Chapter 2, Part IV: With a Bang
Written by Archivist Owen Lively (Roscoe)
with additional entries by Darwin (Justin), and Mews (Sara)
Phew! What a series of events. Alright, now that we've escaped immediate danger, everyone brought me up to speed on what happened when the chaos started and while I was trapped under rubble. I now have a chance to notate what's happened since we arrived at the town.
So, through the assistance of some of the towns folk (including Violet and her mother who's name is escaping me at the moment; apologies, we've been through a lot in a very short amount of time), we're able to acquire invitations to the grand event taking place at the manor up the hill. We also learned that the anti-magic field extends all the way to the outer fence and gate area. Thanks to a good idea from Aine, we use this to our advantage. Some of the towns people throughout the day make their way to the manor and slide their wrists through the fence so that the magic inhibiting bracelets cease to function for a moment so that they can be removed. Hopefully the folks that have regained their magical capabilities can be of help in the possible fight to come.
The group assumes new identities on the night of the event so that we do not appear suspicious when arriving. Except for Darwin who managed to gain entry through the staff entrance as entertainment. Apparently he performed a very intricate flame-light show with a lantern he has.* I wonder if it was the same one that he used to light Chuck on fire* 🤔. Anyway, once we all gain entry to the building, we did our best to mingle and avoid any suspicion after some of us stashed weapons to retrieve later. While we all enjoyed the food and kept up appearances, it seemed like Mews and Artemi were very on edge and focused on two individuals that arrived together. (I later learned the significance of these two to each of my respective party members. Yeesh, they've been through a lot of heavy emotional and mental experiences.)
The whole building then convenes in the ball room for the presentation by Jules Larkney and Chuck Shuck. Everyone is curious.
Larkney reveals plans she has with Shuck to "revitalize" Blightjay and make it into a vast amusement park called Larkneyland. Through the use of what she called Glimmer, which matches the description we received for Element 707, the amusement park will not follow the laws of reality. Everyone who attends will be able to experience "wonderful" scenarios brought to life by what we've come to know as Snarls; wild magic surges that cannot really be controlled outside of simple components leading to a particular type of result based on what the component is. Needless to say, this new knowledge is troubling to say the least.
Upon Chuck Shuck going to pull back the curtain to reveal the scaled down model of Larkneyland, Darwin "flubbed" his unveiling performance and set Chuck on fire briefly. Amidst the brief but controlled panic at this, the King of Materhawk who was also in attendance was escorted down stairs from his balcony view point and out of the manor due to the possibility of a threat. Darwin is taken away towards the basement to be question as well. Meanwhile, the pairing of Guy and Victoro were able to get some pretty... "respectable" (not sure if that's the best term to use considering it's thievery, but it was from a couple of low-lives. So, I guess it was indeed respectable) investigating and acquisitioning of some items and information upstairs.
This is where the sequence of events starts to get a little cluttered. Aer and Artemi manage to help Darwin handle the guards that were detaining him, Aine joins up with Victoro and Guy to further investigate the upper floors and try to find the anti-magic field generator, Mews apparently chased after her... let's call her the physical manifestation of emotional trauma in the form of another tabaxi woman (who I later learned killed Mews' mother.). All of this took place while I was still "playing the part" of a concerned terrified upper crust attendee while trying to help usher people out of the building to safety
It was at this point that Aine somehow cause an epic explosion which consumed the entire house. I'm incredibly relieved that I survived. I'm curious how many other staff and attendees were able to escape with their lives. This threw the party, which was already a vortex of chaos and confusion, into a complete disaster. In the madness that followed the explosion, luckily the other members of my party avoided any major injuries. They found their way to the back courtyard where Mews had chased her sworn enemy and engaged her in combat. Shortly after, a gargantuan suit of armor appeared which was piloted by none other than Chuck Shuck joined the fray! It then turned into a crazy skirmish between the party and a giant mechanical/magical set of armor, a tabaxi, and Artemi's brother. I was able to escape the collapsed building in time to join my friends in this trying encounter and assist in taking down Chuck Shuck and Adrik. Sadly Adrik appears to have been killed; though I'm not sure how true that is due to the manner in which he fell. Two... I'm just going to say "gloopy" because I can't think of a better adjective, spiders emerged from Adrik's clothes and managed to escape the capture attempts of Darwin and scurried into the forest. Catrina is yet alive and... oh for goodness sake! Mews just took off after her. Please hold. We're apparently not completely out of this yet.
To be continued once we have a moment to breathe.
Additional Reports:
Cartographer's Guide |
Warkeeper's Reports (Mews) |