18/04/2025 - 'Drunks and Dolls'

 Leaving the Reformation House, the party headed back to the Blue Water Inn where Ireena resided in their room. The young woman looks anxious and frustrated: the party had told her they were going to look at a toy shop and come back. What happened?

Tariel shows off some of her purchases, telling Tariel that she was tried to find something that reminded her of Ireena. Which reminded Summer: the Kobold taking out the Ireena doll she 'purchased without permission', Ireena was beside herself to say the least! Even more so when Summer mentions that the Captain of the guard, Izak, had many different dolls that resembled Ireena!

Someone made an Ireena Funko Pop! Just had to use it here!

Torbin brings up that select members of the party were invited to a dinner with the Baron, where Izak may also be present. And that Ireena was invited. Considering what the party had told her about the place so far, she wasn't sure if it was a good idea to go. Looking to Abe, Ireena asks if he thinks that Baron Vargas can be trusted. Abe shrugs, unsure how to feel about him considering what he's seen and heard about the Barons son, Viktor, and Izek.

*Intermission as the DM and Torbins player discussed the players business trip to Hawaii.

Meanwhile, Summer and Abe decided to have a backflip competition that broke into a fistfight*

While running around the room to keep away from Summer, Abe suggested that Ireena would be safer staying with the party than staying in town. He slipped up when he said 'You're safer with me' before correcting himself after he realized what he said. Ireena raises and eyebrow at that and the now shy Abe flees from the room.

Heading down to the bar, Abe finds two guards drinking at the counter. When Abe pulls up beside him, one of the guards recognizes him from the Reformation House. They were two of the guards that showed up when Slate was casting magic in the lobby. After taking out grievances with Abe and his antics of interrogating his prisoner, one of the guards ordered him a drink. Curious about the House, Abe asked them if they would rather be interrogated by him or the reformers. The guards both immediately state they'd rather experience Abes torture rather than endure the reformers again. Seeing the traumatic expression on one of the guards faces, Abe gathers that they are terrified of the reformers. Both the guards were former prisoners that had been reformed, both former rebels of Baron Vargas. They tell Abe that resisting the reformers would totally change you. Not in the same way they are, but in far worse ways...

From there, the two guards start asking Abe some questions. Hard to see such a young man leading a strange group! Somehow the conversation turned to women...

Meanwhile upstairs, Summer sits the Ireena doll on the opposite bed to its subject, asking what they should do with the doll. Torbin and Summer discuss about using the doll as bait for Izak, or using it to turn Izak on someone they want out of the way. Fran suggests using it as a decoy, casting Enlarge on the doll to make it life-sized and terrifying the woman even more!

Torbin, Tariel, Summer and Fran all end up agreeing that it would be safer to keep Ireena away from the Baron for the time being. But with the clock winding down to go to the dinner that they said Ireena would be there for, what's the plan?

Fran suggests using a spell to disguise himself as Ireena. He says he doesn't see how this could backfire.

'It's foolproof!'

Summer beside him:

With Fran casting the spell on himself and getting Ireenas approval of the appearance, Francesco headed downstairs to find Abe and the two guards hammered at the bar. Patting Abe on the back, 'Ireena' asks him if he's ready to go. The two guards nudge Abe, asking in whispers if that was the girl he told them about. They encourage Abe to ask her out.

Hiding at the top of the stairs, Torbin and Summer watch as a liquid-encouraged Abe asks 'Ireena' if they could go out sometime. 

'Ireena' just smiles and suggests that they should get a move on, they don't want to keep the Baron waiting after all!

With Abe and 'Ireena' heading outside, Summer and Torbin make their way downstairs with Tariel following after them. Waiting for the party outside, Slate follows after them.

Seeing that Abe is drunk, Tariel uses her divine magic to cure his inebriation and catch Abe and Slate up on the plan. Torbin Wild Shapes into a flea, riding on Summers back as she assumes the dog position as they walk through the streets.

With Francesco teasing Abe now that the Ranger knows it's him in disguise, the party begin their way toward the Barons for an... interesting night.