Gods, Monsters, and Poor Life Choices // D&D

Session 18, Blood on the Dance Card pt.2

SESSION 182026-06-19

Date: 2026-06-19

Summary

The evening at the Silver Shield estate had already proven eventful before the first glass of wine was emptied. Lady Violet Szarr had slipped away to conduct private business with the other patriarchs in the back offices, leaving her bodyguards to mingle among the city's elite. It was during this uneasy lull that the party kept a careful eye on a woman who had no business being alive — Alia Durinbold, whose corpse they had pulled from the sewers not two weeks prior, now stood radiant and charming in the middle of the ballroom. Séantal had noticed something unsettling about the woman's crown, a brief flicker of translucency that suggested the jewelry was more than decorative, though the magic behind it remained frustratingly unclear.

While Séantal and Velessa kept watch from a distance, Shane took a more active role, positioning himself near the food tables and observing Alia as she worked her considerable charms on Duke Rakath Glitterbeard, the dwarven owner of the city's counting house. She was laying it on thick — flattery, laughter, lingering glances — and the Duke, well into his cups, was swallowing every word. It became clear she was angling for a private tour of the vault, and Shane knew he had to act without causing a scene. He scrawled a brief warning on a coaster, tucked it beneath a drink, and delivered it to the Duke with a smile and a gesture toward one of his companions, as if the drink were a gift from across the room.

Rakath read the note, squinted at it, and then looked at Alia with the dawning horror of a man who had nearly been made a fool. What followed was anything but subtle. The drunken dwarf stormed across the ballroom, voice rising above the music, loudly accusing the woman of being an impostor in front of every patriarch in attendance. Velessa spotted Mizora quietly steering the Eomane daughters toward the exit as the scene escalated, a small mercy in an evening rapidly unraveling. When Rakath shoved the woman in his fury, she vanished in a shimmer of displaced air and reappeared across the room — and then the fireball came. The blast tore through the ballroom, leaving two patriars dead on the floor and Duke Rakath a smoldering, unconscious heap. The Silver Shield ball had become a battlefield.

The woman let her disguise fall away entirely, and standing in its place was Maelra Szandru, a Red Wizard of Thay — a face the party recognized with grim familiarity. She sneered at Velessa, calling her meddlesome, before teleporting again and smashing through the estate's window onto the roof beyond. Shane bellowed a warning of attack, and the ballroom erupted into screaming chaos as guests trampled one another toward the exits. Mizora, ever composed, opened a small portal behind a curtain and ushered the girls through it without a word, vanishing after them. Shane moved to stabilize the fallen Duke while Duke Liara Portyr rushed in to assist, and the party braced for what was waiting outside.

On the darkened rooftop, Maelra had not fled — she had regrouped. Five silhouettes stood against the glow of the city, and as the party took up positions at the shattered windows, the battle began in earnest. Séantal unleashed crackling beams of force energy across the gap, striking one of the distant figures with devastating precision. Velessa fired a crossbow bolt into the dark before the weapon's mechanism forced her to pause and reload. Shane dropped his disguise entirely, becoming himself again, and took aim from an elevated ledge, landing a clean shot on the Red Wizard herself. The Thayan warriors hurled javelins in retaliation, scoring hits on both Séantal and Shane, while Maelra turned herself invisible in an attempt to slip away.

Velessa countered by outlining Maelra and her allies in shimmering, dancing light, stripping away the wizard's concealment and making her a glowing target against the night sky. She then leapt through the window to face Zulvek Thann, a brutish warrior she recognized as the man who had once smashed her face in a bar brawl — apparently still very much alive, or something close to it. The two traded blows on the rooftop, Velessa landing two solid strikes before Zulvek reached out with a meaty hand to grab her by the hair and drive her face into his rising knee. She twisted away just in time, the vision of what could have been flashing before her eyes as she drank a potion to keep herself standing. Then Maelra raised her hands and unleashed a wave of killing cold across the rooftop, catching nearly everyone in the blast and costing Zulvek several fingers to frostbite.

Shane vaulted down from the ledge and put another arrow into Maelra, leaving the Red Wizard staggering and bloodied. Séantal, battered but still standing after a burst of celestial healing, blasted Zulvek with enough force to leave him visibly wrecked. Cornered, wounded, and out of options, Maelra raised her hands in surrender. The moment she did, her warriors went slack — arms dropping to their sides, faces emptying of expression, like puppets whose strings had been cut. Zulvek alone retained any semblance of awareness, taking a half-step back from Séantal and giving a quiet, almost respectful nod. The fight was over.

Velessa pressed a dagger to Maelra's throat while the party bound the captives with a magical rope. As they worked, they realized with creeping unease that the warriors were not merely unconscious — they were animated corpses, and Zulvek appeared to be the same, despite his earlier show of personality. Duke Liara Portyr climbed through the window to formally place Maelra under arrest for the murder of two patriarchs and the attack on a Duke, and the City Watch was summoned. The party warned the guards to gag the prisoner, knowing she only needed to speak a single word to vanish. Shane suggested binding her feet as a secondary precaution, and Portyr offered the party access to interrogate Maelra at the watchtower the following evening. As the chaos settled, Velessa received a quiet telepathic message from Mizora: the girls were home, safe in bed. She was welcome.

Lady Violet returned to the ruined ballroom with a smile and the observation that the evening had been rather spectacular, even if Velessa's dress was thoroughly destroyed. The party escorted her home to Szarr Palace without further incident, and she rewarded each of them with fifty platinum pieces for going so far beyond the call of duty. Becka Bitesize caught them on the way out, reiterating her invitation to visit the new steamboat casino she had helped build — three days, she said, and she would have everything ready. Shane jokingly asked if she would adopt him so he could live on the gambling boat, and the party departed into the night debating whether they were friends, co-workers, or simply people who shared a bank account and a property deed.

Back at the Eomane House, they found Kaela waiting for them, anxious and uncertain. Seris had left the city without warning — her shop cleared out, a for-sale sign already in the window — and Kaela had nowhere to go. The party took her in without much deliberation, and the conversation turned to the practical matter of where she would sleep, which led to a longer discussion about hiring a head of household to manage their seven imps: Brimble, Cinder Tip, Glimmerhex, Mirepip, Rhymegrin, Sootwing, and the scarred, horn-broken Velvet. Séantal also introduced the group to their new assistant, 7-42B — a quadrone modron sent by their celestial patron, a mechanical cube of perfect geometry with multiple limbs, impeccable penmanship, and the nervous energy of something that had consumed far too much coffee.

The following evening, the party was granted access to Maelra's cell at the watchtower, where she sat shackled in restraints that cut her off from her magic entirely. Velessa cast a subtle compulsion on the prisoner, and under its influence, Maelra spoke with uncomfortable honesty. She had been sent to Baldur's Gate by Szass Tam himself to retrieve an infernal quill stored in the counting house vaults — a component in a ritual called the Lawful Draw, which also required a witness and a divided contract, all intended to free Szass Tam from some binding obligation. She had killed at least nine people in the city to accomplish her mission, including both Alia Durinbold and her husband, whose identity she had stolen to get close to the Duke. She warned that her master would send others — more capable, more dangerous — and that things did not end well for those who stood in Szass Tam's way. As the party rose to leave, Shane quietly set an arrow on the floor of her cell. Maelra looked down at it, then up at him, and gave him the most bittersweet smile he had ever seen.

The party relayed everything they had learned to Duke Liara Portyr, who took on the responsibility of preparing the city's defenses against the next wave of Thayan agents. The Durinbold diadem, recovered from the impostor, needed to be returned to the surviving branch of the family in Waterdeep, and the party began making plans to travel there themselves rather than trust it to a courier. In the meantime, Becka Bitesize's riverboat casino awaited them in three days — and somewhere across the Chionthar, the City of Splendors waited beyond that.

Short

The Silver Shield estate ball descended into chaos when the party recognized Alia Durinbold — a woman they had pulled from the sewers two weeks prior — very much alive and working her charms on Duke Rakath Glitterbeard. Shane slipped the Duke a warning note, prompting a drunken, public confrontation that ended with the woman dropping her disguise entirely, revealing herself as Maelra Szandru, a Red Wizard of Thay. She hurled a fireball into the ballroom, killing two patriars and leaving the Duke unconscious, before fleeing to the rooftop. The party pursued, engaging Maelra and her five warriors in a fierce rooftop battle. Velessa stripped away Maelra's invisibility with dancing light and traded brutal blows with Zulvek Thann, a warrior she recognized from a past bar brawl. Shane and Séantal hammered the Red Wizard with arrows and force blasts until she surrendered — at which point her warriors went limp like puppets, revealing themselves to be animated corpses. Maelra was placed under arrest by Duke Liara Portyr for the murder of two patriarchs, and the party secured her with rope and precautionary gags before receiving word from Mizora that the Eomane daughters had been safely escorted home.

The following evening, the party interrogated Maelra under a magical compulsion, learning she had been dispatched by Szass Tam himself to retrieve an infernal quill from the counting house vaults — a key component in a ritual called the Lawful Draw, intended to free the lich lord from an infernal obligation. She had killed at least nine people in the city, including the real Alina Durinbold and her husband, and warned that more dangerous agents would follow. The party relayed everything to Duke Portyr, who took charge of the city's defenses against future Thayan threats. Back at Eomane House, they took in Kaela after her guardian Seris abruptly left the city, and were introduced to 7-42B, a quadrone modron sent by their celestial patron to serve as a mechanical assistant. Lady Violet rewarded the party handsomely for their efforts, and with the Durinbold diadem needing to be returned to family in Waterdeep, the party began laying plans to travel there — but first, Becka Bitesize's riverboat casino awaited them in three days.

Classic

Last we left off, our party found themselves navigating the treacherous social waters of the Silver Shield estate, tasked with protecting Lady Violet Szarr during an evening of high society and higher stakes. It was there, amid the clinking of glasses and the murmur of Baldur's Gate's most powerful, that they spotted a face that should not have existed — Alia Durinbold, a woman they had pulled dead from the sewers mere weeks before, now very much alive and working her charms on Duke Rakath Glitterbeard. A warning note, a drunken dwarf's fury, and one devastating fireball later, the Silver Shield ball had become a battlefield, and the woman's true face was revealed: Maelra Szandru, a Red Wizard of Thay, with murder on her hands and a mission from Szass Tam himself.

The chase spilled onto the darkened rooftops of the estate, where Maelra and her retinue — warriors who proved, with grim unease, to be animated corpses — made their stand against the party. Through crackling beams of force, crossbow bolts, and well-placed arrows, the party wore the Red Wizard down until she raised her hands in surrender, her puppet soldiers going slack the moment she did. Duke Liara Portyr arrived to place Maelra under formal arrest for the murders of two patriarchs, and the following evening, under the influence of a subtle compulsion, the wizard spoke plainly of her purpose: an infernal quill, a ritual called the Lawful Draw, and a master who would not stop sending agents until his will was done.

Now, with Maelra in chains, a diadem to be returned to Waterdeep, a new ward named Kaela under their roof, a mechanical modron named 7-42B organizing their household, and a riverboat casino beckoning in three days' time, our party stands at the edge of their next chapter — battered, fifty platinum pieces richer, and perhaps no closer to understanding just how deep the shadow of Szass Tam truly falls...

Memorable Moments

"It's you, Lot, again. Gods, you're so meddlesome."
— Maelra Szandru

Maelra drops her disguise as Alia Durinbold mid-battle, recognizing Velessa as a recurring thorn in her side

"Well, I guess technically the first time you just ran away like a coward."
— Velessa Vaeltharyn

Velessa's deadpan correction after Maelra implies the party has never bested her, right before Maelra escapes through a window

"Can it do other parts of the body, like my legs?"
— Velessa Vaeltharyn

Velessa interrogating a captured Red Wizard about the finer cosmetic applications of a hair-removal spell, to Maelra's visible exasperation

Shane secretly leaves an arrow in Maelra's cell as the party departs, offering her a means to end her own life before the authorities of Baldur's Gate could put her to a less pleasant end. She responds with a bittersweet smile.

A quiet, morally complex act of mercy from Shane, done without the other party members noticing, after Maelra expressed she had no plans to escape

Maelra Szandru drops her disguise as Alia Durinbold, teleports across the ballroom, and hurls a fireball into the crowd, killing two patriarchs and leaving Duke Rakath a smoldering heap.

The moment a tense social confrontation exploded into lethal magical violence, sending the entire Silver Shield ball into screaming chaos

"I thought you said don't be seen and then you looked at the cat."
— Nysene Eomane

Nysene's baffling defense for sneaking into the patriarchs' ball after Velessa explicitly told the girls not to be seen or caught

Under magical compulsion, Maelra reveals that Szass Tam seeks the infernal quill, a witness, and a divided contract for a ritual called the Lawful Draw — intended to free him from an infernal obligation.

The interrogation scene where the full scope of the Thayan plot is finally laid bare, connecting the party's past discoveries to a much larger threat

Scenes

Intrigue at the Silver Shield Ball

The party navigates the social complexities of a high-society ball while keeping a watchful eye on a suspicious guest and dealing with unexpected family appearances.

Lady Violet Szarr departs for private meetings with other patriarchs in the back offices of the Silver Shield estate.
The party discusses the presence of Alia Durinbold, who appears alive and well despite the party having previously discovered her corpse in the sewers.
Séantal notices Alia's crown flickering translucently, though an attempt to identify the magic behind it proves inconclusive.
Shane coordinates with Velessa to have the invisible imp Quillbit act as a telepathic relay so he can shadow the Durinbold imposter.
Velessa discovers the Eomane daughters and Kaela at the ball despite her explicit instructions for them to stay away.
Mizora intervenes in Velessa's reprimand of the girls, suggesting they are merely having fun and are safe under her protection.

The Impostor Unmasked

A tense confrontation at the gala erupts into magical violence when the Durinbold impostor is exposed.

Shane, disguised as Victorio Cassalanter, observes Alia Durinbold flirting with Duke Rakath Glitterbeard to gain access to the counting house vaults.
Shane subtly passes a warning note to Duke Rakath on a coaster, bearing the message 'beware of doppelgangers.'
A drunken Duke Rakath causes a public scene, loudly accusing Alia of being an impostor in front of the gathered patriarchs.
Mizora quickly ushers the Eomane girls toward the exit as the situation escalates.
Duke Rakath shoves the impostor, causing her to teleport across the room and unleash a devastating blast of fire that incapacitates the Duke and kills two nearby guests.
Velessa draws her sword and the party prepares to engage the hostile mage as the ballroom descends into panic.
The impostor reveals herself to be the Red Wizard of Thay, Maelra Szandru, who taunts the party before shattering a window and escaping onto the estate's roof.
Shane shouts a warning of an attack, triggering a chaotic evacuation of the noble guests.
Mizora ushers the Eomane daughters through a magical portal to safety amidst the screaming crowd.

The Rooftop Skirmish

The party engages in a chaotic battle against Maelra Szandru and her Thayan warriors on the rooftops of the Silver Shield estate.

Séantal and Velessa take positions at the shattered windows to return fire against silhouettes gathered on the roof, with Séantal unleashing beams of crackling energy at the distant attackers.
Shane drops his disguise and draws his rapier to join the fray.
Maelra Szandru attempts to escape by turning invisible, but Velessa counters this by outlining her in mystical glowing light.
Velessa recognizes one of the Thayan warriors as Zulvek Thann, an old adversary who previously attacked her in a bar.
The Thayan warriors retaliate by hurling javelins at Séantal and Shane, scoring several hits.
Maelra unleashes a devastating fireball through the window, catching the party in the blast and leaving them heavily wounded.
Séantal uses a burst of celestial healing light to recover from the fireball's damage before moving outside to confront the warriors.
Velessa leaps out the window to face Zulvek Thann, striking him twice with her blade before drinking a potion to stay standing.
Zulvek Thann attempts to grab Velessa by the hair to knee her in the face, but she skillfully dodges the brutal maneuver.
Maelra unleashes a blast of freezing air across the rooftop, severely wounding the party and even causing Zulvek to lose fingers to the frost.
Shane vaults down from a ledge and fires a precise shot at Maelra, leaving the Red Wizard heavily bloodied.
Realizing she is defeated, Maelra raises her hands in surrender, and her warriors immediately drop into a passive, puppet-like stance as if their strings had been cut.

Apprehending the Red Wizard

Following the chaotic battle at the Silver Shield estate, the party binds Maelra Szandru and her undead thralls before turning them over to the city authorities.

Velessa holds a dagger to Maelra's throat and orders her to call off her allies.
The party discovers that Maelra's companions are actually animated corpses, with Zulvek Thann being a more conscious undead who gives a respectful nod before standing down.
Duke Liara Portyr arrives to officially arrest the Red Wizard for the murder of two patriarchs and the attack on a Duke.
The party uses Velessa's magical rope to bind the captives.
Shane suggests gagging Maelra to prevent her from using the verbal component of her teleportation magic.
The party discusses the fate of the Durinbold family, realizing that Lady Alina's husband is likely dead as well.
Duke Liara Portyr offers the party an opportunity to interrogate Maelra at the watchtower the following evening.
Velessa receives a telepathic message from Mizora confirming the Eomane girls are safe at home.

Aftermath and Invitations

As the ball winds down, the party reunites with Lady Violet, receives their reward, and is invited to a new riverboat casino.

Lady Violet returns to the ballroom, noting the 'spectacular display' and the ruined state of Velessa's dress.
The party escorts Lady Violet safely back to Szarr Palace without further incident.
Lady Violet rewards each party member with 50 platinum pieces for going above and beyond their duty.
Becka Bitesize reiterates her invitation for the party to visit her new steamboat casino in three days.
Shane jokingly asks Becka if she will adopt him so he can live on the gambling boat.
The party debates whether they are friends, co-workers, or business partners, noting their shared bank account and property deed.

Household Logistics and a New Housemate

Back at the Eomane House, the party manages living arrangements for Kaela after Seris's abrupt departure and discusses hiring household staff.

The party learns that Seris has left the city, with her shop cleared out and a for-sale sign in front of it.
Kaela approaches the party and asks to stay with them, expressing her fear of returning to homelessness.
The party debates how to reconfigure the Eomane House to accommodate Kaela and potential future staff.
Shane refuses to give up his room with a balcony, and the party considers using the empty storage room on the second floor for Kaela.
Velessa laments the high cost and bureaucratic red tape involved in expanding her own living space within the manor.
The group discusses hiring a head of household to manage their seven imps: Brimble, Cinder Tip, Glimmerhex, Mirepip, Rhymegrin, Sootwing, and Velvet.
Séantal introduces their new assistant, a neurotic-looking quadrone modron designated 7-42B, sent by their celestial patron to help with 'hero stuff.'

Interrogation at the Watchtower

The party visits the Baldur's Gate watchtower to interrogate the captured Red Wizard, Maelra Szandru, using magical compulsion to uncover her true motives.

The party is granted special access to Maelra's cell, where she is held in anti-magic shackles that prevent her from casting spells.
Séantal's new modron assistant, 7-42B, is tasked with taking perfect notes of the proceedings despite its shaking joints.
Velessa casts a suggestion spell on Maelra, compelling her to answer all questions truthfully and to the best of her ability.
Maelra reveals she was seeking the infernal quill within the counting house vaults on behalf of her master, Szass Tam, having learned of its location by flirting with Duke Rakath.
The prisoner confesses to murdering Alina Durinbold and her husband to steal Alina's identity, along with at least nine others in Baldur's Gate.
Maelra discloses that the quill is a component for an infernal ritual called the 'Lawful Draw,' which also requires a witness and a divided contract, intended to free Szass Tam from an obligation.
Maelra warns that her master will send more capable agents to continue the mission, and that things do not end well for those who stand in Szass Tam's way.
Maelra expresses a desire to end her own life rather than face execution, and Shane secretly leaves an arrow in her cell as he departs.
Velessa asks Maelra to pass along an apology to Saresha Imravel, which Maelra agrees to.

Post-Interrogation Debrief and Future Plans

Following the interrogation of Maelra Szandru, the party discusses how to handle the looming Thayan threat and plans their next moves.

The party decides to relay their findings about the ongoing Thayan threat to Duke Liara Portyr, the council member responsible for external threats to Baldur's Gate.
The group considers using the Sword Coast Couriers in Rivington to return the Durinbold diadem to Waterdeep, but ultimately decides a personal trip may be worthwhile.
The party plans to attend Becka Bitesize's riverboat steamboat adventure in three days before potentially traveling to Waterdeep to deliver the Durinbold diadem.

NPCs

Alia Durinbold (Impostor / Maelra Szandru)

Appearing as a woman the party previously found dead in the sewers, she used charm and flirtation to manipulate Duke Rakath Glitterbeard into offering a tour of the counting house vaults. When exposed, she dropped her disguise to reveal herself as the Red Wizard Maelra Szandru, unleashing magical violence before escaping to the roof.

Maelra Szandru

An ambitious Red Wizard of Thay who had been impersonating the deceased Alia Durinbold. She taunted the party as an old adversary, unleashed fireballs and a cone of cold during the rooftop battle, and ultimately surrendered when cornered. Under magical compulsion during interrogation, she revealed she was sent by Szass Tam to retrieve the infernal quill as part of a ritual called the Lawful Draw.

Duke Rakath Glitterbeard

The dwarven owner of the city's counting house. Though initially charmed by the impostor, his drunken temper led him to publicly confront her, resulting in him being caught in a fireball and left unconscious and badly burned.

Mizora

A powerful and enigmatic figure seen at the ball consorting with the Eomane daughters. When violence broke out, she ushered the girls through a magical portal to safety and later sent Velessa a telepathic message confirming they were home safe.

Nysene Eomane

The eldest Eomane daughter who snuck into the ball against Velessa's orders, claiming she was told 'not to get caught' and that she thought that only meant not getting caught by Vagnfríður.

Kaela

Seris's ward who accompanied the Eomane girls to the ball, claiming the instructions to stay away were unclear. After Seris abruptly left Baldur's Gate, Kaela sought refuge with the party to avoid becoming homeless again, and the party agreed to take her in.

Duke Liara Portyr

A high-ranking official in Baldur's Gate who assisted in stabilizing the wounded Duke Rakath during the chaos, then oversaw the formal arrest of Maelra Szandru. She offered the party access to interrogate the prisoner and is identified as the council member responsible for external threats to the city.

Zulvek Thann

A Thayan warrior and old adversary of Velessa's who engaged her in brutal melee combat on the roof, attempting to grab her by the hair and knee her in the face. He was revealed to be an undead revenant, remaining passive once Maelra surrendered, giving only a quiet nod.

Thayan Warriors

Undead or magically bound soldiers serving Maelra, armed with longswords and javelins, utilizing pack tactics to overwhelm their targets on the rooftop.

Lady Violet

The mistress of the Szarr estate who hired the party as bodyguards for the ball. She was impressed by their performance despite the chaos and paid each member 50 platinum pieces as a bonus, noting that Velessa's dress was thoroughly ruined.

Becka Bitesize

A Lantanese envoy who had previously invited the party to visit her new steamboat. She reiterates the invitation at the end of the ball, asking them to come in three days to see the riverboat casino she helped build.

7-42B

A quadrone modron summoned by Séantal to serve as a personal assistant and secretary, sent by their celestial patron. It is a mechanical cube with multiple limbs, possessing perfect penmanship despite its constantly shaking joints, and was tasked with taking notes during the interrogation of Maelra Szandru.

Szass Tam

The master of Maelra Szandru, revealed during interrogation as the orchestrator behind the search for the infernal quill and the components of the Lawful Draw ritual.

Uldar Ravengard

The head of the Flaming Fist and father of Grand Duke Wyll Ravengard, mentioned as someone Duke Liara Portyr would need to consult regarding a professional interrogator, and noted for his strict and sometimes brutal stance on crime.

Wyll Ravengard

The Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate, briefly seen moving through the crowd and apologizing to guests for the disruption before the violence turned lethal.

Locations

Silver Shield Estate

A grand noble estate in the Upper City hosting a high-society patriarchs' ball. The atmosphere shifted from elegant mingling to absolute terror following a magical explosion in the ballroom, with windows shattered and guests fleeing in panic.

Silver Shield Estate Rooftop

A dark, stone-tiled roof overlooking the city of Baldur's Gate, which became a battlefield filled with shattered glass, arcane fire, and freezing frost as the party clashed with Maelra Szandru and her Thayan warriors.

Szarr Palace

The luxurious estate where the party returns Lady Violet after the ball. It serves as the site where they receive their platinum reward for their services as bodyguards.

Eomane House

The party's current residence in the Upper City, where they discuss renovations, room assignments for Kaela, and the management of their growing household of imps.

Baldur's Gate Watchtower

A secure municipal prison where high-profile criminals are held. The party interrogated Maelra Szandru here, with her confined in a stone cell and bound in anti-magic shackles.

Durinbold House

The residence where Maelra had been hiding under the stolen identity of Alina Durinbold. She noted her basic equipment may still be there, and the City Watch was dispatched to investigate.

Rivington

A suburb across the Chionthar river where the Sword Coast Couriers maintain an office, discussed as a potential means of sending the Durinbold diadem to Waterdeep.

Waterdeep

The City of Splendors, discussed as the party's next major destination to return the Durinbold family diadem to the surviving branch of the family.

Items

Alia's Crown

A piece of jewelry worn by the Durinbold impostor that occasionally flickered or appeared translucent, suggesting it was part of a magical disguise. Séantal noticed the anomaly but was unable to identify the magic behind it.

Warning Note

A brief message scribbled on a coaster by Shane and passed to Duke Rakath along with a drink, bearing the ominous warning: 'beware of doppelgangers.' The note prompted the Duke to confront the impostor, setting off the evening's chaos.

Crossbow

A ranged weapon used by Velessa to fire bolts at the silhouettes gathered on the roof of the estate, though its loading property prevented her from firing again in the same turn.

Healing Potion

A magical draught consumed by Velessa during the heat of the rooftop battle to recover from the near-fatal wounds inflicted by Maelra's magical assaults.

Javelin

Simple throwing weapons used by the Thayan warriors to strike at the party from a distance across the rooftop, scoring hits on both Séantal and Shane.

Magical Rope

A specialized rope belonging to Velessa, used to bind Maelra Szandru and her undead companions after their surrender.

Sack of Platinum

A heavy pouch containing 50 platinum pieces, given to each party member by Lady Violet as a bonus payment for going above and beyond their bodyguard duties during the chaotic ball.

Durinbold Diadem

A noble heirloom belonging to the deceased Lady Alina Durinbold, recovered from the impostor. The party intends to return it to the surviving branch of the Durinbold family in Waterdeep.

Find Familiar Scroll

A magical scroll purchased by Séantal to summon a quadrone from the plane of Mechanus to serve as a personal assistant and scribe. Séantal purchased two scrolls in case the familiar perished.

Anti-Magic Shackles

Heavy iron restraints placed on Maelra Szandru in her cell at the watchtower. They suppress the magical capabilities of any spellcaster in direct contact with them, preventing her from casting spells while allowing spells to be cast upon her.

Infernal Quill

A powerful relic that Maelra was sent to retrieve from the counting house vaults on behalf of Szass Tam. It is a key component in the Lawful Draw ritual, intended to free Szass Tam from an infernal obligation. The party currently stores it in the counting house.

Arrow

A single arrow secretly left in Maelra's cell by Shane as he departed, offering her a means to end her own life before the authorities of Baldur's Gate could put her to a less pleasant end. Maelra responded with a bittersweet smile.

Spells

Misty Step

Used multiple times during the session: first by the Alia impostor to instantly teleport across the ballroom after being shoved by Duke Rakath, and again by Maelra Szandru to reposition during the rooftop combat and to escape through the window. The party later warned the guards to gag Maelra to prevent her from using its verbal component.

Fireball

A destructive evocation cast twice by Maelra Szandru: first inside the ballroom, incapacitating Duke Rakath and killing two guests, and again through the shattered window during the rooftop skirmish, severely wounding the entire party.

Counterspell

Attempted by Maelra Szandru to negate Velessa's magic during their initial confrontation in the ballroom, though it was directed at the wrong target when Velessa clarified she had cast the spell on herself.

Eldritch Blast

Crackling beams of force energy unleashed by Séantal against the silhouettes on the roof, scoring a critical hit on one target and contributing to the defeat of the Thayan warriors.

Invisibility

A spell cast by Maelra in an attempt to vanish from sight and escape the party's pursuit on the rooftop.

Faerie Fire

Cast by Velessa to outline Maelra and her allies in shimmering light, countering Maelra's invisibility and making the targets easier to strike for the remainder of the battle.

Healing Light

A celestial ability used by Séantal to rapidly mend their wounds after being scorched by Maelra's fireball, restoring a significant portion of their health as a bonus action.

Cone of Cold

A high-level evocation cast by Maelra that sent a blast of extreme cold across the rooftop, nearly incapacitating the party and even damaging her own ally Zulvek Thann, costing him several fingers.

Suggestion

Cast by Velessa during the interrogation at the watchtower, compelling Maelra Szandru to answer all questions truthfully and accurately for up to eight hours. The spell proved highly effective, drawing out confessions about the Lawful Draw ritual and Szass Tam's plans.

Find Familiar

Used by Séantal via a purchased scroll to summon 7-42B, a quadrone from the plane of Mechanus, to serve as a personal assistant and scribe. Séantal purchased two scrolls in case the familiar needed to be re-summoned.

Prestidigitation

Mentioned by Séantal as a possible explanation for how Maelra maintains her magically bald head, which Maelra confirmed is a modified form of the cantrip.