Session 05 - The Grimsby Gala
TL;DR
Three days after Valdris’s birthday, Banner Mistress Juno and Sergeant Kahla Steelcord briefed the party on Baron Phineas Grimsby’s connection to the Rival Yard. Grimsby — the nobleman Na Mean humiliated with a satirical ballad — has been funding something called “Project Unravel” and meeting with the Rival Yard agent known as Shimmer. The party needed to infiltrate his gala, find his study, and copy the incriminating documents. What followed was a masterclass in deception: Na Mean recruited bard ally Melisandre to get the party in as a fake band called “Erect Since 1642,” Maurice the magpie forged an entire correspondence trail complete with contracts and rider demands, and Na Mean hid in a barrel of ale. Inside the estate, Lily used her silk glove’s charisma boost to bluff past guards, cast Puppet to control one, and conjured a demonic-voiced illusion through the duck to terrify the rest. The party found Grimsby’s study, cracked open his desk, and discovered the Grimsby Ledger — proof that he’d been selling the city’s defensive infrastructure maps and seam-crossing locations to the Rival Yard. They grabbed the documents, a pile of gold, and slipped out before the gala even started properly.
Cast (PCs)
- Na Mean - dwarven fighter; smuggled into the gala inside a barrel; mastermind behind the Melisandre plan; the duck’s reluctant plus-one.
- Declan Rafferty - sailor; went as band member with a washboard; delivered the knockout line “Now you’ll learn why they call me Declan the Pig” while hogtying a guard.
- Imed - human ranger; dressed in a Slavic tracksuit for the gala; disguised as a guard to infiltrate the upper floor; bow doubled as a “Slavic harp.”
- Snagmaz - half-orc pit fighter; wore a velvet pimp suit; expert chokehold artist; pried open Grimsby’s desk with a spear.
- Lily “Cunt” - goblin witch; posed as band manager “Catherine Cattlebones”; used Thessaly’s silk glove to devastating effect; cast Puppet and Shadow Dance to neutralize guards.
- Lars - NPC; new slackline servant and former guitarist of “The Horse’s Penis”; joined as the band’s actual musician.
Setting & Vibe
- Locations: The Slackline tavern (planning), Melisandre’s quarters in the Threadfall District, and Baron Grimsby’s walled estate on the Fifth Terrace of Threadfall Heights.
- A heist session — Ocean’s Eleven meets medieval fantasy. All social engineering, no combat.
- Tension ratcheted by a threat counter starting at 20, with failed checks subtracting dice rolls toward lockdown.
Carousing Results: The Morning After (Post-Session 4)
Snagmaz and the Door Beneath the City
Snagmaz’s thigh tattoo shifted to point at the tannery district. He found tunnels beneath the city and a sealed iron-banded oak door marked with the same devil-script as his forearm tattoo. The name on his arm pulsed. Something behind the door knocked back.
Gained: 4 XP, a charcoal rubbing of a devil-marked door, Contact: Sable (black-market cartographer via Filch) Lost: Any pretense that the thigh tattoo is decorative
Eirik and the Horse, the Roof, and the Nightgown
Eirik fell off a roof while chasing a seagull, landed on a runaway horse, and accidentally saved a noblewoman. Woke in a silk nightgown. His boots vanished without explanation.
Gained: 4 XP, Contact: Lady Ashara Greenvale (minor noble, thoroughly impressed), a silk nightgown (ill-fitting) Lost: His boots — completely, inexplicably gone
Imed and the Gospel of Valdris the Patient
Imed was scammed into investing 10% of his wealth in turnip-water tonic by “Brother Patience,” but gave such a sincere drunken speech about honor that the con artist cried and gave him a holy symbol of the obscure deity Valdris the Patient.
Gained: 3 XP, wooden holy symbol of Valdris the Patient, Ally: Brother Patience (con artist with a conscience) Lost: 10% of total wealth, certainty about the divine
Declan and the Ballad He Could Not Stop
Declan’s bard doppelganger performed “The Real Declan: A Tragedy in Seven Acts” to a packed theater. Declan stormed the stage, crashed into the scenery, grabbed a real pig, chased it through the city, and woke in a pig pen.
Gained: Nothing. One copper coin. The nickname “Declan the Pig.” Lost: All remaining dignity and anonymity in the theater district
Na Mean and the Cinnamon Incident
The duck attacked a spice merchant’s display, causing a cinnamon explosion, a fire, and 40 gold worth of damage. Na Mean was fined for “reckless animal husbandry.”
Gained: 3 XP, citation for reckless animal husbandry, singed cinnamon sticks, Sergeant Harsk’s exhausted acquaintance Lost: 10% of total wealth, one spice stall (someone else’s), credibility regarding duck ownership
The Mission: Infiltrate Baron Grimsby’s Gala
The Briefing
Banner Mistress Juno and Sergeant Kahla Steelcord arrived at the Slackline with a shaking, red-eyed woman. Grimsby — the nobleman Na Mean mocked in song — has been hiring mercenaries and dealing with the Rival Yard. Intercepted correspondence revealed mirror-polished coins (Rival Yard currency) and payments to something called Project Unravel.
Key intel:
- Grimsby met with Shimmer, a known Rival Yard agent, the previous week
- Tomorrow night: an exclusive gala at his walled estate on the Fifth Terrace of Threadfall Heights
- Objective: Get inside, find the study, copy documents linking Grimsby to the Rival Yard, get out
- Secondary: Capture or kill Shimmer if found
- Warning: Security master Harlan Blackstitch is an ex-Edgerunner and dangerous
Item Distribution (from Session 4)
Over breakfast, the party divided the loot from Valdris’s birthday:
- Lily received Lady Thessaly’s Black Silk Glove (advantage on Charisma checks once/day)
- Na Mean took Krov’s Fang (dagger of rending: 1d4+1, crit causes 1d6 bleed/round for 1d3 rounds)
- Whisper’s Doll taken by the party
- Ancient coins split three ways: ~16 gold each to Na Mean, Imed, and Eirik
The Plan: “Erect Since 1642”
Na Mean Calls In a Favor
Na Mean tracked down bard ally Melisandre and pitched the plan: get the party inside as a replacement band. In exchange, they’d perform a sequel to the infamous Grimsby ballad at his own gala.
Melisandre loved it. She arranged for the original band, The Swan’s Long Neck, to conveniently fall ill (“same restaurant, unfortunately closed today”). She also sent her assistant Pierre with letters bearing the real signatures of Harlan Blackstitch, Baron Grimsby, and Miss Kettle (the head of kitchen).
The Forgery
Maurice the magpie forged an entire paper trail with advantage (Charisma roll: 17):
- Correspondence between the band’s “manager” and Grimsby’s estate
- A contract signed by Harlan Blackstitch
- A detailed rider demanding: excessive vodka (warm), duck food, snails, no duck meat for the humans, and a private dressing room
- A set list including hits like “Succumb to Lord Phallus,” “Slav Squad,” “My Magic Missiles Always Hit the Spot,” and “You Better Detect That I’m Erect”
The Outfits
- Na Mean: Tuxedo with tails and top hat; the duck got a matching top hat and tiny bow tie (montage included)
- Imed: Traditional Slavic three-stripe tracksuit (Slav-squatting all evening)
- Snagmaz: 100% velvet pimp suit with sunglasses
- Lily: Cocktail dress, ridiculously large brimmed hat, clutch bag (with Maurice inside like a chihuahua)
- Declan: Three-piece suit, no hat
- Lars: Guitar and jazz attitude
Scouting
Maurice scouted the estate from the air:
- Walled compound, one main entrance guarded by Harlan Blackstitch
- At least six guards outside, bored and leaning on walls
- Stables with a malnourished boy named Pip
- Kitchen entrance on the side, run by Miss Kettle
- Upper-floor access via a guarded staircase inside the gala hall, plus a service elevator (pulley system) in the kitchen
The Infiltration
Getting Through the Gate
Na Mean was sealed in a barrel (with ale skins for authenticity, duck perched on top). Lily, as “Catherine Cattlebones,” presented the forged papers to the gate guard. Using the silk glove’s Charisma advantage, she rolled a 20 — papers accepted without question. Pip the stable boy was recruited to carry instruments, and the party entered through the kitchen.
Miss Kettle and the Rider
Miss Kettle reviewed the rider, raised an eyebrow at the vodka volume (“That’s a lot of vodka” / “Normal. We usually drink more”), and directed them to set up behind the stage curtain in the gala hall. She confirmed the show time: 7:30, after dinner at 7.
Securing Backstage
The barrel was rolled behind the stage curtain. Na Mean emerged. The real infiltration began.
The Staircase Guard
Lily cast Shadow Dance to create an illusion of a shadowy figure running through the hall toward the kitchen, with a voice crying “My purse! Catch the thief!” The guard gave chase (spell roll: 22). While Baron Grimsby glanced back but dismissed it, the entire party slipped upstairs unnoticed.
Clearing the Upper Floor
Upstairs, two guards patrolled the halls. The party dispatched them methodically:
Guard 1 (Tomlinson): Lily shook his hand while introducing herself as “Catherine Cattlebones” — and cast Puppet (using a luck token to succeed). Shadow threads connected them like a puppeteer. Snagmaz choked him out. They took his clothes (Imed suited up as a guard) and stashed him in a closet.
Guard 2: Imed, now in guard uniform, called out “Oi, get over here! Help me out in here!” The guard came running — into a room of six adventurers. Quick-knotted, choked out, closeted.
Guards 3 & 4: Imed called for help again from “Tomlinson.” When the guards arrived, Na Mean left the duck in the doorway. Lily cast Shadow Dance through the duck — black smoke, glowing red eyes, and a demonic voice: “Fools! I will eat your soul! I am the Lord of Fire! Surrender or burn for eternity!” Declan dropped to his knees playing along. The guards crawled toward the duck in terror. Declan and Snagmaz knocked them out from behind. The duck, for the first time ever, was smiling.
The Study
Finding Grimsby’s Office
Using Kahla’s crude map, the party identified an ornate door with heavy foot traffic. The guard’s large key fit. Inside: a bed, a piano, a desk covered in documents.
Cracking the Desk
The desk drawers were locked. The small key didn’t fit. Declan and Lily fumbled with daggers. Snagmaz stepped up, wedged his spear in, and pried it open.
The Evidence
Inside the desk:
- The Grimsby Ledger — a thick book recording Rival Yard payments and intelligence exchanges
- Correspondence — letters between Grimsby and the Rival Yard detailing Shuttle’s Shipyard’s defensive infrastructure, seam crossings, and how to systematically unravel the city’s weave bindings
- A diagram of the city dissected with crosses marking where undoing the weaves would cause the entire city to collapse
- A silver vial of unknown substance, connected to the operation
- A large pile of gold coins — split between the party
The Getaway
The party grabbed everything, switched back to band clothes (one guard uniform kept by Snagmaz), stuffed documents into Lily’s clutch and their clothing, and slipped back downstairs. They exited through the kitchen before the gala properly began, mission complete.
Aftermath & Rewards
Mission Complete
The Grimsby Ledger and Rival Yard correspondence were recovered for Kahla Steelcord and the Fringe Guard. Project Unravel revealed: Baron Grimsby has been selling the city’s structural secrets to the Rival Yard, including maps of seam crossings and instructions for dismantling Shuttle’s Shipyard’s weave bindings.
Loot
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Grimsby Ledger | Thick record book documenting Rival Yard payments and intelligence — key evidence for the Fringe Guard |
| Rival Yard Correspondence | Letters revealing Project Unravel’s scope: mapping defensive infrastructure and seam crossings |
| City Vulnerability Diagram | Annotated drawing showing how to collapse the city by undoing specific weave points |
| Silver Vial | Unknown silvery substance connected to the Rival Yard operation — unidentified |
| Grimsby’s Gold | A large pile of gold coins, split among the party |
| Guard Uniform | One complete Grimsby estate guard outfit (kept by Snagmaz) |
Mechanical Notes
- Threat Counter: Started at 20, never reached zero — the party’s deception held throughout.
- Lily used the Black Silk Glove’s daily Charisma advantage at the gate (rolled 20).
- Lily burned her luck token on the Puppet spell and another on Shadow Dance through the duck.
- Maurice forged documents with advantage (Charisma 17) — the forged rider and contracts were convincing enough to pass every check.
- Shimmer (Rival Yard agent) was not encountered at the gala.
NPCs & Organizations
New NPCs
- Banner Mistress Juno — Fringe Guard officer who delivered the mission briefing.
- Harlan Blackstitch — Grimsby’s security master; ex-Edgerunner; massive, dangerous, and competent. Not encountered directly.
- Miss Kettle — Head of Grimsby’s kitchen; efficient, proud, and sympathetic to bands with excessive vodka demands.
- Pip — Grimsby’s stable boy; malnourished, clumsy, mistreated; the party took an immediate liking to him.
- Tomlinson — Grimsby estate guard; first victim of Lily’s Puppet spell.
- Pierre — Melisandre’s young, clumsy assistant who delivered the signature letters.
- Brother Patience — Con artist turned Imed’s ally; follower of Valdris the Patient (met during carousing).
- Filch — Twitchy ratcatcher who showed Snagmaz the sealed door beneath the tannery (met during carousing).
- Lady Ashara Greenvale — Minor noble impressed by Eirik’s accidental heroism (met during carousing).
- Sergeant Harsk — Weary city watchman who fined Na Mean for the cinnamon incident (met during carousing).
Returning NPCs
- Sergeant Kahla Steelcord — Fringe Guard; co-briefed the mission; still Na Mean’s contact at the barracks.
- Melisandre — Bard ally; called in her favor to sabotage the original band and provide real signatures for the forgery.
- Lars — Slackline servant; joined the band as guitarist; former member of “The Horse’s Penis” (jazz).
The Angry Duck
Reached peak performance this session. Served as barrel-top decoration, band mascot (listed on the rider), and vessel for a demonic Shadow Dance illusion that terrified two guards into submission. Smiled for the first time. Still not Na Mean’s duck.
Lingering Threads
Immediate
- Deliver the Grimsby Ledger and correspondence to Kahla Steelcord / the Fringe Guard.
- Identify the silver vial found in Grimsby’s desk.
- Shimmer (Rival Yard agent) was not found at the gala — still at large.
- Na Mean still wants to perform the Grimsby ballad sequel at the Baron’s own party (unfinished business).
- The party owes Lancel the Candleman a favor (from Session 4).
Personal Threads
- Na Mean: Baron Grimsby now has even more reason for revenge. CON still reduced by 2.
- Declan: “Declan the Pig” is spreading through the city. The bard doppelganger is writing Act 8.
- Imed: Now carries a holy symbol of Valdris the Patient. Brother Patience will find him.
- Snagmaz: The thigh tattoo keeps changing. The sealed door beneath the tannery knocked back. Sable the cartographer awaits.
- Eirik: Missing boots. Lady Ashara thinks he’s a hero. The seagulls judged him.
- Lily: Madame Vex still thinks she’s a dark oracle. Three free readings owed.
- Pip: The mistreated stable boy — the party clearly wants to help him.
Long-term
- Project Unravel — The Rival Yard has detailed maps of the city’s structural weaknesses and instructions for collapsing it. How far along is the plan?
- The Crimson Harvest is still coming — Valdris’s vampire family will return.
- The Rival Yard now has intelligence about seam crossings and weave bindings.
- The Mirror-Mourner from Session 1 is still at large.
- The Angry Duck — smiled for the first time when channeling demonic energy. What does this mean?
- The sealed devil-marked door beneath the tannery — what’s behind it?
Quotes of the Session
“You can call me Miss Cunt.”
“We were big in the 90s.”
“Fools! I will eat your soul! I am the Lord of Fire!” (The duck, via Shadow Dance)
“Now you’ll learn why they call me Declan the Pig.” (Declan, while hogtying a guard)
“It’s not my duck.” (Na Mean, for the 47th time)
“That’s a lot of vodka.” / “Normal. We usually drink more, but it’s a slow day.”
“This lock needs a spear.” (Snagmaz, solving the lockpicking problem)
“You better detect that I’m erect.” (A song title from the band’s catalog)