Session 6 - 2026-02-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

Player Characters

Recap

Paul was called in by Pearl for a little extra work before opening, but it turned out to be a deception. Pearl had heard Paul’s desire to play music enough times she decided it was time to try to help him get there. She planned to practice with him over the next few days before the party. If he did well enough and improved a bit over those days, he could play a set with the Moonflowers. If he didn’t, well maybe if he kept at it that time would come. They set to it and at first Paul made some modest improvements, but he stalled out the next couple of days until Pearl pointed out that rhythm of music is just like the rhythm of a fight and something clicked for Paul on the last day, and he made a giant leap forward, but he was still shy of playing at the Moonflowers’ caliber, so for now, he’d stay off the stage, but Pearl told him to take the guitar he’d been practicing with and keep practicing with it. Maybe not this anniversary bash, but if he kept at it, some show down the road might see his big debut on the stage at the Celestial Sips.

Rhys was called while in his room at the Celestial Sips and after coming down to the phone at the bar, he was told by Rodriguez the tanner, that the client he’d sold those lizard pelts to wanted to meet and chat and thank Rhys. Rhys agreed and later that night ended up at one of the nicer restaurants on the edge of the Business district where he met with a woman named Frances Finely. Ms. Finely chatted with him about his work and skills as a hunter before eventually making him a job offer to leave the Sips and come work for her. He politely declined, but she still left him with a business card and kept the offer open. When she left her shadow didn’t and sitting in the booth was The Hat Man, who first warned Rhys against her, but after a moment of uncharacteristic thought suggested a cautious acceptance could be warranted, getting close to her to learn her intent. The choice was Rhys’ as far as The Hat Man was concerned, but either way healthy caution was warranted. The Hat Man then left.

While out going to pick up groceries Velvet was struck by a pick pocket with a large hat. As soon as she realized that her money was stolen she gave chase. The thief tried to use the busy sidewalk to escape, but Velvet worked to out flank her quarry and forced the thief into the busy street where the thief used the power to phase through oncoming traffic. Unfettered and perhaps even curious now, Velvet again used the busy street to out pace and circle around her prey, slamming into them from an unexpected angle and catching them. The thief was revealed to be one of Velvet’s fellow Project Eclipse soldiers, Perry Davis, a Ribbet who had gained the powers to phase through things, but it cost her her life force. Perry returned Velvet’s wallet and let her know it was all in good fun and not meant as an actual attempt to steal. She then mentioned that some of the old soldiers from Project Eclipse were having a kind of get together and she wanted to invite Velvet. Velvet didn’t fully commit to going, but Perry gave her the information before the two parted ways.

The day of the party the crew of the Celestial Sips all gathered to make sure everything was prepared and then as night fell the party began. Paul set to making sure the security team was on point, and took some time to introduce the temp hires to some of the regulars who were known trouble makers in an attempt to convince them to behave. Purrcival made a point to check in with various underworld contacts that were present and had a chance opportunity to meet an underworld legend and information broker, Ira Lyons. Gus spent some time chatting up some of the party goers about the decorations, many were wowed by them. Rhys found the first owner he could, which turned out to be Jimmie and gave him a heads up that he wanted to talk to him and Barnabas about something that happened recently. Velvet decided she didn’t really care for the party and went for a walk.

As the party hit its speed the Crew found themselves socializing with some interesting and surprising people.

Gus hung out with The Rat Pack under a table where they ambushed him with a strange drink made of “a little bit of everything from behind the bar” and thanked him for setting them up with this cushy gig with the Celestial Sips and being such a good friend. The drink hit Gus hard and he started annoying guests a bit while carousing and talking about the decorations he’d put so much effort into.

Paul ran into his old gym teacher and the man who taught him how to fight and stand up to those who do wrong, Kevin Stringfellow. They had a chat about the good old days and staying out of trouble. Both were surprised to see each other there, but after the conversation Kevin departed, letting Paul know to come say hi the next time he visited the school on Cindy’s account.

Purrcival was approached by a woman who he swore he knew, but couldn’t place. While chatting with the woman Gus overheard the mention of decorations and interjected, when he did he cast a quick shadow over the woman and it revealed to Purrcival exactly who she was, The Deja Vu Dame, the Caeserchilde who held his pact. He became concerned and asked why she was here, as she typically only came to him with some work related to their pact. She let him know she was just here to enjoy the kinds of endings and beginnings that come from such a celebration. This did not really put him at ease, but when she asked for a dance he did not refuse.

Rhys spotted someone he had not expected to be, Elaith Lura, son of his dead mentor Lorric. Despite Elaith’s anger over The Hat Man’s pact falling to Rhys, Rhys chose to approach and speak with Elaith. Elaith wanted somewhere private to speak and Rhys obliged. Elaith explained that while he was still angry, this wasn’t directly about that and revealed to Rhys the fact that all who had born the pact he now did had died prematurely in something that could be considered an accident. At least a dozen wildfolk had died this way. It was too suspicious to dismiss as mere circumstance. Elaith wanted to both warn Rhys and let him know he was going to look into more about this.

Velvet made a pass back by the Celestial Sips just to make sure it hadn’t burned down while out on her walk and ran into Jimmie Wood outside taking a breather himself. He chatted her up about her current situation with the Sips, their past in the military, and their past as children. Velvet mostly remained neutral and stoic in response, having seemingly not really made up her mind about how she really feels about any of it. On that Jimmie twisted her arm to be introduced to Major Townsend, a vet of the Dust War like them. Major Townsend was not someone Velvet really knew and so the conversation was simple and one sided. Once Townsend realized this he moved on to other conversations and left Jimmie and Velvet alone.

While a combination of boredom and annoyance settled in for Velvet, something interesting came along. Naomi approached her after Jimmie departed and explained that one of the security personnel hadn’t checked in recently and was about 15 minutes late. Velvet went to investigate after getting the route from Naomi.

Velvet poked around and found the unconscious Cassandra buried in a pile of trash in the alley. She woke her up, but she wasn’t really helpful, only indicating she heard something and then was struck.

Velvet used her blood magic senses, disguised as investigation, to understand what had transpired here, finding that the Rat Pack had been stealing coins while Cassandra smoked around the corner on her route. The rats accidently drew Cassandra’s attention but this led to her being ambushed from above by figures kitted in military grade special operations gear. They knocked her out and phased into the building. Velvet sent Cassandra inside to warn the others and then climbed the fire escape herself to give a bit of chase to the assailants. Once she opened the window she saw the last of them phase through the wall of Purrcival’s room into what would be Gus’. While she began to enter the room and pursue more was happening inside.

Rhys and Paul noticed a situation at the gambling table. With both their presence they were able to work out what happened and send the guilty party packing, but while doing so Paul realized there wasn’t as much security as there should and noticed Naomi stationed inside. He asked her what was going on and she reluctantly offered an update. They then ran into Cassandra and got a further update, deciding to approach the upstairs from the inside after rounding up Gus and Purrcival.

What then ensued was a chase through different parts of the building as the intruders phased through walls and floors and the crew tried to give chase. A head was left behind in the band’s ready room during this process. One of the intruders was chased off and their attempt to steal the Moonshine reserves were thwarted by Velvet sliding down the stairs to the brewing room swiftly. The one which placed the head in the ready room was subdued by Gus who had used a tunnel in the walls to approach them and then subdue them with a mountain lion form. Another was forced to surrender briefly when cornered in the kitchen, before slipping into the floor. He fled to the basement power room, but after taking a hit from Purrcival fled back up leaving his bag behind. Giving chase to each other’s quarry Purrcival and Rhys crashed into each other on the stairs, both trying to explain the change in threats… and then the power went out.