A battered elf approached the party, gratitude shining in his eyes as he hailed them as skilled heroes. He inquired about their presence in the area, initially suggesting pamphlets before focusing on Vesper Farheel, hinting at a deeper interest. When the party hesitated, the elf pressed Rin and Vesper about becoming subjects of his stories, offering dinner and drinks as a token of thanks. He admired Wyn and the armored members of the group, expanding his offer to include the entire party.
The elf gifted the group two vials of face paint that would render the wearer inconspicuous for a short time, along with a satirical play script portraying the queen as a lover of Asmodeus and a conspirator in a god’s demise. Sira Antkeep clarified that they were on official business, seeking a pendant to gain entry to the gala. The elf recognized their request as the Lazybones Pendant and directed them upstairs to help themselves. Upon reaching the storeroom, Sira discovered it had been looted, with only scattered blank sheets remaining. Among the debris, a blue ribbon caught her attention, revealing the mark of Tobmer Qinro’s Children’s Charity, a thieves’ group linked to a failed orphanage funding attempt. Recognizing the orphanage, the House of Found, as their next destination, the party concluded that the pendant had likely been stolen from the shop.
As they departed, the elf promised to write a book in their honor, titled “Breaking Hell For Her,” celebrating their defiance against Cheliax’s local power. Adam’andiel Ironbane carried Vesper through the snowy city to the House of Found. Sira warned the group about the orphanage, advising against unnecessary violence. Upon arrival, Sira knocked on the front door, but no one answered. Adam’andiel peered through a window, observing a training space filled with dummies and faded paintings depicting children in combat. Vesper attempted to call out to Father Kindness but received no response. Adam’andiel kicked the front door open, triggering a spike trap that injured both him and Wynter. Inside, they found stairs leading upward and a locked inner door. As they dealt with traps, they heard someone attempting to pick the lock from within. Vesper peered through and saw several thieves, marked by blue ribbons, inside. She urged the party to retreat before the door opened.
When the thieves emerged, Vesper confronted them, feigning authority and causing momentary confusion. However, the thieves quickly turned hostile. Adam’andiel intercepted an attack meant for Vesper, while Vesper cast protective magic on him. The ensuing battle saw Rin unleash elemental blasts, while Wynter combined weapon strikes with fire magic to devastating effect. The party fought fiercely, with Vesper using mental assaults to daze enemies and Rin focusing on nonlethal force to incapacitate the thieves. As the fight progressed, Sira fell unconscious after taking damage meant for Isaac, but Rin revived her with healing magic. The party managed to subdue the thieves without killing them, choosing to loot their unconscious forms and hide them away. Vesper disguised herself as one of the thieves, while the group took time to recover from their injuries.
In the days leading up to the gala, the party prepared for their next steps. Wynter engaged in petty theft, Sira solicited donations, Rin worked as a herbalist, Adam’andiel took on manual labor, and Vesper performed publicly to bolster anti-Cheliax sentiment. As they navigated the city, they encountered an elderly beggar struggling to cross an icy street, his crutches slipping as a speeding carriage bore down on him.
Threads to Watch: Lazybones Pendant; the fate of the thieves; the House of Found.