The party enters the Tigers of Nam’s base and acquires the Maiden’s Bell with an ally’s help.
Characters Interacted With
Mei: Accompanied the party inside the Tigers of Nam’s base, took the Maiden’s Bell back to Shengdu
Laseen: Helped point the party toward the Maiden’s Bells
Tigers of Nam Grunts: Interacted with the party
Leferinese Associates: Present when the party tried taking back Donovan’s Plant Constructs
Jinli: Tried talking with a disguised Fanna, whom he thought was his “Big Brother”
Tigers of Nam Captain: Showed up at the end, returning after having gone looking for Jinli
Other Characters Mentioned: Tigers of Nam Nightclub Workers
Locations
- Tigers of Nam Nightclub
Session Overview
The session started with the party outside the Tigers of Nam Nightclub, debating what to do to get inside. After Brooks stealthily peered through one of the windows to scope out the place, he saw that there didn’t seem to be too many people there, and the only guards present were ones standing beside some doors on the building’s left side (if looking top-down).
After discussing their plan of attack, Fanna used Major Illusion to conjure the image and feeling of a major fire suddenly breaking out in the nightclub. All of the customers fled, with the kitchen workers frantically trying to put the “fire” out and pulling the fire alarm. The party used the opportunity to run through the doors the guards had been standing by, despite their protests, leading them to a large spiral staircase that went through a system of underground halls and rooms.
Fanna took the opportunity to disguise themselves as the Tigers of Nam Captain. As the party went down, the Tigers of Nam members filtered up through the stairs, alerted by the fire alarm, Fanna urging them onward so they didn’t have time to linger and suspect anything. The base seemed a bit disorganized, with cardboard boxes that were scattered all around the floors. Among the fleeing members, the party also saw Laseen and her family, along with a sleepy Jinli being carried by a grunt.
Finally, the base was empty. The party took the chance to sneak into the captain’s office. They went through all the drawers, but didn’t find the Maiden’s Bells, only usual office supplies plus a bunch of occult items. Brooks pocketed an expensive-looking mirror found in the captain’s drawer. The party also found a bedroom that was connected to the office with two beds inside: One that was very plain and utilitarian, while the other was smaller with ocean-themed bedding and a koi plushie on top.
The party then heard all of the Tigers return to the base, including guards that stood by the doors to the captain’s office. After some panic, the party came up with a plan: Fanna, disguised as the captain, would take Laseen aside privately, ask her where the Maiden’s Bells and plant constructs were located. The party would then go from there.
Fanna carefully emerged from the captain’s office in their disguise, to the shock of the guards standing by. When asked about it, Fanna said they had gone back early to check things out in their office. They found Laseen accompanied by some grunts, but were able to pull her into a separate storeroom. There, they shed their disguise, then explained themselves to Laseen: They desperately needed a Maiden’s Bell and to get Donovan’s plant constructs back.
A shocked, but sympathetic Laseen explained how she’d often see the captain take Jinli away privately to administer his “medicine”. She’s never actually witnessed the actual administering part, but knows that the medicine is stored in the secure vault the Tigers have.
Fanna thanked Laseen for her help, and the two returned to the rest of the base. Fanna quickly ran to the captain’s quarters again, where the rest of the party and Mei were waiting, and told them what Laseen had said. The party made a plan where Amanti and Mei would wildshape into small animals, Brooks would put on a Tigers of Nam uniform, and the two Druids would hide out in Fanna and Brooks’ pockets.
After getting prepared, the party reemerged from the captain’s quarters. Fanna was bothered by a Leferinese scientist, who the actual captain seemed to be working closely with to make use of Donovan’s plant constructs. Interested in finding them, the party took a chance to follow the scientist. He led them to a makeshift lab—a storeroom with a table shoved in the corner and tools hung up on the walls. On top of the table was an inactive plant construct strapped down by magical bindings. After getting the assistants out of the room, tricking the scientist, paralyzing him, and shoving him in a storage closet, Fanna freed the construct, grabbed their Bag of Holding that was hanging on the wall, and put it inside. They discovered, however, that the other plant constructs were missing.
Fanna, Brooks, and the rest of the party quickly went to the vault Laseen spoke of. Fanna hurriedly dismissed the confused guards, and the party went inside. There, a clear jar of Maiden’s Bells was sitting atop a pedestal at the end of the room. Their objective in sight, the party took one and attempted to Fast Travel out. However, the magic fizzled as they attempted to do so, forcing them to exit the vault through the doors. There, the guards and assistants they bypassed earlier were waiting, giving chase to Fanna and Brooks.
Fanna and Brooks quickly ran towards the exit. As they ran up the stairs, Jinli emerged and, thinking Fanna was his Big Brother, excitedly hugged them. Fanna quickly slid out and threw a couple silver coins at Jinli as consolation. When the party finally got to the top of the stairs and went through the exit doors, they found the actual captain and some more guards on the other side.
The two groups stared at each other down. Then, Jinli burst through the doors, begging for Fanna, whom they thought was the actual captain, to come back. The exertion of running up the stairs after Fanna caught up to him, and he bent over coughing up blood. The actual captain looked between the party and Jinli, before running over to tend to the child in distress. The party took this chance to run out of the nightclub.
Some of the guards hurriedly gave chase. The party threw some spells at them, including a Thunderwave from Fanna and a Giant Insect from Mei. Once the coast was clear, the party quickly shoved the Maiden’s Bell in Mei’s hands and told her to go back to the temple. Mei muttered about how the other plant constructs were still out there, but the party assured her they’d go back for them. After remarking that the party had promised her they had everything handled last time, she Fast Traveled back to the temple.
The party found a spot in the wilderness to sleep, not wanting to risk being caught by the Tigers still in town. As they settled down, they resolved to go back and find the rest of the plant constructs the next day. The party long rested, the image of a distressed Jinli coughing up blood lingering uncomfortably in some of their minds.
Key Learnings
- The Tigers of Nam Captain and Jinli regularly excused themselves privately for Jinlin to “take his medicine”
- The Maiden’s Bells were stored inside a vault
- Leferinese associates were helping the Tigers examine Donovan’s plant constructs
- The plant constructs were stored somewhere else not in Fanna’s Bag of Holding
Items Of Importance
- Fancy Looking Mirror
- Maiden’s Bell (1)
- Plant Construct (1)
- Fanna’s Bag of Holding