Party: Wenceslas, Claudia De La Quinne, Vholanthus Sumquaes, Daisy Dandeigh Deveraux, The Captain
The (mainly) male friends of Jim and a couple of hand-picked bodyguards attending the stag hunt (Eugene Priati, Salvadore Dorée, Lucius Tesodi, Calpar, Malin, Rusko Rohtzhane, Tangjostr, Blandus, Gerard Gustafson and Tobrokus) get introduced to the concept of stag hunting by an enthousiastic Wenceslas. Sadly enough, the nobles do seem to take it upon themselves to interrupt the elf as he explains things, their hunting dogs baying and tugging at their leashes to go.
The group sets out without too much of an issue and the Captain takes great pains explaining the benefits of delegation to Jim and those of proper teamwork to the nobles, while Vholanthus checks the surroundings.
What Vholanthus did not account for was a net-based trap that snaps him up into the trees, while a group of hidden ambushers strike out at the group.
The Captain (fully thinking this was entertainment set up by Wenceslas) rallies the defense to make sure Jim gets a moment in the sun, while Wenceslas (knowing that this is not the case) sets to defend his life dearly after hearing them say 'Get the Elf'. A rain of arrows strikes some in the group, but Jim manages to evade most danger, drawing a jewel-encrusted battle axe and heading into the fracas. The party gives a good accounting of themselves and Vholanthus transforms into a bear to break out of the net, thundering to the ground and beginning to maul the back-line of ranged assassins.
Tobrokus, Tangjostr and Gerard do what their instincts tell them to and get some nobles out of the line of fire, while Blandus makes an extremely good case for throwing knives. Rusko, aware that his new friends are in danger, brandishes a massive broadsword and lays into the foes, leaving many on the floor of the forest to become fertilizer.
As the tide of battle seems to turn into the party's favour, a concealed juvenile flickerfly boosts up from the floor, tossing the Captain into the air and making a general issue out of itself. When the creature perishes under the Captain's blade, the party notices all the assassins are dead as well.
The Captain, now seeing the expression on the face of Wenceslas and the carnage that the party inflicted, realizes that this was not as planned, but he takes it in stride.
They cleave the head off of the creature only for it to shrink down to a humanoid form, implicating druidic interference.
Meanwhile the girls are at a peaceful mansion located at the heart of the vineyards of the family du Pleur de Nicheries, renowned for their excellent white wines. Daisy, talking with the Du Trêve girls, feels someone tugging on her sleeve. Heremine Durée, a petite elf girl with white hair, asks her to come look at a suspicious bottle near the foot of the wine table in the veranda. Investigating this, Daisy realises the draught that was inside to be a sleeping potion, but she fails to shake off the effects as it takes effect. Claudia, used to this sort of tomfoolery, sees the other ladies also dropping off and she understands that foul play is afoot. Four servants advance on her, leaving the sleeping bride and her friends out of the picture for now. As combat breaks out, it seems Claudia is outnumbered, but from the sleeves of Daisy's country gown come forth Cornpone and Roel, ready to tango with the villains that laid down their mistress. The three manage to eliminate the bulk of the assassins while Daisy and Cynis Avantarei get woken up when a massive spider bursts through the floor and proceeds to web the entire building with a mixture of silks and sharp stones. The creature did not account for the expertise of Claudia, Daisy and Cornpone at monster slaying and is soon on the receiving end of a point blank crossbow headshot, with Daisy holding a fang that gets dislodged by the impact.
Seeing the ploy failed, the last assassin throws a smoke bomb and runs off, with Roel in pursuit.
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