiar magic. As the lecture started, the students got to speak with the freshman wizard Lenny McGibbons and his strange feline familiar, Queen Guinivere.
As the lecture began, Gertruda began to show off some of the familiar related magic items she possessed, including the famed Orb of Onnicus, an ancient relic that would allow familiars to cast powerful arcane spells. But the lecture was interrupted when a strange monkey broke into the lecture hall and began to cause chaos. As the students dealt with the monkey and attempted to protect the orb, Queen Guinivere snuck onto the lecture stage and grabbed the Orb of Onnicus. There was a flash of magic and all of the students found themselves body swapped with their familiars!
Knowing that they only had 24 hours to reverse the spell before it became permanent, Gertruda sent the students to search for clues about Queen Guinevere's location at the secret familiar sanctuary, the Pact and Paw, a garden magically concealed in the Archway Commons accessible to only familiars. Arriving at the garden through a secret tunnel, the students marveled at the gorgeous hidden world, including many attractions like cat trees, fire hydrants, bird feeders, a stage, mud pits, gambling, and even a bar. The bar was managed by a Unicorn named Adonis who had been accidentally summoned to Deroulex years ago after a Wild Magic surge. He used his fey magic to create the Pact and Paw to serve as a place where familiars could go to relax when not with their partners.
In searching for information, the party met with Don Bubbles Tortellini, the goldfish head of the Deroulex Mafia. After some terse words and a quick scuffle, the Don offered information about Queen Guinivere in return for some Tavern Tokens, the currency of the Pact and Paw. For these tokens he would also forgive the debt owed to him by Astrid's familiar, Ophelia. Though exploring the Pact and Paw, the students turned familiars were able to gather the tokens they needed by participating in many small games and events including: The Bounty Board, a game where familiars would compete in stealing small trinkets from students, the Raceway, a game where familiars could challenge the super fast rabbit Hopps to a race, the Wrassle Pits where familiars could challenge the skunk Fransua to a wrassle match, the casino where the familiars could gamble away their hard earned coins, Familiar Counseling where the familiars would meet in group therapy with the prestigious Dr. Penguin, and by playing music on the stage for coins. In playing these games, the student familiars managed to steal many trinkets from the room of Jalivia de Vaironne, Arda was able to beat Hopps the rabbit in a foot race, Ophelia out wrassled Fransua even though he skunk sprayed her, Vae in the body of a Faux-Familiar and Cocoa gambled their money away before joining group therapy, and Ying played with their heavy metal band, SussurFreaks.
After gathering all the tokens they needed, the party returned to Don Bubbles Tortellini who directed them to the Doghouse, a small jail for familiars. Inside they met a weasel pretending to be a polymorphed boy, and the monkey who had caused the commotion at the lecture! The monkey was named Jack and was in cahoots with Queen Guinevere. He shared that long ago, Queen Guinevere accidentally killed her first partner, but got a taste for it in the process. She then began a campaign of tricking powerful mages into being her partner before later killing them in order to steal their knowledge. Her current mark was the young apprentice mage Lenny McGibbons who she used to sneak into Deroulex. Her plan was to use the orb to turn mortals into her familiars! She was currently at the Biblioplex searching for a spell that would allow her to cast her magic across the entire college campus.
The party rushed to the Biblioplex where they found Lenny, Queen Guinevere, and three charmed freshman. The party managed to pacify the freshman and knock out Lenny before successfully separating Queen Guinevere from the orb. Now with the orb unguarded, Arda used it to reverse the body swap spell and restore everyone's proper forms, saving the day.
QUEENSDALE FINEST FUTURE
Guest DM: Mercedes (Player of Bellow d'Avalon)
Main Party: [Members go here]
[Recap goes here]
NINTH-DIMENSIONAL NIGHTMARE
Guest DM: Rit (Player of Karsana)
Main Party: [Members go here]
[Recap goes here]
SONG IN SENTIENCE
Guest DM: Sean (Player of Lardriira'xyra Nallisoth)
Main Party: [Members go here]
[Recap goes here]