[Horde] Chapter Five: Session Sixty-Four
Appearing Characters: Amelie Dawnrunner, Anarys Lunastre, Ly'leth Lunastre, Nyxxa Murkthorn, Oculeth Augurelt, Perri Colibri, Rak'Symma, Runas, Silgryn Silverwind, Sol'chi, Zar'Kaa
December 16th
The main thing the group noticed as they surveyed the party was that the attendants did not wear masks or disguises as they offered libations and recreational substances.
Sol opted to go to the drink table and grabbed a glass of arcwine. There was a rippling, bubbling sensation that synthesized with the alcoholic burn, and he felt almost as if it touched the very core of his magical energy. He sensed that, if drunk in large quantities, it would likely enhance one’s spellcasting in short bursts, and it was very evident why it would become addicted. There was also a distinct possibility that the Nightwell was more concentrated and acute than the Sunwell ever was.
Sol got some compliments on his costume, as it seemed the nightborne had never seen a moonkin before. However, as he exchanged words and jokes with various party-goers, he got a read on how the conversations typically went: they started surface level, but in a game of words, they would incrementally get deeper and more sensitive about potential connections and deals.
Nyxxa took Rak’Symma’s talons and took her to the dance floor so they could dance together. Rak’Symma whispered she didn’t know how to dance, and Nyxxa assured her that she could follow her lead.
Symma was able to avoid embarrassing herself by tripping over her feet. However, they caught some people watching them as they appeared to have decent chemistry. They caught a few snippets from the nobles also dancing as the duo mused it was only a matter of time before they started inviting demons to the parties.
Another pair of nobles noted distaste at how Ly’leth treated their younger sibling, but their partner told them to quiet down.
The last gossip they heard was rumors that the First Arcanist tried to assassinate the Grand Magistrix, but there was debate on whether she was executed or exiled.
As Zar’Kaa was moving around the party, he found two younger nightborne in a sheltered corner of the room. He got the sense they thought the party was very boring, and they wanted more excitement: like duels and drama. As he continued to maneuver around the party to try and get closer, he noted a nightborne dressed as the first kaldorei priestess of Elune, who started to chat with Zar’Kaa as she recognized the armor as being from ancient Nar’thalas.
Zar’Kaa, given he was unable to speak the nightborne tongue, spoke in Darnassian, but he acted like he was in character as he asked her which figure he was representing. She was delighted by the “cosplay” and correctly guessed he was Volo’ren.
Meanwhile, he was still listening to the young nightborne, who had mentioned a Coryn and Ruven that would turn the party to a more exciting time, though his fellow hushed him because apparently house Stelleris and house Lunastre did not get along. Zar’Kaa called over to the two elves and called out they weren’t having a great time, but he offered to liven things up. He offered them a duel, while still playing up he was cosplaying as Volo’ren.
One of the nightborne chuckled at the idea of Nar’thalas vs Azshari, and he agreed. The display appeared to have drawn some attention from the crowd, and the other nightborne told him to meet him on the dance floor in ten minutes and they’d show the crowd what a real waltz looked like.
Ten minutes later, they rejoined on the dance floor, and one of the nightborne tossed a force weapon to Zar’Kaa. He assured Zar’Kaa that the setting was turned down so they wouldn’t cause anything more than a few bruises as he spun his own blade in his hand and pointed it at the disguised troll.
He called for the band to start playing some exciting dueling music. The duo closed and traded a few blows, but Zar’Kaa pressed him against the edge of the dance floor. However, the nightborne rushed forward and feinted him, which gave him an opening. He come up on the offensive, but Zar’Kaa caught his guard and shoulder checked the nightborne, which sent him reeling back. The nightborne smirked, clearly enjoying the exchange.
They clashed again, but Zar’Kaa was able to knock the nightborne over with a slap to the cheek. The crowd cheered, quite entertained by the endeavor. Zar’Kaa extended a hand to him, and the nightborne reluctantly took it after huffing that Zar’Kaa was lucky that he didn’t have two blades.
The nightborne rolled his eyes.
Sol had been watching the exchange and chuckled as he commented that, had the fight been during the day, they could have used his glasses. He pulled out a pair of sunglasses, and the other partygoers blinked as they asked what those were. Sol explained that they were able to shield their eyes from the light.
He put the glasses on his face, and the sheer novelty of a horned owl beast wearing sunglasses earned even more attention. One of the nightborne offered to purchase the glasses from him immediately for her daughter, but Sol rebuked that without them being fitted to his daughter, they might fall off. The nightborne admitted he was right, and asked for his information. Sol said his name was Solion Thornshade, and the nightborne introduced herself as Amelie Dawnrunner and invited him to come to her estate. Sol promised he would “darken her doorstep” soon, and Amelie laughed.
Symma, meanwhile, went over to the refreshments to try and make herself look small, but a voice called to her that she had lovely plumage. Symma immediately bristled, and the man apologized, as he was just trying to be funny. The nightborne man was disguised as a Suramarian peacock.
Symma said that he was better at starting conversations than she was. He asked what type of creature she was disguised as, and she said it was something of a gamble as she had only seen a glimpse of a story of one in the city. She said it was an arakkoa.
The peacock-man said he’d be fascinated to meet one, as he had a bit of an affinity for birds, as he took care of the exotic birds at the menagerie. However, he stammered and admitted he didn’t even know if she liked birds, but Symma assured him they were her favorite thing. He eagerly asked if she had any, and she admitted she used to.
The peacock-man apologized for her loss.
Symma saw the nightborne blush behind his disguise and he said she was very kind to say so. He said she did very well dancing, and Symma said that was very kind as well, and she said she hoped he complimented his birds as much. He laughed and said it was an embarrassing amount, and he offered to get her into the menagerie for free if she ever wanted to see them… as long as she didn’t already see them. She chuckled and said she never tired of birds.
The man asked her if she wanted to share a dance, as the herons were beautiful by the fountain. She said she was already headed out there, and he offered to join her, as he had brought some feed and they could feed them together. Symma agreed, and he offered her an arm. Symma carefully held his arm with her claw.
Symma told the party over the telepathic link that she was feeding birds with someone, and Nyxxa d’aww’d over the link. Symma demanded to know why she was d’awwing, and Nyxxa said she was just happy she found someone that likes birds.
The man introduced himself as Perri Colibri.
Meanwhile, Nyxxa was dancing with other partygoers, and she found out that apparently the Lunastre family was responsible for funding several orphanages, including the one that Nyxxa had grown up in after Matron Moonweaver had been exiled.
While Symma was feeding the herons with Perri, she heard a caw and looked up to see a raven. She smiled up at the raven and held up a handful of birdseed for it. It fluttered down and landed on the ground nearby. It started to peck at the seed, but then she looked up and there was another one. And another. And another.
Before long, the walls were covered in ravens.
Perri looked at them, uncertain, as he said they didn’t even look like ravens that were from the region. Symma looked at them and realized they weren’t from anywhere she had seen. They were now surrounding her. There were hundreds of them.
Suddenly, they all opened a third eye on their foreheads.
A voice said her name, and then all hundreds of ravens exploded into the sky.
Perri asked what that was, and Rak’Symma asked him if he wanted to talk about it as she was concerned he had just witnessed a murder. Perri started to laugh at the joke, all tension then gone. He again asked what that was, because they had all been staring at them and made a noise, but Symma mused that they might have just been watching him because corvids were rather greedy.
At that moment, Kal fluttered overhead as a sign Silgryn was ready for the group. Symma asked Perri if there was anything else she needed from him to access the menagerie, and he told her he could give her his address, though he was at the menagerie most days.
Rak’Symma thanked him and moved to leave, and Perri called that he didn’t get her name. Symma coyly said that she would tell him next time she saw him, and Perri’s hands dropped to his side, completely speechless.
Silgryn met the group and led them to lead with Ly’leth, but they heard raised voices.
As they rounded the corner, they saw an imperious, beautiful woman with long, silvery hair and prominent cheekbones. She had a beautiful dress that showed off her cleavage and tasteful thigh. It was likely Ly’leth Lunastre, and behind her was a masculine nightborne with long hair, but no face aside from two eyes and intricate runic patterns.
The third figure has similar-colored hair and a feathered mantle and their back was currently turned to them. However, they turned on the group as they entered, and scoffed.
The younger figure turned and stormed off, and Ly’leth sighed and asked the group to forgive her kid sibling, but she invited the group in as Silgryn had already informed her of the introduction required. She introduced herself formally as Ly’leth Lunastre, the head of the Lunastre estate. She mentioned they had seen dusklilies blooming outside despite the season, and Sol confirmed they were rough at first, but they were blooming much more strongly now.
Ly’leth sighed in relief, and she was given the letter from Thalyssra. The attendant effortlessly took the letter and opened it with a letter opener while balancing the tray on their knee before handing it over the Ly’leth. She read it with wide eyes, and she thanked the group for giving the letter to her, as she had started to lose hope as time went on and Elisande’s noose tightened on the city.
Ly’leth said she knew of the individuals that sought to aid her, as her father had been one of them. However, he had been silenced before he could become a true threat. She got a dangerous look in her eyes as she mused Thalyssra seemed to have found some dangerous friends, and Nyxxa said that they were lucky to have found her, as it made their own goals easier to achieve.
Ly’leth said that they would need an appropriate cover, as a bunch of strangers walking around would be notable. She asked if they had an alibi, and Sol admitted they didn’t. Ly’leth explained their sibling Anarys was young and blind to the true happenings in the city, and she would rather not lose a sibling.
Sol spoke up that he had overheard that Ly’leth wished that their sibling could have spoken to their father, and Ly’leth raised an eyebrow and said speaking to a corpse would do little. Sol clarified that it wasn’t just talking to the corpse, and he gestured for Symma to continue as she had cast the spell. Symma explained that it allowed the soul to pass over, and Ly’leth seemed intrigued, but admitted that the death was still fresh and it would take time to convince Anarys to be receptive to such a ritual. However, it would not be strange for Anarys to be in the company of demons, and it seemed that some of them were more dependent on artifice to hide themselves.
She looked at Symma, who admitted she had never given it much thought. Ly’leth suggested they change that. She then looked at Zar’Kaa to stand by a door and look menacing, and she told Silgryn to cover the other one. She then requested the rest of the group follow her to find her sibling, as she suspected Anarys was at their father’s memorial.
Sure enough, that’s where Anarys was, kneeling before a simple memorial. Ly’leth asked the group to look appropriately dubious, and then stepped forward toward her sibling. Without looking, Anarys asked if she had come to gloat at them more.
Anarys turned, and their eyes found the group.
Ly’leth smiled.
Anarys stood up and took a few steps back, magic around their hands.
Anarys held their hand out.
Fear flickered in Anarys’s eyes.
She looked at Symma and requested her mask. Symma looked very uncomfortable, and Zar’Kaa said they should trust Ly’leth. Rak’Symma wasn’t worried about Ly’leth, and Sol told her to voice her concerns. She asked for clarification that she was supposed to masquerade as Anarys.
Rak’Symma sighed and imitated the last few words Anarys said. Anarys looked equally shocked as Symma handed over the mask, and Ly’leth took her sibling’s hand.
She snapped her fingers and restrained Anarys with magic, then placed the mask on Anarys’s face. It pulsed with magic, and she handed the mask back to her attendant. She requested Silgryn escort Anarys to the guest chambers.
Anarys started to burst into tears as they were tied up by their sister and carried away. Symma tried to wipe the tears away, but Anarys recoiled from her and said that they would know it’s not them.
Silgryn firmly, but gently, led Anarys back into the estate. Ly’leth sighed.
Nyxxa assured her that she had dragged everyone there into her own drama, and Ly’leth handed the masquerade mask back to Symma. She explained it had been reinforced to withstand limited physical inspection, but it had the risk of failing after too long if physical contact was excessive. She encouraged Rak’Symma to try the mask on, and she was only able to disguise herself as Anarys Lunastre, but it was at a much higher veracity.
Symma looked uncomfortable, as even her hands felt fleshy. Ly’leth said she was a spitting image of her dear sibling. But ultimately, it was give them an alibi, as Anarys traveling around the city would draw little attention. She also mentioned she had an old telemancy beacon in her estate, and if they had the means, they could likely attach it into whatever network the group had established.
She then launched into her contacts, as she had some people that she believed could help them with their endeavors. She also was seeking to get herself elected as the next advisor to Elisande to put herself in a better position, though she had a degree of competition amongst the old families.
She offered her estate as their home base in Suramar as her dear sibling coming and going wouldn’t be abnormal, but she wanted them to make contact with Vanthir, the patron of the Waning Crescent, an inn and tavern in the Starcaller Retreat. She found him to be a good man, and they would need help in ensuring refuges from the city got the arcwine they needed.
Nyxxa asked if Vanthir was in contact with an Orathiss Moonweaver, and Ly’leth was surprised by the question, but confirmed he would send food and beverages to her orphanage to help Orathiss. Nyxxa also mentioned she had heard that House Lunastre helped the orphanage, and she wished to offer her thanks, and the news that Orathiss still lived. Ly’leth was surprised, but pleased, by the news, and Nyxxa added that she had changed, but she was with Thalyssra as they spoke. Ly’leth said that the orphanage was still active and was called Ameth’Elun, if Nyxxa wished to visit.
Ultimately, the first step was to speak with Vanthir, and they could make plans from there.
Zar’Kaa mentioned he wanted to speak with Silgryn about how to strike the city most effectively when it came time to do so. Sol contacted Oculeth via sending, who reached out with [Telepathy] so that he could see what Sol was seeing and they could get the telemancy beacon patched in. Oculeth told him to follow his instructions to the letter.
It was clear it would take some time, but Sol was starting to get the hang of it and Oculeth was ultimately satisfied with the results. He sent over an apple, which appeared.
Sol took a bite of the apple.
Oculeth said they’d have the link up for a while, but he was going to bed, so try not to bother him unless it was urgent.
Sol suggested they try to visit Thalyssra’s manor to get some of her things while the city was sleeping. It was agreed that was a wise idea, and Runas told Symma he would be opening a lot of doors for her and that was completely normal as he was disguised as an attendant.
Symma said that her main issue with the disguise was that walking was not her strong suit, and she had a tendency to strut when she did walk. Runas quickly gave her a rundown on how to not bob her head while Sol had been messing with the telemancy beacon. Nyxxa, meanwhile, took a cutting of the wisteria so she could bring it back to Lantresor.
Zar’Kaa went to speak with Sol while he was charging the telemancy beacon, and he asked if he could ask him about something. Sol informed Zar’Kaa that Oculeth would be privy.
He handed Sol a piece of parchment where he had some things sketched. Sol looked at it and he said he could likely help. Zar’Kaa thanked him for the help.
The group headed down to take a gondola to the other side of the city. They took a lift made up of a translucent disc of force that carried them downward. The gondolas were piloted by unseen servants that paddled them wherever they needed to go, and they gave a location that was a small distance away from Thalyssra’s manor. As they traversed the canals, they could see homeless nightborne living on the streets, seeking what shade they could from the daylight.
They also saw an illusory projector that was cycling through wanted posters of various nightborne as well as other people such as Arthak, Nyxxa, Azgadaan, and even Zar’Kaa. There were descriptions and names as well as crimes. Nyxxa, Arthak, and Azgadaan were wanted for collusion with seditionists. However, Zar’Kaa had a much longer list including the same crimes as the others, but also grand larceny, murder, resisting arrest, and others. The alert for Zar’Kaa was also more extreme, and they were probably from his run in with the Duskwatch.
As they approached the region of Thalyssra’s manor, the ostentation was even more extreme than the Lunastre estate, which was more utilitarian. Nyxxa paid for the gondola ride, and Runas whistled, as he mused even the gondola prices had gone out.
They contacted Thalyssra, and she patched into their minds telepathically so she could help direct them. They erected various spells to cover their trails, and they passed by what guards were present without any issue as they entered into Thalyssra’s estate.
It was a very nice estate, but was not exceptionally large. There was a dock alongside it and a smattering of buildings as well as gardens. The estate itself had been ransacked and thoroughly searched. As they entered, Rak’Symma, with [Detect Magic], noted abjuration magic rimmed around all the windows and doors, and Nyxxa noted that there were also several clairvoyance sensors around.
Thalyssra sighed over the telepathic bond, but said that she wasn’t surprised. Sol dispelled one of the alarms, but he could sense that the magic was incredibly strong and placed by a very strong mage. Had he not been as good as he was at what he did, it was almost guaranteed he would have alerted whoever had placed the magic.
The interior of the estate was also a complete mess, and Thalyssra sighed about the work she had ahead of her to restore it. Runas piped up that if she was the new Grand Magistrix she would just live at the Nighthold, and Thalyssra said she didn’t wish to think about that.
Sol suggested they find everything as a group given the risk of traps laid in the manor, as there were other clairvoyance senses all over the house. However, with Thalyssra’s guidance, they were able to find everything she needed from her manor. Nyxxa had found the wardrobe to be untouched, and she crammed as much as she could into her bag of holding. They also found Thalyssra’s staff, untouched, which was strange as it was a magical item. Nyxxa handed it over to Sol to do a quick once over.
Sol noted there was, in fact, a tracking spell on the staff, and he swiftly dispelled it.
Nyxxa went out to Thalyssra’s garden to get some dusklily bulbs, and she noted that the gardens were, strangely, perfectly maintained. Thalyssra was baffled as she had been certain they would have been destroyed. There was also no magic nor scrying sensors in the garden.
Together, Zar’Kaa and Nyxxa scooped up all the dusklilies, but Thalyssra requested they leave the one in the center as a declaration, or a message, or all of the above.
Rak’Symma found tracks in the garden, and she used [Wild Cunning] to try and tell where the tracks were coming or going. They were almost indistinct, as if the tracks themselves should have not been there.
They went through the garden and disappeared. Whatever being made the tracks did so very quietly and very softly.
The group teleported back to Shal’Aran to deliver Thalyssra’s things.
