Session 48: Smashing Through Red Tape
After an exhausting day and a cup of calming, hallucinogenic mushroom tea, each hero retreated to their own corner for some well-deserved rest. Though uncertainty still hung in the air about what tomorrow would bring, the house of Brotor and Danaya was wrapped in peaceful sleep — as if Morpheus himself had chosen to shield it from what lay ahead.
But fate, as always, had other plans. From the depths of slumber, the iron grip of bureaucracy reached out, reminding the heroes that rest is a luxury afforded only to the dead. At dawn, a law courier knocked on the door, bearing a document as heavy as a warhammer: unless proof of ownership for Lux Astra was submitted within twenty-four hours, the estate would be transferred to an unnamed “rightful owner.”
With that invigorating wake-up call behind them, the heroes — Fenris, Saya, and Surina — grabbed a quick breakfast, brewed some coffee, and tried in vain to rouse Brotor and Danae. Realizing this was a battle they’d have to face alone, the trio set out — to confront the greatest terror of all: bureaucracy.
The plan was simple as a hammer swing: beat the system by finding a powerful ally. That ally was to be Fasir Ramur. But one problem remained — who would dispel the petrification curse keeping Fasir frozen in time? Surina, the devout of Bahamut? Saya, the faithful of the Raven Queen? Neither had access to Greater Restoration — nor the components, nor the will to buy them.
Ironically, it was Fenris — a man who had long since lost faith in Lathander — who had both the spell and the materials.
First stop: the arcane components shop. There they could find both the scroll and the diamond dust. But standing in their way were a judge and a debt clerk. What followed was a fierce battle of words, forms, seals, and citations. The heroes prevailed. The bureaucrats withdrew — but left behind a lingering question: would twenty-four hours be enough to win this paper war?
Fenris “acquired” the scroll, but just as he reached for his diamond dust pouch, a guard spotted him. Riding high on recent victories, Saya and Surina employed the classic strategy — confuse the enemy with words. Unfortunately, the guard was unimpressed and already reaching for shackles. Fortunately, after some clarification, he simply advised them to visit the local sanitarium. The heroes nodded solemnly, as if they genuinely intended to go.
At last, they reached Fasir’s office. Even from outside, it was clear something was wrong. Without hesitation, the trio burst inside. Chaos reigned. A halfling, maddened, was shrieking and setting fire to furniture. Fasir stood petrified, a crack on his neck, a silent witness to the madness.
Surina and Saya, recalling circus tricks and sleight of hand, stuffed the halfling into a magic bag. Fenris, after a brief pause, summoned a blizzard to extinguish the flames. The guards arrived, led by Arkady. After a fantastical explanation — and a halfling in a sack — the party once again was let off with just one piece of advice: visit the sanitarium.
Once the curse on Fasir was lifted and he heard of Lux Astra’s looming doom, he revealed a name behind the shadowy “rightful owner”: Fregnard. The same Fregnard with an interest in both high-end real estate… and necromantic magic hidden in the tower — connected to Ptaris and the Dream of the Eternal.
The new plan? While Fasir prepared ownership documents and evidence against Fregnard, the heroes would — very delicately — acquire some funding. Elegant as always: Saya and Surina would distract the guard while Fenris, as a spider, broke into a merchant’s home.
At first, everything worked like a charm. The distraction succeeded, the guard fled. Fenris searched chests: clothes. Potions. Pearly sticks. Then — a mimic. Of course. The toothy monstrosity lunged, but Fenris teleported it outside. Saya and Surina sprang into action — immobilized it and, inexplicably, tamed it.
Fenris kept searching. Another chest. Another mimic. Another teleport. Another taming. And so the party found themselves with two pet mimics: Uga and Buga. When the guards arrived, the party calmly explained that these were just personal luggage. In Sigil, that might work — and it did. For the third time that day, they were advised to visit the sanitarium.
With their newly expanded party, the group returned to Fasir.
One final task remained: find proof of Fregnard’s ties to mechanoids and necromancy. Nearly under cover of night, they approached his workshop. Two guards stood ready for anything — except honesty. And then a miracle: the heroes told the truth. The guard, moved to epiphany, let them in and even handed over blueprints and an invoice for crystals — signed by none other than Silarion.
The return to Fasir was uneventful. But one last question lingered: how do you feed two pet mimics? Fenris glanced toward the horse in the stables and smirked:
— “Applejack, perhaps?”
But in the end, they chose compassion — summoned the butler to conjure meat. He conjured… a cow.
Once again, the heroes were drained. Enemies multiplied. Time ran short. But hope burned bright: as long as they stood together — Lux Astra still had a chance.
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