32 - MultiLevel Shenanigans

Previous session: 31 - A Plasmoid, a Cleric and a Goose enter in a bar...

The Scheme
...

Azzy
What is this MultiLayer Marketing?
Pregax'ya
It's a great new way to do business I came up with, and it's really easy to do, you won't believe it. Most of our agents work between 8 hours a week, even 10 hours if you're trying hard ho ho. See, my company is treasMAX. It's so simple, as you can see here: look all the treasures, just by doing the treasMAX method.
Persy
Did you heard it got stolen?
Pregax'ya
Stolen? What? No never. See they are all in my downlane, they give me a poor portion, so it's giving a gift.
Nesvalyn
Sounds like stealing, but with extra steps.
Pregax'ya
Below me is my downline, below them are 2-3 downlines, and they find 2-3 adventurers and so on. That's how you get the money starting...
Persy
That's more a triangle shape business.
Pregax'ya
...and when someone joins in, they give a portion of the treasure to the ones above, and above they collect, and then they put it above while keeping a bit of the share, and the higher you are, the more treasure you get.
Azzy
And what happens if you can't keep your people down the line?
Pregax'ya
No one ever had to do that. Look at the goblins.
Persy
Why do they give you the treasure, instead of keeping it?
Azzy
Because they're in their downline obviously?
Pregax'ya
Here, we provide tips and tricks when working at treasMAX.
Persy
Why can't I join, take them under my line and do the same thing on their own? Like without you on their way?

[Performance - Pass ✔] Persy notices that goblins are looking to each other, and seems confused.

Pregax'ya
With treasMAX we provide the network, the resources and the information.
Nesvalyn
They could do it themselves now as they have the information and network.
Persy
Definitvely.
Pregax'ya
It's my idea, it can't be stolen.
Persy
Does the Geese accept that?
Pregax'ya
If I present it, they will.
Balnorin
Willingly?
Pregax'ya
Yeah..?
Azzy (to the group)
What do you think?
Nesvalyn
Honestly, the Geese are supposed to be in power and in charge, the fact that there is a small business underground to steal the riches and preventing to do their job properly, I'd say they won't like it.
Pregax'ya
I didn't order anything, they're under their own orders.
Azzy
But you just told them to do that, and they follow it, so you can be held responsible for this.
Pregax'ya
How do you know what the Mafia is?

Azzy has a thought about the Mafia and what it is.

Persy
You said you were not ordering, but you just ordered them to not to do their own MultiLayer Marketing, that means two things.
Pregax'ya
I don't think treasMAX is the right thing for you.
Persy
You should stop stealing.
Pregax'ya
We didn't stole anything.
Persy
Are the Geese ok with that?
Pregax'ya
They're here to protect the businesses.
Persy
And actually you're menacing them.
Nesvalyn
So, are you sure about that?
Balnorin (using Thaumaturgy)
WHAT MY FRIEND IS SAYING HERE IS THAT YOU NEED TO STOP TO STEAL THE GOBLINS.

[Performance - Pass ✔] The goblins start grumbling and take from the treasure pile.

Pregax'ya
ENOUGH.

They stop.

Persy
I don't see that it goes well to keep them in check.
Nesvalyn (to the goblins)
I mean you could take it down by yourselves. Even if not all of you survives, that just means that survivors get a bigger share.
Pregax'ya
There's no use, they'll never go against me.

Persy casts [Haste] to prepare for the confrontation.

Pregax'ya
Team! Begin operation "Liquidate Assets".

The goblins starts shoveling treasure into the hole that appeared.
Persy goes to punch Pregax'ya, but he suddenly flies up into the air and turns to us.

Pregax'ya
I do not wish to fight you, but surely you will lose.
Azzy
I don't think we will.
Persy
We're on a job here.

We let the goblins escape. After a while, Azzy and Balnorin are no longer stunned, as the room clears fully. There are still some treasure left.
We gather as much as we can before leaving, giving enough that Persy and Nesvalyn have their arms full.
As we're leaving the sewers, we decide what to do next.
Nesvalyn suggests that we clean ourselves first before selling the treasure, ending up by resting for the day.

Collect and target
...

The next morning...

Once we woke up, removed the stench and cleaned a bit the treasure, we head to the Fontanini's shop to sell our findings.

Ricardo Fontanini
I see you had a good night, I'll give you 500 credits for that.

↪ [INT check] It seems to be a fair deal.
We accept the deal and it goes to the party's expenses account.

Persy
We heard you were looking for people...
Ricardo Fontanini
Yeah, we're looking for someone to move "heavy stuff".
Nesvalyn
What kind of moving stuff? Are you asking us to literally moving heavy stuff, or moving "heavy stuff".
Balnorin
Some kind of murder basically.
Ricardo Fontanini
What are you talking about? We just want that some people have a "calculated accident".
Azzy
That's just murder.
Balnorin
Not necessarily.
Azzy
It's just another word for that.
Ricardo Fontanini
Are you interested or not?
Persy (to Nesvalyn)
I'm not trusting this case.
Nesvalyn (to Persy)
What do you suggest?
Senri
We're interested.
Ricardo Fontanini
Fine, let's talk behind.

Mr. Fontanini starts to go to the back office, with Azzy, Balnorin and Senri following immediately.

Nesvalyn
I... well, welp.
Persy
Then what?
Nesvalyn
I hate that situation.
Persy
Should we go there?
Nesvalyn
Definitively, and let's hope we're not going to have an offer we cannot refuse.

Mr. Fontanini sits in his smelly office, and proposes us to sit to discuss this opportunity, with Nesvalyn and Persy coming slightly later.

Ricardo Fontanini
We want someone whacked and we pay 20k for it.
Azzy
Great, who is this person?
Ricardo Fontanini
We got a new competitor in town, her name is Flitwik. She runs a travelling caravan that sells magical items, and she's cutting corners on the prices, and she stops where there's a Fontanini's shop. It's like she's been after us. Even worse, she makes her old caravan stops in each waypoint, broadcasting a show in the Astral Sea, called the 'Antique Astral Show'. Have you heard about it?
Nesvalyn
Not really.
Persy
It's bad enough for business that you're willing to pay 20k.
Ricardo Fontanini
Yeah, she has hype, with all the magic deals on that.
Nesvalyn
And it's only 20k?
Ricardo Fontanini
Yeah.
Nesvalyn
And how much you're going to earn from that?
Ricardo Fontanini
It doesn't matter, it's an easy mark.
Nesvalyn
It does, because I'm pretty sure you're going to earn way more for that, and we're going to be pay just a little from your earnings from this "accident".
Ricardo Fontanini
So what? I need to pay my employees and run my business.
Persy
I don't feel bad about that.
Nesvalyn
Same.
Persy
I'm pretty sure she gives better deal than you.
Ricardo Fontanini
Pff. Whatever, so what are you deciding?

We decline the contract, and he asks us to not tell her about that.
When we leave, there's a quick banter within group, especially from Nesvalyn and Persy about thinking about taking any group decisions, as for this case, even if it seems simple, we don't know how it would go with the local authorities, and especially the Geese.

Looking for Flitwik
...

We're making our way to the Antique Astral Show, and we find a crowd in front of a caravan.
We see a crystal floating at the back of the panel, facing the crowd.
Flitwik is sitting upright in a chair, revealing a 4ft tall golden elephant with wings on her heads.

Persy (whispering to Azzy)
And you wanted to kill that?
Azzy (whispering back)
Yeah, it's easy to do.
Nesvalyn (whispering too)
Do that and I'll knock you out before you do anything.

Sitting on the other side is an alien that we don't recognize the race. Seated in-between is a jewelry in a black velvet box.

Flitwik
Well, Gobarks, you have said that this is some jewelry from your grand-mother, it could fetch up to 20k credits. If you can find an auction, however I could give you 1 350 credits.
Gobarks
Well, Gobarks thinks it's better 20k, but I know no auction, so I'll take the deal.
Flitwik
That's all for this hour session, see you at 5 woopie dooptie time!

(Persy recalls that the "Woopie Dooptie Time" it's the universal time zone for the Galaxsea)

Persy
I don't think they're malevolent.
Azzy
Let's not be hasty.
Nesvalyn
Even that, if it can avoid the monopole for Fontanini, it can be healthy and beneficial for the market, aka us and the customers.

The crowd disperse in the meantime.

Persy (whispering to Nesvalyn)
Do you mind if you keep an eye out of it?
Nesvalyn
What do you plan to do?
Persy
I'm going to warn her.
Nesvalyn
I trust you, please don't mess up.

Persy casts [Invisibility] on himself, writes a paper warning out that competitors are not happy with her and to be mindful, shares the paper then leaves unnoticed.
Flitwiks looks at the note, scoping a cigarette, laughs and toss the note away.

Azzy goes to speak to Flitwiks to learn more, followed by Nesvalyn.
When getting nearby, two nicely dressed Plasmoids places their hands in front of Azzy to stop their progression.

Guard
Ms. Flitwiks is not accepting clients right now, please step back.
Azzy
I'm not trying to buy or sell, I just want to talk with her.
Guard
Ms. Flitwiks is not accepting guests right now.
Azzy
That's unfortunate then.
Nesvalyn
Could you tell me how do we talk with her please?
Guard
Sign up for the next show.
Azzy
What's the point of the show?
Guard
I don't have a salespitch, I'm just a guard.
Azzy
I know, I'm asking you what it is.
Guard
It's a pawn shop show, we're buying and selling antics.
Azzy
I see. What's your name?
Guard
We're Plasmoids, we don't have names.
Azzy
Oh. Well it was nice to meet you.

We regroup a bit further away.

Nesvalyn
It's really heartbreaking that they don't have names, and only one purpose.
Azzy
I know right?
Nesvalyn
But how they can think you're broken? Like you're your own person, that's just... normal.
Azzy
I wonder if it's the norm in the Astral sea.
Nesvalyn
Which makes me wonder about your name: what if it was the name of your creator or old master?
Azzy
It could be the case, but I don't know.
Balnorin (to Azzy)
There's only two guards?
Azzy
In front of her at least.
Balnorin
Feel like we could've asked more.
Nesvalyn
What about we just leave and take the OSS contract please?
Persy (still invisible)
Good idea Nesvalyn.
Nesvalyn (jumpscared)
AAAH!

We walk by Ludwig's noodle shop, it's not here anymore and another shop is here instead.
Azzy brings back the subject about killing your own father, which infuriates Persy, revealing the absence of his father, making him relate to Ludwig as he could do the same thing. He just ends the discussion with "Freedom comes at a cost Azzy.", pointing to the lack of tact from Azzy.

Travelling to the Moon Delphi
...

We're starting to travel to the Moon Delphi, estimating two weeks of travel before reaching destination. Once everything is set, Nesvalyn goes to check Persy, already working on his next project, and asks a few minutes to discuss and checking how Persy is going after the interaction. Nesvalyn repeats more or less what he said at the bar about doing the proper thing if he starts to transform, and coughs more and more, until he collapses on the deck.
Persy calls for help from the team, making the group a bit worried and Persy tries to keep face.
[Medicine - Pass ✔] It appears that Nesvalyn fell into a coma-like state.
Persy recalls it's not the first time from Saltspocket.

Persy
He's done that before, it was fine, he woke up fine.
Senri
He done that before?
Azzy
Just like that?
Persy
Ye- yeah.
Senri
It doesn't look good.
Persy
He's fine!

Persy recalls about it was both of them against the rest of the party, and tries to keep face as much as he can.
Senri casts [Phantasmal Force] on Nesvalyn, but nothing happens.

Nesvalyn will be unavailable for the two weeks of travelling.

With the coma, Persy checks with Naus to get more information:

Persy
Hey Naus, do you know anything about the Minero Morphosis?
Naus
I heard of it, but never saw it myself.
Persy
Right. No much info, scientist or a way to stop it?
Naus
The FCA is kind of relaying some information about it? There's this ad to join up to fight the Minero Morphosis. Would you like to plan a course to the nearst FCA outpost?
Persy
I guess? Nesvalyn would know what is the right thing to do.
Naus
Sure, it would take 2 years and 3 months.
Persy
Oof. And with the hyper drive?
Naus
It would take 3.14 minutes.
Persy
Would you know where we could get one?
Naus
There would be a SpellJammer junkyard around here, it would take...

Naus starts to imitate computer and machine sounds while processing the destination.

Naus
One month in that direction.
Persy
That would be good, Nesvalyn would've woke up from the end.

And we're heading to that direction, still going to the Moon Delphi. Persy picks up Nesvalyn and brings him in Persy's chamber, where he'll be able to keep an eye on the sleeping one.

During the travel time:

  • Azzy self-reflects and acknowledges what Persy said, and apologizes for what they just said.
  • Persy finishes his armor.

The two weeks pass, and we're starting to approach the crystal sphere, showing a natural portal. As we enter, we're heading to a moon called Delphi. The planet is a gaseous one, and only the moon has life on it.

Nesvalyn wakes up near the end of the trip, with Persy scolding him slightly due to the worry. They both investigate the changes, noticing that his scales sparkles. More than that, Nesvalyn's spikes don't look like much ones you could find a dragonborn, but more from a crystal.

Nesvalyn
Let's hope it's mostly physical changes. At least I think I'm still myself, or I hope I am.
Persy
Good sense is good at least, so as long you handle into that...
Nesvalyn
Yeah, I'll try.
Persy
I just hope you didn't just fell asleep just to skip the travelling.
Nesvalyn
If I say yes, what would you think?
Persy
I would be pissed that you never told me that.
Nesvalyn (smiling and laughing slightly)
If only, I mean you don't teach an old dragonborn new tricks after all. I'm sorry about that.

He gets up and both of them gets on the deck. Nesvalyn apologizes to the party for the worrying, then banters happen about the progression of the Minero Morphosis, wondering if it's a regular thing, and mostly about being sure that the group will do what needs to be done, where the only reluctant one seems to be Persy.

Landing on the Moon Delphi
...

We finally land on the Moon Delphi, and the D.R.A.G system activates.
All of us are dressed in some kind of winter peasants gear.
Persy looks like a knight in full armor. The rest of us looks human.
Azzy notices that their gun looks like a crossbow, same for Senri.
As we step out the spelljammer (still unnamed), it looks like a big pile of boulders to fit the place. We're in snow covered woods.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Senri, Balnorin and Azzy notices that something is wrong with these woods. It's awfully quiet: there's no movement at all.
Senri notices that by looking up, it looks like a patch of snow was falling, but stopped mid air. And by looking further, the snowflakes are suspended in the air.

Senri shares the information, then pokes a bit of snow. And pushes it, it moves, but doesn't move further.
Nesvalyn picks up some snow, manages to pick some, and when dropping it, it stays in the air.

Nesvalyn
That's messed up. Is it the snow who doesn't follow the gravity rules, or did the time stopped?
Persy
I may be able to check, that's pretty weird.

↪ [Identify] The snow is under the effect of a spell. (The type of magic is unknown).

As we don't know more, we decide to go deeper into the woods.
[Perception - Pass ✔] Azzy and Balnorin notices the forest is getting thicker. They both spot in the distance a figure standing 60ft away.
The information is shared.

Nesvalyn
If they don't move, the time did really stop then.
Balnorin
True.

We approach the figure. As we do that, we see that this figure is wearing a fur coat, frozen in a position as they were running, while holding a spear. They're wearing a mask with deer antlers, shaped like a deer skull. There are also other figures with half-masks of animals.
We get closer to notice a group of 200 people gathered around one spot, looking at a collection of bigger rocks, all frozen in time.

Balnorin
Are they alive?
Nesvalyn
I guess, but we can move freely, so...

Persy uses a torch to try to melt the snow, but it doesn't. When throwing the torch into the air, it gets into the air and falls.

Azzy
It feels like we're missing something obvious.

We go check that collection of rocks that everybody is looking at.
↪ [Investigation] We see that one of the rocks has a deep reddish brown stain on it. Along that, we notice the remains of cut ropes.

Persy
Maybe that was the sacrificial lamb?
Azzy
Do you think it could be the lamb?
Nesvalyn
Perhaps, perhaps it's the one who ordered it. Let's keep notes on that.

We go where the figures are coming from, and it takes a few hours until we break out of the woods. We see a village, with a single pillar of smoke, who's moving compared to the rest.
We're approaching the town, we enter it and notice that the rest seems frozen too: kids, pigs, birds are stuck in time.
The building in the center of the village is a church, where it seems unfrozen due to the smoke.
We head to this place, and Balnorin activates Longtooth’s Trinket. We see on the side of the building a woman, moving and tending a little garden. She stands and gasps when seeing us:

Woman
Oh goodness, you can move?
Nesvalyn
Obviously, and so do you.
Woman
Thanks heavens, you're here to save us!

Next session: 33 - Frozen in time