In Search Of: Wedding Demon Origins

Tai got to the part where there were underground beasties causing problems at Hasapis Vineyard, and Fine Branch, Dryali, and Terrance exchanged a meaningful glance.  The first mission Damakaios had sent them on resulted in Tuala and Dryali getting eaten by some burrowing worm thing at Hasapis Vineyard.  They rose, and went upstairs.  After a moment watching them, Nix followed.

Damakaios was out on a mission himself, so they turned left past the privies and went to Naranjos' office in the opposite corner.  The Mekamwesauk halfling had left breakfast early in order to maintain a consistent set of office hours.

Naranjos' office was bigger than Damakaios', an appearance exacerbated by the size of his desk, and the far smaller number of chairs he had for visitors.  A few well-worn, but still cared-for, "backup" weapons hung on the walls, which were covered in very fancy wallpaper with an ornate rose pattern.  Also on the walls were high shelves, reaching up to the ceiling.  Some shelves had pebbles, carefully labelled with locations and dates; others had ceramic figurines of gryphons in attack poses, in the style of "Precious Moments".  The carpet was worn near the door, in the space behind the chairs, and at his desk; and … not really anywhere else in between.

Naranjos looked up at them, and did his best to be serious business.  "I got 5 missions," he told them, shuffling through the papers as he read them off.

Naranjos:  House Hadid wants phase spider venom & silk.  Alternatively, troll blood & teeth.
Dryali:  hey Fine Branch is a troll, we got it right here.
<Fine Branch bared her teeth, and Dryali flicked a canine.  Fine Branch snapped and missed Dryali's hand.>
Naranjos <laughed>:  I don't think that will work!  <shuffles papers>  The other mission – Sugar Glider School of Hang Gliding has been having weird mechanical shenanigans messing with some of their classes.
<Everyone looked at Dryali, who shrugged, having not gone there since before the Tumultuous Holiday.>
Naranjos:  mission 4 – follow on to Serene Boundary shenanigans where some Silver dragonborn was killing them, then some hobgoblins.  High Abbott Gregorio wants to know where the shadows are coming from, there are more of them than the dead from the monastery and ranchers can account for.  Maybe check Ripa Daneo for this.
Dryali:  is the High Abbott also checking Gata Nahaki?
Naranjos:  the High Abbot is thinking it's the Below, and since it's a dragonborn thing, it's Ripa Daneo.
Fine Branch:  do we have an intelligence budget on this?
Naranjos:  you're getting a fee.
Fine Branch:  thinking we could ask Carnivale.
Dryali:  we could talk to the pretty lady…
<Everyone facepalmed.>
Naranjos:  the final mission – it was kind of weird that a tattered lady recited poetry and dropped a demon on the wedding.  That was weird.  There have been a few … the Houses want an investigation.  Everything else was pranks, but there was a demon … ?  
Dryali:  what is the victory condition for this investigation?
Terrance:  good question.
Naranjos:  maybe find info on this lady, who or where she is; it doesn't feel like Ripa Daneo party shenanigans.  Far cry from The Ice Sculpture Coming Alive.
Fine Branch:  would be fine to do that
Nix:  I remain interested in the mystery of the Abbot and monks
Terrance:  intrigued by hang gliding, and fact-finding about the weird lady
Dryali:  I've seen the constructs hassling the hang gliders from afar, but the weird lady was also fascinating.

So they would try to find the crazy lady, but before that, Fine Branch (who had not been at the wedding) had questions, and Naranjos actually had answers of a sort.

Fine Branch:  how long has the property been in the family?
Naranjos:  generations
Fine Branch:  how often are weddings held there?
Naranjos:  not super frequently 
Fine Branch:  when was the last one?
Naranjos:  have to ask the family.  <half a pause>  But, a couple years ago someone in the family married another Bronze dragonborn, and nothing terrible happened.
Fine Branch:  that was my next question
Naranjos:  no, this is weird.  That weird poetry… <shook his head.> the matriarch and patriarch are funding it.  Ask them.  …the lady was human.
Terrance:  have they seen her since the wedding?
Naranjos:  she disappeared
Dryali:  I thought the lady was the demon
Naranjos:  still isn't clear
Fine Branch:  I'm trying to think of what spirit would hate marriage
<Everyone thought a little.>
Nix:  it would have to be a weirdly specific undead; but maybe?
Dryali:  are their villas near that Amabel one?
Naranjos:  no; they are nice, on the top level.  Ghanjashka is near the Rim; Vangdondalor is back a bit.

They discussed how to back track enemies to the estate, with Fine Branch wanting to start there, and Dryali wanting to re-check the tent for devices.  So they took their leave of Naranjos and headed to the stables to get their mounts, just as a rumble of thunder reminded them that the weather was gross out.

Nix's wyvern, Eris, had finally accepted her fate and was trained and cooperating with her new rider; as a result Nix magnanimously allowed Terrance and Dryali to fly on Snowbolt, her pegasus, on the trip to the Vangdondalor estate down in the crater.  The flight took up most of the day, and although the clouds let up enough for the Daystar to peek through in the mid-afternoon, the Freelancers and their mounts arrived at the estate soaked through.

Servants took charge of the mounts, leading them into the stables, while Nix used prestidigitation and shape water to clear the water.  Fine Branch cast create or destroy water to clear the rest; and an older servant, a Rain sagani of dragonborn extraction, led them into a parlor to wait.  Dryali patted his hair.  It was dry, but no longer spiky;  the gel was cleared too.

A Bronze dragonborn entered; Musicaa, the eldest daughter of the House, upon which time we find out how much Fine Branch had paid attention to Naranjos.

Fine Branch:  we're here about bad poetry at a wedding.
Musicaa:  thanks again for making sure nobody was hurt by the demon.  The tent is already taken down!
<Fine Branch was visibly confused that she asked about poetry and got an answer about the demon.>
Dryali:  where is the tent stored?
Fine Branch <recovered>:  can we talk to the people who took it down?

Musicaa called Rain sagani back in who had led the Freelancers to the parlor, and she explained to the Freelancers where the tent was stored (a basement adjacent to the garden) and given how the weather was still unpleasant and twilight was approaching, they suggested maybe look tomorrow, in which case the Freelancers would be put up for the night.

Dryali:  how long ago was the tent put away?
Musicaa:  perhaps 5 days ago?

The servant gave Musicaa a quick side-eye, but said nothing until he showed the Freelancers to their rooms.  He then explained the tent had been put away right after the Freelancers providing security for the wedding had departed, which was really 8 days prior, not 5.

The next morning, the weather had not improved, but the Freelancers went with Musicaa to the storage area and looked around.  Dryali cast detect magic and saw active abjurations, presumably to prevent fire or rot.  He noticed, oddly, other items with detect magic always on, and also some magical items in the back corner.  These turned out to be garden games, like a croquet set.  To his disappointment, the tent in question did not light up.

Dryali pointed these findings out to the others, and the Freelancers were intensely interested in this detect magic always on thing.

Musicaa:  it's more like an early-warning, than super detailed.
Fine Branch <eyes wide>:  that's perfect
Musicaa:  a lot was going on
Fine Branch:  when the demon showed up?
Musicaa:  transmutation … probably, thaumaturgy for the lady's voice
Fine Branch:  so, the lady was already there.  How did she leave?
Dryali:  I still think she's the demon
Musicaa:  when the demon appeared, there was conjuration
Dryali:  🤔
Musicaa:  …and transmutation when the musician's instruments animated.
<The other Freelancers looked at Dryali when she said this, but Dryali said nothing.>
Fine Branch:  going to run a test:  casting thaumaturgy to make finger-snapping from 30' up.  Tell me where it detects it:  target or caster.
Musicaa:  it detects the target.
Fine Branch:  so, what's the target of thaumaturgy?
Musicaa:  the lady.
Fine Branch:  what about… what conjuration?
Musicaa:  one… possibly two, when the demon appeared
Dryali:  this does not preclude the lady being the demon

An argument broke out, during which the Freelancers learned the detect magic device had been attuned to Musicaa for the purposes of wedding security (and still was).  As they debated, Dryali replayed the chaotic wedding reception in his mind, and realized that the lady up in the top of the tent reciting poetry, had not disapparated until after the demon had appeared.  He conceded, explaining this.

Fine Branch:  what's the range on this detect magic system?
<She cast dimension door to 50' outside of the range, and walked back.>
Fine Branch:  what did you see?
Musicaa:  conjuration was cast.
<Fine Branch walked back outside, then cast dimension door to return.>
Musicaa:  where you landed
Dryali <to Fine Branch>:  you are showing off.  <to Musicaa>  Musicaa, who has grievance against the House?
Musicaa:  not sure – obviously the houses contend and strife, but summoning a high-powered demon?  Not the style – wasn't there to prank, but wholesale destruction
Fine Branch:  or, a warning
<Musicaa cocked her head in a very draconic way.>
Fine Branch:  how has business been?
Musicaa:  pretty good!  Starting to merge the agreed-upon business
Fine Branch:  okay, any particularly good strokes of luck?
Musicaa:  apart from Freelancers killing this demon?
Fine Branch:  before that
Musicaa:  no, negotiations were long, [even] apart from the second-oldest son disappearing from Ghanjashka.
Dryali:  what?
Musicaa:  when we were first negotiating, he disappeared
Terrance:  what?  Are there any, er, spinster aunts or something?
Musicaa:  I was supposed to be the bride, but Patrink ran away
Terrance:  so, you are still unmarried?
Musicaa:  yes.  I was willing, but… since he ran away, he probably would have been a bad husband
Terrance:  was he comfortable with gender identity?
Musicaa:  not sure, but, it was important to have children from this wedding with lightning breath ability.
Nix:  are there marriages notorious for having gone poorly among these houses?
Musicaa:  not that I know of.  Can't speak for Ghanjashka, but Vangdondalor makes sure the arranged marriage is cordial or succeeds.
Dryali:  are there any interested parties off-skylith other than Patrink?
Musicaa:  there are various competing dwarven clans.  Ghanjashka are direct competitors with House Drogo of Duquesne.
Dryali:  have you been approached by any mercenary house for business deals?
Musicaa:  we have standard contracts for protection.  Have those we work with, and nobody new.
Fine Branch:  who stood the most to lose by successful marriage?
Terrance:  I also have this question
Musicaa:  a number of people were unhappy at the collection of power.  Nobody would have done this who wasn't at the reception.
Fine Branch:  we know the person was at the reception.
Musicaa:  but there was no guarantee the person would not be hurt.  Demons are scary.
Dryali:  this is making me think of another House with troubles, we were asked to help.
Fine Branch:  did we ever track that all the way?
Dryali:  no.

Dryali suggested they talk to Ghanjashka, and Fine Branch wanted to first cast augury.  She got out her shark teeth, as Musicaa watched with interest, and threw them in the air, proposing "no more questions, here," as the appropriate action, and got a sense of weal.

Everyone nodded, and Fine Branch told Musicaa they will ask at Ghanjashka.  She nodded and told them, "Have a safe journey back to Ripa Daneo; hope the weather improves."

As they took their leave, Fine Branch told her, "Stay away from bad poets."

The Freelancers returned to Ripa Daneo and spent the night in their own beds at Freelancers Villa, but departed the next morning with little fanfare to visit Ghanjashka Villa near the Rim.  When they made themselves known to the butler, they were shown into the second-best parlor to wait, while he fetched Artem, cautioning them it might take a while.

Artem actually arrived in short order, reasonably well-dressed, and greeted the Freelancers, who noticed a small handprint of jam on the back of the Blue dragonborn's shirt.

Artem:  how can House Ghanjashka help the Freelancers?
Fine Branch:  we're here about bad poetry.
Artem:  ah, yes, the wedding.  Best to sort that.  <to everyone> Thanks again for making sure nobody was hurt.
Fine Branch:  who would have gained the most if that happened?
Artem:  our greatest competitor, House Drogo; but it really would have mattered, how it turned out
Fine Branch:  did House Drogo have someone at the wedding?
Artem:  I believe they sent a cousin
<Terrance, noticing the jam handprint, tried to brush it off Artem's back.>
Artem:  what– hey– what… oh, that's my child.
Terrance:  how old?
Artem:  could be either child; 4 or 6, right now
Terrance:  do they have a nanny?  <asked in the tone of maybe such a position would be interesting to her.>
Artem:  of course, but I was at Breakfast Playtime
Terrance:  how long have they been there?
Artem:  been with family for years; she raised me
Terrance:  has she ever been married?
Artem:  I don't think so <implied by tone, he didn't actually know, or care.>
Fine Branch <to Terrance, with air-quotes>:  Freelancer retires as Special Ops Nanny
Terrance <stiffly>:  as a former street urchin, I like to keep my options open
<Artem blinked as he processed this exchange.>
Terrance:  any chance I could meet the nanny and your kids?
Artem:  uh, if this is relevant to your investigation; I hope she is fine
Fine Branch:  the childish nature of the poetry has us concerned.  Maybe they notice something adults do not.
Terrance:  I think it's relevant

Artem was confused by this turn of the conversation, but offered, "How about, I …" his voice trailed off as he changed his mind.  "How about we all go to the garden, and I'll have her bring the children?"

He went to the door, and spoke to a footman, then led the Freelancers out of the room and to the garden in the atrium.

The garden they entered was very manicured.  There was a bit of a lawn with a bench or two, surrounded by themed beds.  One section was a zen garden, with sand and rocks only, well raked, but with lightning patterns crossing the rows left from the tines of the rake.

As they were seated on the benches, Dryali asked casually if Artem knew where Patrink was.  Artem started to bristle, but Terrance added, "I'm also interested in travel.  Have you done any and was Patrink doing any of it?"

Nix added persuasively, "It's also important to the investigation to gather all the facts we can, and clear the members of the Houses involved."  Artem bristled more at that statement, but calmed as he considered her words.

Artem:  I have not seen Patrink in 3 - no, 4 - years, and he has horribly shirked his duties.  If you get news about him, please let us know.  It's his choice…
Dryali:  are you sure it's his choice?
Artem:  he took all his stuff, and left a note … it was impolite.

Two Blue dragonborn children entered the garden, ushered by a Fausaanoa hanyou woman who bore a striking resemblance to Manu, a hanyou sorcerer in the Cliffshadow Freelancers, were Manu to be female and have thick black hair with spiral horns.  She was also older, and rather buff, so maybe she did not look that much like Manu after all.

Artem <lowered his voice>:  little ears.
<Narrator voice:  I don't think dragonborn have ears.>
Dryali <gently>:  a lot can happen in 4 years.  It may not still be his choice.
Fine Branch:  what were his grievances?
Artem:  he had a lot of problems being 2nd in line, and thought he was better than deserving an arranged marriage.
<Terrance, glancing at the children, moved to talk to the nanny, and distract them.>
Fine Branch:  if he'd arranged this, how surprised would you be?
Artem:  I'd be shocked.  I can't imagine my brother setting a demon on the family,  Also, seems a bit impersonal.

Terrance had marked how the nanny had checked the garden corners, and the Freelancers, on entry to the garden.  She was wearing leathers, and Terrance spotted the edge of a tattoo on her:  The Teeth.  Retired Special Ops Nanny, indeed.

Terrance:  how do you deal with charges that have lightning breath?
Nanny <laughed>:  very good reflexes!
<The nanny's accent was the same as Manu's.>
Terrance:  we've been really curious about this woman who showed up and read poetry at this wedding.
Nanny:  very bad poetry!
Terrance:  you notice anything?
Nanny:  unfortunately, had my hands full.  <shook her head.>  they ate too much frosting; I took them to the sands for breath lightning.
Terrance:  you notice anything there?
Nanny:  too busy.

Nix wandered around, ostensibly to peruse the garden, but really to roll the bones for augury.  The Patrink line of questioning did not feel right, so she suggested to the bones that the Freelancers continue to investigate Patrink to find the mystery poet lady.  The bones came back with woe.  As she picked up the bones, the youngest child came to pick up Mercury, and Nix quickly cast prestidigitation to prevent their sticky fingers from getting Mercury mucked up.

Fine Branch, unaware of Nix's activities, told Artem she will do a divination.  Artem called the children over to watch, explaining that "This is important magic."  Fine Branch, who already tended to make the casting of divination overly dramatic, hammed it up for the children, and hoped The Cat would notice.  She made wide gestures in the air, then intoned, "Who was responsible for the bad poetry?" and murmuring under her breath, "and the demon summoning."

The children were captivated, but Artem was dubious at all this drama.  Fine Branch winked at him, and then her eyes turned into identical images of the Cat Nebula.  "The poet was responsible for herself, as much as she was responsible," The Cat informed Fine Branch, their voice echoing in her head.  The cleric was disappointed, both in the answer, and in The Cat not assisting with the casting drama, as she repeated what she'd been told.

Nix turned to the children, and asked them what they thought of the rhyme at the wedding.  They shook their heads solemnly; they had not heard it.  Artem introduced the Nanny, whose name was Kylie.

Dryali:  any servants been dismissed?
Artem:  not recently, or even longer
Fine Branch <to Kylie>:  ase the daughter okay with the marriage?
Kylie:  as far as I know she was okay.  Hoping for Blue dragonborn… Alicja was looking forward to the relationship.
Fine Branch:  was there anyone else hoping to marry her instead?
Kylie:  yes actually, a Pewter dragonborn, Bigm  It was one-sided.  Alicja was clear this was a fling.  <made a face>  not the first time
Fine Branch:  talk to me about his family
Terrance:  does he have aunts, or, a sympathetic nanny?
Kylie:  he's not from a House.  His family has a shop.  I'm unaware of their family structure.

Fine Branch drew out her giant shark teeth, catching the attention of the 2 children who thought they were so cool.  Kylie quieted the children as Fine Branch cast augury by throwing them up in the air, suggesting the Freelancers ask no more questions here.  They came back weal.

The Freelancers looked at each other, at Artem, and lastly at Kylie.  Fine Branch picked up her shark teeth, as the other Freelancers thanked Artem for his time, and also Kylie.

They took their leave, heading for the Ripa Daneo offices of House Drogo.

The offices of House Drogo, who controlled a lot of shipping in and out of Cliffshadow, were small but well-appointed, clearly intended to impress the visitor that the House was of consequence, even if not homed on Commerce.  Upon their arrival, the Freelancers were introduced to Kalic, a cousin of Sonya Drogo, who was known to Dryali and Fine Branch.

Kalic had been at the reception, and recognized Nix and Dryali.  He said to them, "Very impressive, what you did with that demon."

Fine Branch asked him, "Can we get you to describe what you saw?"  Kalic did so, and it matched how Dryali and Nix had recounted it to the others earlier.  However, Kalic's description dwelt on persons and not … combat mechanics.  This shift was not lost on Fine Branch, who followed up with, "Anyone you thought should be invited but wasn't there?"

Kalic shook his head, "No," he said.

Nix asked Kalic to excuse her for a moment, she just had an idea.  She pulled Fine Branch aside, and murmured to the cleric, "Should I just cast suggestion on this person to spill their guts?"  Fine Branch glanced at Kalic.  "Seems truthful," she said, and Nix tried to tell, but could not.  <Narrator voice:  Brian critfailed on insight.>

Dryali asked Kalic, "Who do you think triggered this event?"  Such an open-ended question turned out to be a bad idea, because Kalic really was Sonya Drogo's cousin.  He started with "This is not how it's done here.  It couldn't possibly be a major or minor player.  This wasn't a funny trick; this was a murder attempt …" Kalic kept it up for a good 10 minutes, his patter revealing no new or interesting information, although echoing what others had said to the Freelancers in fewer words, ending with, "...think crazy poetry-spouting lady has a grudge against weddings?"

The Freelancers quickly took their leave, and headed back to Freelancers Tavern.

After returning to Naranjos, the Freelancers reported their findings.  They'd eliminated some possibilities, but the mystery remained unsolved, and they discussed whether or not they should stage an ostentatious wedding in order to provoke the poetry lady, which would at least reveal if the problem was the wedding or one of the participating Houses.  Naranjos was noncommittal, but given these results, he only paid a partial mission fee of 153gp (subtracting out the 10% Freelancers Cut).