The gala erupted into chaos as Vesper Farheel confirmed that Caeto, the general, had already slipped away, leaving The Party to face impostors posing as Hellbreakers. Panic spread among the guests while Vesper positioned herself behind Adam’andiel Ironbane, who assessed the false Hellbreakers as trained fighters. Rin scrutinized the flag-bearing female leader, recognizing her as a formidable opponent, while Sira Antkeep summoned Isaac into the fray. The crowd surged, battering The Party members, but Wyn managed to slip through the chaos unscathed.
Isaac engaged the leader, striking her as she commanded her followers to attack. A crossbow bolt fired at Isaac missed, and the crowd’s terror escalated, knocking him prone. Adam’andiel pushed through the throng toward the stairs, calling out to the leader to draw her attention while Vesper raised a rallying anthem to bolster her allies. She lashed out at the leader with a magical insult, leaving her frightened but still standing. Wynter teleported beside the leader and landed a heavy strike, but the leader retaliated, denouncing Isaac once more and attempting to strike him with a lance. Rin conjured a freezing clutch over the attackers, turning the area icy and severely injuring several false Hellbreakers. Confusion reigned as Adam’andiel mistakenly struck the leader instead of an ally. Vesper attempted to daze the leader from a distance, but the leader resisted most of the effect. Amidst the chaos, Wynter focused on calming the panicked crowd, which helped stabilize the situation. Rin inadvertently redirected her attacks toward Isaac, landing two elemental blasts on him before regaining her composure.
As the fight continued, Adam’andiel knocked one false Hellbreaker unconscious, while Vesper renewed her protective music and insulted another attacker. Wynter teleported to the last enemy and missed his follow-up strike, but Rin seized the opportunity to eliminate the final wounded false Hellbreaker with a powerful elemental blast, bringing the skirmish to an end. Grateful guests thanked The Party, and a healer offered assistance, which Vesper accepted while Wynter sought out alcohol instead.
The atmosphere shifted dramatically when Caeto appeared, battered and bloodied, announcing the murder of the manor’s lord. He ordered the guests to remain under arrest until the situation was resolved, warning of magical defenses that made leaving dangerous. As the crowd murmured anxiously, Vesper noted several political figures present, including Caeto himself and the high priestess who had left earlier. Sira requested permission to investigate the body, but Caeto insisted his guards would handle it first, though he acknowledged The Party’s potential trustworthiness. Vesper pointed out the unconscious impostors, prompting Caeto to have them taken upstairs for questioning. Conversations among the guests revealed suspicions about Roncelos Azri and the high priestess, with one guest expressing gratitude for Vesper’s intervention. Colonel Rither approached Isaac, expressing frustration at missing the fight, while Wynter reassured a contact about the attackers’ true identities. Vesper interrogated a servant who had spilled wine on the high priestess, learning that the collision was accidental.
After gathering information, a nervous servant summoned The Party to Caeto, who revealed that a guard had been killed, deepening the mystery. He requested The Party’s help in investigating the murders, granting them freedom to move within the manor but forbidding them from leaving. Wynter noted the attackers had not resembled true Hellbreakers, suggesting they were a distraction. Caeto agreed and directed The Party to the room where the lord’s body was supposed to be, only to find it missing. Searching the luxurious Bedchamber, Rin identified freshly dug soil, while Adam’andiel noted the open window. They discovered a secret door and a hidden compartment containing ledgers tracking corruption. After deciphering a message about a plot masterminded by someone named Alkaina, The Party followed a trail of dirt leading outside to a mausoleum. There, they encountered animated topiary beasts that attacked as they approached.
In the ensuing battle, Adam’andiel protected Rin from a vicious bite, while Rin and Isaac worked together to defeat the creatures. Vesper supported Adam’andiel with magic, and The Party coordinated their efforts to eliminate the animated beasts. After a fierce struggle, they emerged victorious, discovering a magical sprig of primeval mistletoe within one of the defeated creatures. The Party prepared to uncover the truth behind the lord’s murder and the machinations at play within the manor.
Threads to Watch: Caeto’s true intentions; the identity of Alkaina; the whereabouts of the lord’s body.