Session Date: 05/26/2025
Getting Ready
We all take some time to try to get ready. Bosch first tries on something too large for him, and Tabby points out he wants to wear something he can fight in if needed. Mary and Faylen both go for something more elegant. Widald tries to find something essentially as to what he’s already wearing, but not caked in blood. The attendant ensures us that our items will be returned to us once we are ready to leave.
Widald wants to make sure we are definitely killing the fey lord, and Mary immediately tries to turn his attention away from it.
An elephant passes between us, momentarily splitting the party.
The Ball: Faylen & Bosch
We move together into the ball and someone passes by Bosch and he apologizes. The creature comments that not many do. Challender is here, as a representative of Kaymanth. Faylen comments that he shouldn’t be surprised he is here, but he is, and asks that Challender can leave? He comments he’s simply a vessel for his master, and the giant shadow stretches it’s wings, a dragon’s head turning.
We discuss that we are not planning to participate in the murder, and Challender comments that it will be nice for us not to be in the thick of things. Faylen agrees. Challender comments that it was interesting for Bosch to invoke Kaymanth in the thick of things, and Bosch explains that it was helpful in that things were not going to plan. Challender comments that we should be aware about the nature of names, as the fey are sticklers: use full name, use titles, do not shorten, do not use nicknames. Normally, do not eat anything, but this time is okay - rude if not. Do not marry anything: that one still stands.
The Ball: Tabby & Mary
They hear another voice, one far more pleasant. Dressed in a nice gown is Zada Nix, excited to see them. Tabby and Mary comments that Bosch and Faylen are elsewhere at the moment, but also here. She hopes she can run into them to say hello. She explains she is a +1 and has no plans on participating in the festivities.
She does comment that the fae are cyclical and when he dies, his energy will be released and he - or someone with his essence - will rise again. This is the closest thing to sleep a fae lord can have.
Zada is with Tomás Mac Alasdair, the baobhan sith we ran into in the undead cafe.
She comments she’s here to keep him out of trouble, and she notices a dwarf in an argument with someone (a red cap) and she goes to make sure Tomás causes no trouble.
The Full Party
We sigh as we see Widald arguing with the redcap and we approach. They’re arguing about the best way to bloodlet a target. The red cap comments he’s been doing it thousands of years, Widald comments he’s done it a while. They continue arguing and Bosch comments that the two of them can both have stupid names: the red cap whines for us to stop interrupting. Widald asks if they can fight, and the red cap says no, the only person who can be targeted is the host. They agree to continue this later, and Widald comments that he thinks he made a friend.
There’s a conversation about the actual murder, and Bosch comments that there has to be good lighting for all of this, a lot of showmanship. There’s a faerie in a hard hat and work uniform with a chewed cigarette and stubble, and he comments that he and his crew are just waiting for the fireworks to start. Bosch rushes over to talk about what all they have.
We see Challender and it’s clear he’s suffering from an enormous weight. He’s talking to a fae creature that looks similar to elves with pale eyes and grey skin called svartalfar. We realize that the red cap is likely the best option for Widald to pick a fight with.
There are mostly fey here, along with some hobgoblins. There aren’t really humans here, but Mary is a druid. There is a humanoid sugarglider dressed in similar clothes like Mary is wearing, with a tiny human on her shoulder.
The host looks like a shining elf. He greets everyone, welcoming everyone and thanking them for ensure he will not live to the next morning. He is happy to see us here, and comments that some have tried to get into this early, but he will not be so easy to get. He will do his best to be the perfect prey. He leaves.
Bosch Tailing Widald
Widald whines that he hasn’t killed anyone in weeks, since the trip started. He tries to make an argument that the only thing he does is kill. He doesn’t understand why we are not willing to kill him when he is absolutely asking to be murdered. We all just resign and say we will not stop him, but warn that these are powerful beings that can easily take care of him.
Widald leaves and and Bosch trails after him to get information about what is going on with Widald’s plan. He returns to the red cap and the two of them first head butt each other, then they start talking about the plan.
The Svartalfar
The svartalfar comes over and comments we have a sneaky friend, and a loud one. Faylen immediately comments the loud one isn’t a friend, but an acquaintance. It comments that we have an Immortal hanging around us, so we are not hopeless, but the loud one doesn’t. It comments that it likes cruel mortals - we have such little time in the planes, and so cruelty is what it prefers. Mary comments she’s a healer, and Tabby comments he’s a hero - the svartalfar doesn’t particularly like either such things, but does comment Tabby is rather charismatic.
It’s looking to see who’s who. It finds us interesting, and the fact that we know Zada and Tomás is interesting. He comments that he has a huge collection from heroes, mostly hands. Tabby comments that another time, another place? They could test it.
He introduces himself as Llassar ap Caledfwlch, the Heartseeker, and then takes his leave.
The Red Cap & Bosch
Bosch goes up to the red cap that was plotting with Widald. He asks what the meaning of death is, and the red cap says the meaning of death is he kill you, that’s it. Why?
Bosch asks for further meaning, and the red cap comments he doesn’t understand. Bosch explains we mortals think often on meaning, and the red cap says murder, killing, that’s it. Bosch explains that is not a reason why, that’s not a reason to do it. The red cap explains that as a mortal, Bosch does see things the same: a mortal sees a beginning and an end, and the red cap is a story.
The red cap says the point is people die. He explains that his story is don’t go into the night or you’ll be murdered; don’t kick stones that are set up in a pattern unless you want to be murdered - he’s a cautionary tale. Bosch asks if that’s the meaning of death, and the red cap says he supposes it is.
He comments it’s a very good question. He resolves that Bosch will not be murdered by its hand unless killed in combat.
Mary
A nature spirit of fresh water approaches and starts to talk to Mary, so glad to be able to talk to someone about anything other than poisons. She comments that the druid she knows is not as nice: wild, feral. The spirit can respect that, but sometimes a polite conversation is desired. She names a lake that is up north where we are going, and perhaps things will be better.
Tabby & Faylen
Zada and Tomás approach to speak to them. She explains that Jewel is so boring now that we’re gone. Faylen asks how things are and she comments there’s far more unions. She comments that Salaavethor commented about our adventure in the Oracle Tree, and Faylen and Tabby both confirm it. She comments that Sal was worried, which bothers her. Faylen explains some information of what happened and she admits that it’s bothersome that someone wanted to destroy the tree.
Zada offers to help however she can, admitting she is not so much one for combat.
Faylen asks Tomás if he plans to participate in the festivities, and he explains that he does not plan on it tonight. The competition is too thick, and he was told by a friend (Zada) to try to create more realistic goals.
The First Appearance…?
Widald and the red cap both get ready for their assassination attempt on the host, and Bosch is quite ready to watch them make their attempt.
The curtain parts and there is no host: perhaps he’s died, or changed his mind. Zada asks if we should look for the body, and we agree that yes, perhaps we should.
Widald and red cap are both absolutely arguing about betrayal, starting to argue and fight it out. Bosch jumps up on the stage and thanks everyone, saying it wasn’t easy, but they did it. He admits it was not just him, and says he would like to think Widald and Stabford McGillicuddy, the red cap. He asks them to join him and to have a round of applause.
Widald takes the praise, stopping the combat for just a second, and then the fight resumes.
Bosch suggests that there is a surprise for the person who finds the body.
Tabby moves into another room and doesn’t find the body, but he does find a maid - she may be a lesser fey, or an elf - but she’s afraid. She grabs Tabby and says she saw it, the murder, she knows who did it. she says it was a nerdy elf, much like Faylen. Tabby and Mary manage to calm her down and explain it couldn’t be Faylen, he was with them the entire time.
She takes us to the body and the host was stabbed, and instead of blood is golden liquid that is cooling and growing more solid. The door closes and the maid starts to freak out. It’s juts us, and then we realize the shadow in the room is moving closer to us.