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A small Family reunion

Session 35
2020-12-03

After Jak's show, he stays backstage for a moment to talk to the girls and change back into his regular clothes. While he is gone, Irdien sneaks out unnoticed by everyone. At the sight of Jak, Sirona congratulates him and then immediately accidentally mentions that she saw him naked. Jak is not embarrassed at all but manages to sway the topic over to the show in general. He and Sirona discuss the choice of clothes or lack of them, and Jak asked if Siron would ever consider performing on stage, although of course not this type of scene. He manages to convince her to sing a song at the table while he plays the music and is sounds beautiful for those who hear. Sirona claims that Jak must be magical since he can make anything sound right with the help of his lute. Jak loves the description and leans into it, slowly learning that Sirona suspects that he is part fey. A claim that he does not dispute, but also does not confirm. Jak aks Sirona what she thinks she will find back home and after listening to her sad reply, he reminds her of her new second family and reveals that he learn to wisp after striking a deal with a demon. He exchanged servitude for a way to win Alisandre's affection. Sirona gets concerned and apologizes for asking about it. Jak finds her good manners cute and asks her to tell him her worst swear word. She doesn't want to, but after wittingly pretending to read her mind, she unintentionally blurts it out. Jak laughs and teaches her a new one that he thinks she should use on him the next time she thinks he is crossing a line.
During their talk Irdien return from her self-appointed mission. She gestures for Adrian to join her for a private chat. He complies. She can tell that he's had a couple of glasses of wine, but he still seems in control. When they are out of eyesight from the others, she scolds him for hitting Jak, but Adrian brushes it off saying it was well-deserved. Irdien decides to pickpocket his Hunter symbol and keep it until he apologizes to Jak. Adrian almost catches her, but a woman spotting Irdiens attempt offers her professional assistance as a distraction; giving Adrian a pinch and asking if she can pay him for a night together. He declines and sends her off, but not before Irdien manages to pocket the medallion. Before leaving, she tells him that she found the house where Vincent is kept. Adrian is very grateful for the news, praising her skills and buys her a drink that she accepts but brings to her room to drink alone.
When Adrian returns to the table with the others Sirona excitedly hands over the birthday present, she bought him, seeing as it is now past midnight and officially his birthday. Adrian opens it and finds the bookmark complete with his family crest and two inscriptions. He thanks her and hugs her while Jak plays a birthday song. Adrian tells them that Irdien has found his brother and that he wants them all to get up early tomorrow.
The party decides to go to bed. This is Labrats first night spent alone since she escaped her cell, which makes her a bit anxious, even if she can understand that Adrian only meant well when he booked them all individual rooms. Eventually, she falls asleep, comforted by the notion that her wide, warm, soft bed feels nothing like a cold stone floor.
Sirona abandons her single room to sleep cuddled up against Adrian instead, finally having her first night without nightmares since reuniting wit Ilgron on the dock in Eldolan.
The morning is cold. The group meet up and eat some breakfast in the secluded dining room they found upon arrival yesterday. Both Jak and Sirona are a little groggy since yesterday and Sirona prepares some water with salts to replenish her system. Jak tries to distract her so he can steal her glass but fails. Sirona still lets him have the water and makes a new one for herself. The group decides that if something terrible happens at the estate and they need to run they should run to the bagel place that Sirona and Irdien found in Ravens Yards and not lead whoever might be following them back to The Mysterious Bolder.
Sirona whispers to Irdien to keep Labrat distracted while she runs off to see if the parcel she ordered for delivery has come. Irdien immediately shows Labrat how to make houses and people out of her food. Labrat happily watches her. Sirona retrieves the gifts, and the group heads out, leaving Capper wherever he might be.
On their way to the northern parts of Elms Hill, Adrian gets the distinguished sent in the air that there are at least two alchemy shops on their route that are cooking up drugs. Irdien describes the Maultiz Estate as a three-story floor townhouse with the addition of an attic. It had two guards posted last night out on the porch in front of the house. All the windows of the house were barred, like all other houses in town. There was smoke from the chimney, and lights had been lit inside.
Adrian suggests that if they're only two guards, they can simply walk up and ask to be let in. Jak recommends the group allows him to wisp ahead and check it out. Adrian thinks his Wisp ability is better as an escape plan, but Sirona argues that since the wisp can be unpredictable, it's better to use it when they are in a safe environment. Jak who hasn't the time to listen to his friends debating tries to wisps. It doesn't work, and he instead starts sweating profusely. The liquid he excretes smells pungently of alcohol. He feels stone-cold sober. Sirona starts examining Jak to see if he is sick since he won't tell them what just happened. At the same time, Irdien volunteers to scout ahead. Sirona asks if she shouldn't take Jak with her in Wisp form. Jak immediately fakes, twisting his ankle to not having to come clean, whereon Sirona lights up her hand and heals the imaginary injury. Feeling the magic not able to recover any wounds she instinctively knows that he's lying and drops the subject.
After not finding any suitable blunt objects for a straight-on assault on the guards Adrian agrees to let Irdien scouts ahead alone seeing as she is the only person of the group not standing out.
Irdien takes a stroll down the street and around the house in question. She learns that the back of it also has a door with two guards station outside. There is movement inside the house, but she can't make out the person. Smoke is still rising from the chimney.
After listening to Irdiens report, Adrian again suggests that he try knocking the door. Sirona approves of this diplomatic approach, and the group gets moving. Irdien hangs back slightly to get some tactical distance should they need it. The guards don't stop Adrian from knocking on the door. A servant opens, and he asks to see the master of the household. He introduces himself only as a monster hunter, but when he reaches for his hunter medallion on his necklace, he discerns that it is gone. The lady still shows them inside anyway, and he realizes that Irdien has presented the medal behind his back. Adrian asks for it back, but Irdien refuses; saying he needs to apologize to Jak first. There is some squabbling between the two that is curiously observed by the rest of the group. It remains unfinished business as they are interrupted by the welcoming voice of Vincent Maulitz. He is a slightly younger, somewhat rounder version of Adrian that has found more joy in books than action. The brothers greet each other with a hug, and as they are being served tea in a beautiful sitting room, Adrian introduces his traveling mates.
Labrat is described as a dragon. Jak becomes furious as Adrian presents him as a minstrel, but the anger quickly deflates as Vincent reveals that he knows of Jak and loves his works. Jak takes the opportunity to ask if they could get the chance to, in addition to the lovely tea, also sample something more substantial. Vincent makes sure to serve a bottle of the family vintage wine reserved for the family members. Adrian carries on introducing Irdien as a thief, seeing as he is still angry at her for keeping his medallion. He concludes by introducing Sirona and announcing that they are a couple. Vincent is thrilled with meeting everyone and delighted with the news of his brother's commitment.
While talking, Jak realizes that the wine isn't giving him any buzz and he freaks out asking if something is strange about the wine. There is nothing weird about the wine for anyone else having some. Jak dramatically makes a massive display of his heartache over the lack of alcohol in his system until Sirona manages to grab hold of him and make a second quick examination to make sure he's not in any danger.
Vincent tells the group that he is in house-arrest. The Maulitz wine has been exported to Shadow port to expand the business, but The Cardinal has tricked them into debt. That debt will be repaid in the form of a dowry when Vincent marries the lady, Rosamund. She is the daughter of The Head of the Cardinal crime family. Jak and Adrian immediately proclaim that Vincent can't marry her and if he does the Cardinal will have him killed straight away so that they can get full control of the vineyard. The wedding is planned to happen in five days (29 September?). While brainstorming an alternative solution, Vincent tells them that there is an old theater being used as a neutral ground where the crime families meet and decides over what should happen in Shadow Port. There is such a meeting scheduled for this evening if we want to go and see if we can plead or bargain to help Vincent's case