- Resume after killing the Orthon
- Eliza can't enter a servitude contract, but she did agree to not come after us again and gave us 10 soul coins
- She tells us of the Wandering Emporium and that its being Mordenkainen's
- Go to Mordenkainen's, recruit a Nycaloth to fly us over (Tzon massages it)
- Lily convinces him to knock on the door which 9th level disintegrates it
- Mordenkainen comes out and fuckin sparta kicks him straight off the ledge
- Balsam double nat 20's to start a slow clap
- We go inside and its real cool expirimenty and weird
- He tells us he will find the paladins or pit fiend if we get a pint of blood from a powerful fiend
- We have to do it within 7 days
- We leave and go to the Wandering Emporium
- Immediately we meet Ma-Hadid who sells us on a stay at his crazy spa/hotel/restaurant, the Infernal Rapture
- We get great food and drink but it costs us 1 soul coin each (schrodingers 5 or 7 depending on Cass) including gnome blood and human tears old fashioned and miniature giant space hamster
- There is a cool looking human I wanna talk to
The cool looking human is at the bar surrounded by a ghast and six ghouls
She sits with them in silence with her thumbrella off to the side of her seat. Everything she is being brought is not on the menu. Balsam gets very nervous and intimidated so they ask Lily to go talk to her. She does and the woman slowly raises her eyes to meet Lily's. A scowl on her face, not one that appeared but was just there always. She nods and says nothing. Lily kinda wingmans Balsam a bit and asks her to talk to them. She looks over at Balsam who is just anxiously making carving into their skin.
She says she doesn't wish to stare, but if they want to talk to her they can approach. Aurelia gives Balsam a push. They approach and try to look cool and tough. They tell her she has interesting energy and she says that Ma-Hadid invited her here years ago, but she's grown bored of his advances. Balsam tells her that they are here to save BG. Through this, She perks up at the mention of Loviatar, and Balsam is able to figure that she is a Necromancer from Thay, though she clearly hasn't been there in a while. Eventually, they gently grab her wrist, pull her in, tell her to meet them in their room and carve their room number 11 into their forearm, and it seems she will come to their room.
During this the rest of the group is kind of discussing what Balsam is doing and staring. Skraps is plotting for how to acquire more soul coins. He looks around and can't find anything that gives an indication of an exchange, and the businesses look more like they want to take coins, not give them. There may be a patron tho, and the most obviously wealthy looking person he can find is a beautiful Cambion dressed in crimson silks, slowly drinking what looks like liquid moonlight. She is sitting at a table with a non-wealthy looking spined devil and they appear to be gossiping.
Skraps works his way over to her and butts right into their convo. He gasses her up and says he recognizes her but she says she doesn't recognize him. He lies a bunch and indicates that he wants to make a deal, and says he didn't bring enough coins but that she looks like she knows her way around a piggy bank. She says she cares about and deals in information. She says she cannot tell a lie, but if he gives her juicy enough info he can make anywhere from 1-3 soul coins. The less people that know it the better. She says it could be none tho if its not interesting enough.
He tells her that BG is next to come down into the Hells. She asks if its guaranteed or there is a chance that it doesn't show. He lies and says its 100%. She totally believes him though and reaches into her bosom and pulls out 2 soul coins and tells him that she has a third if he has anything equally juicy. He tells her he is here because he is on the run because of killing nobility in BG. She says that's not necessarily helpful for her.
Skraps asks in the chat if anyone has any secrets. Tzon tries to mention Mordenkainen but we try to shut that down. We bring up the option of the shield. Aurelia and Lily ask for soul coins. The cambion interrupts his thought convo and he says he's looking at her tits. She seems to be okay with it and he tells her about that he thinks there is a devil stuck in the shield. He points to Cass. She asks for an introduction. He says yes, but don't scare Cass because she is a bit jumpy. He says that the shield has Gargoth in it. Her eyebrows raise. She's deff interested.
She says that now she must speak with him as he probably has juicy info. He says he can call Cass over but he needs coins first. Cass is obv much more standoffish about it and less willing. She asks that Skraps promises that nothing bad comes of it after he says that she seems to be more interesting than the information than trying to release him. As he was talking to Cass, the Cambion made her breasts appear bigger.
The cambion gives Skraps the final coin after she is able to talk to the shield and he immediately feels a sinking of his own soul with him now carrying 5 coins. Cassandra allowed it after a very successful persuasion check from the Cambion (KAT BE HERE.) Midconvo with the shield, she turns back to Skraps and tells him that she appreciates his honesty and forthrightness and that if he comes across anything else juicy she has more coins. He tells her he will keep his ear to the ground. He finally tells her his name. She respons her name is Zareth. He hits on her one last time. And she implies they will cross paths again.
Those at the table discuss going to the Pleasure Room and seeing if they can get the blood we need from there. Lily and Aurelia asks after the soul coins they requested earlier, Skraps seems waylayed, and less perked up than he seems like he should be. Lily notices the coins clearly in his pocket. They tell him that if they give them the coins he might feel better. He agrees and gives them each one. The moment he passes them off he feels better. He immediately is like 'wait hold on give them back.' Aurelia tells him that he should know that's not good for him.
Everyone discusses the concept of Skraps feeling bad over the coin. Aurelia feels fine with how many she has. She throws her bag to Tzon and when he catches it he immediately falls into a deep depression and he drops the coins. Balsam picks them up and also feels very bad and immediately throws it at Aurelia. Balsam is distrustful of Lily and Aurelia being able to hold so many. Aurelia describes bottling all of her feelings and memories up. Balsam reminds her again that they could help her and that's not healthy. She gets real defensive and changes the subject to going and checking out the pleasure room.
Lily focuses and touches her amulet and there is a ripple that goes over her, she gets taller, her boobs get bigger, her horns grow, and she gets more muscle.
Everyone kind of tidies themselves up. Skraps combis his hair and unbuttons his top button. Tzon adjusts his clothes. Aurelia removes her cloak and rolls her sleeves up. We head back towards the entry hall to head to the spa to investigate the special services. Aurelia calls out Lily for calling it the pleasure room so confidently.
As we make our way in, we see a towering, and elegantly dressed succubus.
She stands in the front area. It's draped red velvet everywhere. Very Lily coded. Gold chandelier with floated red orbs. The succubus speaks up and welcomes us to the spa and asks how she can meet her every desire. Aurelia speaks up and asks to go to the room where you moan and orgasm. The succubus respons "all 7 of you?" Balsam says they have to abstain from the orgasms. Aurelia says she can be ravished by no other than a high powered fiend. An important note is that lying no longer seems to make Aurelia nervous, though its still kinda obvous.
The Succubus sees through it and asks what she truly desires. Aurelia says power and that she'd love to see her father's head on a pike, but than catches herself and says no she wants to orgasm. She says thats not what she wants from here but also they don't have a pitfiend on staff. She says that she does have powerful fiends here though. Aurelia is suddenly very open and says she truly does desire a pit fiend but specifically its blood and asks if she knows where one is. The succubus says she can't say specifically but indicates that some various people might know. Rassh, Skidds & Slagg at the Firesnake Forge, Burney the Barber, Elliach at Ichor’s Aweigh, Fhet’ahla at From Here to Avernus.
The succubus then asks her to put that aside and that Aurelia seems stressed and she wants to take that stress away. Aurelia tries to brush it off and Skraps, Lilly, and Balsam all gang up and say if she wants to embrace her power and to kick around a scamp Skraps is right there for her. Aurelia says yeah we can do it right here. The succubus says other people may come in so she'd need to be okay with others seeing. Skraps is so here for it.
Aurelia declares awkwardly that she is better than skraps and its a whole awkward thing. Skraps asks for help from the succubus to guide Aurelia. She says they may be on different pages. Eventually Aurelia starts to get it, though she does apologize for calling Skraps little and a chorus of don't apologize ensues. She tells him to put his chin to the floor and for everyone to take turns kicking him. Skraps consents, and Lily goes first. Aurelia invites a passerby to join and a chained devil walks by and also asks for consent which he gets.
The chained devil whips one his chains at Skraps and lifts him up upside-down, restraining him.
Aurelia calls Skraps a good boy, and then the chained devil drops him and then goes off on his own business. Tzon also tries to give Skraps a kiss, but just can't get himself to do so.
The succubus's name is Lilivira. She leans down and asks Skraps if this is really what he wants. He says that it fulfils one of his needs. She asks if its to be degraded or to fulfil Aurelia's desires. He says its definitely not that one (he's lying.) She stands back up and looks to the rest of us and asks what we desire.
She doesn't charge us for this one but anything further will be costly. We chime in that we just kind of want regular services. Aurelia tells Skraps he can rise. We go in and get the standard services. We are well doted on. It counts as a short rest. Aurelia gives an inspiration to Skraps and Lily. Skraps says "Thank you mistress." Aurelia gets awkward about it.
We all walk out back to the main lobby feeling very relaxed. We can only imagine what the specialty services might bring us. We discuss what we will do next, we can't go shopping elsewhere in the emporium until tomorrow. We head up to our respective rooms. Lulu could have her own room, she stays with Tzon instead.
Our room are tailored to what we want:
Aurelia's is a wealthy manor bedroom.
Lily's is posh, luxurious, dark, and expensive.
Skraps's is stripped down and simple, a little bar on the side. A little tiny bed. Some nice big drapes along the walls. Wood flooring.
Balsam's is reminicent of the tents they grew up in. Dirt floors, leather walls, lots of chains and sharp objects. The bed is straw on the ground with a fur blanket. Very rustic but violent.
Tzon sleeps on a woven straw mat. There is a cushion pillow. A wide but not deep basin to wash in but thats it.
At some point, Skraps finds his way back to the cambion from earlier. She tells him he looks incredibly relaxed. She grabs his hand and leads him back to her room. She is far more forward and comfortable than Aurelia is at domming him, and he isn't done being stepped on for the night. Fade to black. We hear cat noises from his room. He has a tattoo on his ass.
Balsam sits on their bed and waits. They wait for a very long time, approx 90 mins right when they get discouraged they hear a gentle knock at the door. At the door, they see the human from the bar, now with 2 withered hands moving, on her shoulders. She enters worldlessly. She for sure matches their freak, and the inclusion of necromancy is new but invited. Zero words until the end when they ask her name. She gently sighs and responds "Feonor."
Aurelia knocks on Lily's door late at night and as she does she sees Faenor leaving fully covered in cuts and bruises and sweat. She then asks for notes on her performance from earlier and takes her own notes to improve. Lily asks for something in return and indicates she wants a soul coin in exchange. Aurelia agrees but she needs thorough feedback. Strengths and weaknesses. Positive and negative. Grade on timing, artistry, wit, intelligence, whatever sex categories.She wants an overall grade as well. It physically pains her to be bad at something. Lily double checks Aurelia wants this and pockets the soul coin. Lily brings them both some champagne, and she asks how Aurelia feels about how she did. Aurelia says she felt better after it, and that she is glad to play by her own rules. She says she fears she's a bit awkward. Lily says she tries a little too hard sometimes, yes. Aurelia obviously is a bit hurt by it, but she still appreciates and wants more notes. Eventually, Aurelia gathers that a big thing she needs to work on is her confidence. And Lily adds you also need to practice. Lily gives her a C, though its a lie she actually thinks she deserves worse. Aurelia sees through it, though appreciates that she cares enough to spare her feelings, but asks for her to write down a more honest answer overnight. Aurelia notices something about something in Lily's room but it was secret secrets.
Tzon and Lulu discuss how everyone let loose and that it was a lot. Tzon is a bit more open about it but Lulu compliments him on not kicking his friend. Lulu says that Tzon is the only one she has seen that hasn't hurt his friends with words, actions, or physical violence. Lulu says she is nervous and that she knows the corrupting nature of the hells. She is worried that the group will lose themselves here. Tzon understands and says that we've had a lot of people asks us to give Lulu up but that we haven't done so yet so he thinks it is a truly good group despite the flaws and depravity. Lulu asks that maybe the group could be less at each other's throats. Tzon brings up the wars and battles Lulu was in with Zariel and Lulu mentions she didn't much like it but she was inspired. He says she doesn't look like she is much for fighting, and she says she has a vague memory of being bigger at some point. She says maybe at the end of their time here they will both get bigger. She seems distracted by putting together her memory of the memory she forgot. They end the night with Tzon brushing her, and she is the little spoon as they fall asleep. It's so cute.
LONG REST
Aurelia wakes up to an entire, unflinching, professional report from Lily. She intensely reads it and takes in every note. They exit their rooms at the same time. and nod to each other. We then all go get brunch together before we leave.
Skraps sees Zareth engaged in gossip with a soot colored gnome that is probably an artificer. They are throwing information back and forth. He comes back to the group and sighs and stares at Zareth and the gnome. He overhears her say that she has it on good authroity that sometime soon BG will be joining Avernus in hell. She points to Skraps when asked where she heard that. He waves. They wave back and yap.
We all say that we slept amazing. And Balsam gives a little trickle of their experience which obv takes people back a bit. We get a tasty brunch. Aurelia refocuses us onto our main task of getting the car, the blood, and to maybe get equipped for the adventures to come. We all eat our brunch. It's also very delicious. We all reservedly walk out. Aurelia has to drag Lily out.
Immediately as we leave the tent, our contracts puff in front of our faces, and in the center a small portal opens, shaped like a coin slot, perfectly sized for a soul coin. They fold themselves up and disappear. Standing on the otherside is Ma-Hadid who asks how our stay was. We all tell him it was amazing. Skraps asks if he knows Ma-Hadid from somewhere bc Ma-hadid keeps looking at him a type of way. Ma-Hadid says no he doesn't think so. Aurelia does an insight check to knowing if either of them is lying or whats up. For Skraps, it seems very forthright, same with Ma-Hadid.
Ma-Hadid says he doesn't see many halflings here but the one he knew was deff not them and was named Piptup Lollyfuss. He says if we had such a wonderful time please do take this gift. He scans Balsam over who clearly visually had the best time. He says if they ever wish to find their way back and hands them a coin. It has a symbol of a tigers head on it. Wherever you are in Avernus, toss this on the ground, it will roll in the direction of my establishment. He leans in and says never expect to see Feonor again. They respond that they look forward to not. He says that they are a stronger being than he. And he bids us goodbye.
We start to head to the Firesnake Forge. We come up upon a tent built on the back-end of an infernal warmachine that has been cobbled together from at least a half-dozen others. It looks modular and well-built. We go inside and see a portable forge run by 3 large, bipedal, fire-y lizards.
They introduce themselves as Rassh, Skidds, & Slagg. They say they provide weapons, armor, and infernal warmachine repair. They say they can also modify it, after we say we need to get ours fixed. We lead Rassh out to see our warmachine. He slithers underneath it and says a repair job like this will cost us about 1000 gp. Lily subtley alters self to make her boobs bigger and leans in and asks if we could do just a little less. He initially is hesitant but says he can do 800gp and that's pre-gun add-ons. The guns would be an additional cost
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