The group head back to Beldabar’s inn to pick up Lia. She’s had a long mediation, followed by a few chicken hearts. She did vomit a couple of times but managed to get down a couple of gooseberries. She is feeling much better.

Team meeting

Gunther says, in his special accent, “You know what you guys, I might let you guys go down there and look into this Wink and Kiss on your own, and I might go and see about this Grand Dame Casino, ya, and see what is going on, maybe catch up with you guys later, ok? You guys have a good time, be good!” Without waiting for a response, Gunther skips off down the road in his gold trousers and tiny white cape, prancing like Tigger.

The others make their way through the city streets, the afternoon sun slanting through the buildings. This part of town is not exactly poor, but the gang are off the tourist path. Things are a little more weatherbeaten.

As they’re walking, looking at the stalls, Lia senses movement behind them. She spins and takes a look but can’t see anything in particular. Lia whispers to Miss Moss, “There’s someone behind us.” Miss Moss doesn’t look but all her spidey senses prickle.

Lia, with her palm on her longsword, ready, turns back and says in a strong voice “Who goes there!”. There is no answer. Townsfolk pay little attention. Lia’s senses never let her down so she continues to look back, running her eye over crates and carts for irregularities and shadows. There are a lot of places to hide.

Lia decides to get a better view so attempts to scale a building, but embarrassingly, probably due to her hangover, slips off the windowsill. Swearing, she tries again, this time making it onto the roof. From this vantage point, she can see a lady crouching, also on the roof, cornered on the side of the building. This lady is dressed in robes and leather armour, with a bandana pulled over her head. The lady turns and looks up at Lia with surprise in her eyes.

Lia doesn’t draw her weapon but makes it clear that she could, and demands to know what’s going on. The lady makes a little sound, very distinct, and three other ladies looking exactly the same appear. Each is at the ready, but nobody attempts to attack. The ladies are all dressed the same, but none of them appears to be the leader.

One says, “Who are you?”

Lia says, “No, no – I asked first.”

The lady wants to know why the gang are looking for them, she calls down to the gang, who are all looking up. She calls out, “We want you to stop what you’re looking for and turn your attention elsewhere. We don’t like people looking into our affairs. Will that be a problem?” It’s a loaded question.

Londer explains, “We’re looking for answers, we’d like to speak to a leader of yours.”

One lady does a somersault, landing on the ground in front of the gang. There is some to’ing and fro’ing.

“We will take you but you need to follow our rules. You can be our guests, but we insist that you leave your weapons behind.”

“We need assurances of our safety, what guarantees do you have?” Londer quizzes.

“You don’t know us very well,” the lady replies curtly, rolling her eyes.

Thoradin exclaims with a haughty laugh and a roll of his eyes, “You’re right, we don’t!”

No matter, off they trot, two ladies behind and two in front, to the doorway announcing WK.

With a wink and a kiss

Inside, it’s dark, and the gang can see very little. Two tall twin men, Asklar and Beldawn, welcome the gang to the Wink and Kiss, running them through safely storing their weapons in the wardrobe, with assurances of their safety. Thoradin flashes a look at Miss Moss that says “We’d be fucking crazy to leave our weapons here”. Miss Moss flashes a look back saying “Whatever, we can just see what happens.”

Thoradin shrugs, heaves his warhammer into the rack, lights his pipe and leans back to watch his comrades disarm. Beldorm walks over with five Robin-style masks and asks the gang to put them on, and in doing so, he kicks across a hatch and a stairway appears. The gang descend, magical orbs providing gentle light, as a voice from above calls a reminder: “Leave your troubles at the door.”

The gang walk past antiques and kitschy decor, entering a barroom. There are statues of goblins in straw skirts, trinkets and souvenirs from all over the world. A strange, narcotic calm comes over them all. It’s a nice vibe. Quiet. Gentle.

There are baths in some areas, a few people about. Some seem like they work there, while others are clearly there to relax. There isn’t anything apparently sexy going on, at least not that they can see. They don’t stop in the bar, but are led through a maze by the ladies, becoming quickly disoriented.

Suddenly, the wall spins away and they appear to be in a backstage area in a room with a big table. They are asked to sit. The ladies leave and the door is latched, and the gang notice that there are no windows, just slits. There is movement behind the slits and arrowheads appear. The gang are tight-lipped.

The door on the other side of the room opens and a lady in her mid-forties with angular features and burgundy hair enters. “Good evening, such a pleasure to meet you. To what do I owe it?”

Londer: “We’re just travelling heroes and we’re looking for a friend of ours who got sold as slave.”

Woman: “You have found the Hand of Yartar, we do not trade in slaves.”

Lia: “Perhaps you know who does?” Lia goes on to explain about her missing sister. The woman says she doesn’t know about Lia’s sister because the Hand of Yartar doesn’t deal with Drow or slaves. She’s clear and direct.

Leshanna broaches Jacob Dawnflower and the missing nobles. The woman matter-of-factly says she suspects an organisation, Centarum or Harpers, are involved because people fight for control of Yartar. She says it sounds political, and that yes, Jacob was a regular guest at the Wink and Kiss. She seems reluctant to divulge any further, respecting house discretion, but Miss Moss wryly asks if Jacob had any favourites, and promises the discretion of all.

Assessing them, the woman decides to trust the gang, and goes out the back and returns with a Tiefling woman named Valrae, apparently one of Jacob’s favourites. As Miss Moss introduces the gang, Valrae looks sheepish. Seeing her discomfort, Lia guides all the gang except Leshanna out of the room to allow them some privacy to talk. The gang wander through the maze to the bar.

As Miss Moss, Valrae and Leshanna talk it becomes clear that Valrae has great affection for Jacob – he was a frequent flier here, paid well, was nice. She reveals that Jacob spoke of a woman named Lady Atalia, “her purple dress reminded him of me, with my purple skin”. Both Miss Moss and Leshanna’s eyes widen at the mention of the purple dress, but neither can remember just why. Leshanna quickly flicks through her notebook to find the reference.

“Why look! Artan also mentioned a beautiful woman with black hair and a purple dress!” Leshanna exclaims. This is a huge clue. “He was going to the Grand Dame Casino,” Valrae added. Valrae doesn’t know anything else, and gets up to leave, refusing the money offered to her.

Leshanna uses the Tressym to help the pair through the maze, much to the amusement of one of the Hand of Yartar ladies who was waiting to help them back.

Meanwhile, back in the bar…

Lia has been involved in a sleight-of-hand drinking competition with the barkeep (throwing the alcohol over her shoulder). She looks fine, he looks dishevelled but impressed and possibly a bit smitten. Thoradin is very morose, saddened by some apparently very untasty drinks with small umbrellas.

Enter the Grand Dame Casino

The gang get their weapons back, hand back the masks and head down to the Grand Dame floating casino, with Miss Moss and Leshanna filling the gang in on the conversation with Valrae. As dusk falls, lights start to appear on the water. There is an enormous barge on the other side of the river with Lords Alliance flags, almost like a floating palace, heavily fortified. The dock is full of boats. It doesn’t take too long to spot Gunther lurking, trying unsuccessfully to be inconspicuous, peering creepily at the patrons and guests walking onto the ornately decorated barge.

Gunther sees the gang, scuttles over and excitedly says, “Ok guys I’ve managed to sort it out for us, I’ve managed to get some information!” The casino moves slowly away from the dock for its evening ride.

Gunther tells the gang that the casino is extremely well geared, with head of security (fellow named Howming) having a bell alarm system to alert guards. The barge scheduling is set, with 4.30-5.00pm being workers arriving, guests arriving from 5.30pm, with a 6.00pm departure time and a 2.00am return time. There is a guest list operated by manager Nevlin.

“If you are dressed in fine clothes, there is a good chance Nevlin will accept you anyway. There is a very high staff turnover, so if we arrive in time, we can probably convince him of anything, that we are each a chef, or an escort, the entertainment, a rower or even a croupier!” Gunther is a little breathless. Stealth, he adds, is likely the riskiest option, and besides, obviously dressing up is more fun. Plus, they are there for a good time, not a fighting time. Information gathering, not a bloodbath.

With the barge out for the evening, the gang heads back to the inn and makes a plan.

The Great Dame’s game plan

Gunther volunteers to be the entertainment
Miss Moss and Londer, clearly nobles, will be dressed to the nines, Miss Moss in tinted glasses to make her eyes look blue, a string of pearls and a shimmering snakeskin muscle-covering mumu and purple heels, while Londer already has the right clothes and will polish his shoes and good armour
Leshanna says no one will believe a high elf is the help, she clearly has to be a wealthy person, buys a purple dress (it’s not a cult dress, you guys!)
Thoradin grudgingly volunteers to be a croupier, buys convincing croupier outfit, quickly learns Kobold’s Knuckles
Lia will be nouveau riche, having just won the Yartar Lotto, naive and keen, wearing a crushed velvet snood

They go shopping at a fancy tailor, the Firelust Store, with the owner looking suspiciously at Gunther’s (stolen) clothes. Gunther, oblivious, hands out the disguise kits he bought earlier while the gang choose their outfits for the big night.

Getting on

Gunther and Thoradin approach the ship at 4:30 as workers. Thoradin introduces himself and is allowed through without contest, while Gunther goes up and introduces himself: “Hi, I’m here to be the show this evening!” After some shuffling of papers, Gunther is allowed onto the boat.

As the sun is getting low in the sky, nobles line up and are admitted to the boat couple by couple, group by group. Londer and Miss Moss walk up together, sparkling and shimmering. Nevlin questions the pair, whose new names are Boris of the Feld and Catherine Rosalie, but Miss Moss quickly fake huffs at the man, “Don’t you know my family name!” while Londer pulls out a gold piece and puts it on the desk.

“Madam Rosalie, I don’t have you on the list but that is a very fetching gown. Are you together?” Miss Moss haughtily exclaims, “Yes, we are engaaaaaaaged!” and makes loud kissing noises in Londer’s direction. They are admitted. Londer and Miss Moss laugh to themselves as they walk up the ramp to the boat. What a performance.

Leshanna and Lia masquerade as Siranalda Trandaror and Theresa Moon, as they approach Nevlin. Ms Moon pulls out her coin purse full of money and shakes it around loudly, laughing with shameless glee. Madam Trandaror turns pale, and looking embarrassed IRL, ushers Theresa Moon past the man and onto the boat with only a small fuss required. Shame is a powerful motivator.