At the auction of the Cultural Unity Gala, Wakanga gave Vonara a Harper token, and the party accepted an offer from Jannalor Tezim to fund its purchases at one favor for every thousand gold pieces. The party won the black orchid for three thousand gold pieces and owed Jannalor three favors. During a break Takhesis refused to trade the orchid to Malyss, Inete learned that Zitembe had left the city for the Sunken Temple, and Taenae met a pet shop owner named Alice. The Eye of Ubtao was sold to Lady Nyrule.
Recap
The token and the deal
It is the night of the twenty-third of Flamerule, 1492 DR, and the Cultural Unity Gala is still going on. An assassination attempt has just been resolved, and Jessamine has fled the venue. The auction is beginning. The party needs two of its lots: the Eye of Ubtao, for the investigation of Mezro, and the black orchid, for the Dance of the Seven Winds.
Before the party enters the auction hall, Wakanga pulls Vonara aside and gifts her a Harper token. He claims that it will offer safe passage out of Port Nyanzaru should they succeed in obtaining the Eye.
Inside the chamber, Jannalor Tezim accosts the party with a proposition. He will fund all of their auction purchases. For every 1,000 gold pieces spent, the party will owe him one favor. After deliberation, the party accepts the deal.
The auction begins
Korrak, Taban’s brother, takes the stage as auctioneer to manage the bids.
The first item is a jade teapot. Taenae spots the beautiful Lady Nyrule and converses with her. Lady Nyrule claims the teapot.
The second item is the black orchid. The party wins it for 3,000 gold pieces, paid by Jannalor. The party now owes Jannalor three favors.
Immediately after the win, Kaelar, Taban’s brother, reintroduces himself to Vonara and solidifies the connection between them. He spends the rest of the evening getting to know her and flirting.
Shadows and prophecies
During a break in the bidding, the party splits up to converse.
Takhesis approaches Malyss, who is now the de facto head of the Green Faction. He asks for information on the mysterious winged woman, Adani. Malyss demands the black orchid as the price. Takhesis refuses the trade and walks away empty-handed.
Inete is approached by a fellow acolyte of Savras, who brings bad news. Zitembe has left the city to seek the Sunken Temple. He foresaw Inete lying dead, clutching the Eye of Ubtao, and he left to change this fate. The acolyte delivers Zitembe’s personal scrying dagger to Inete.
Taenae, dismissed by Lady Nyrule, meets a young woman named Alice and her pet otter, Beau. Alice owns a struggling pet shop in the Harbor Ward called Critters, Creepers & Crawlers.
The final lots
The third item, the Witchlight Cage, goes to Ekene-Afa.
The room erupts into chaos as the final, most valuable items go up for bid. The star chart is sold to Jannalor Tezim. The scroll of legend lore is sold to Ekene-Afa. The Eye of Ubtao is sold to Lady Nyrule.
The gala winds down. The party has secured the orchid but has lost the Eye of Ubtao to the mysterious Lady Nyrule.
Aftermath
- The party held the black orchid and owed Jannalor Tezim three favors.
- Vonara held the Harper token from Wakanga.
- Inete held Zitembe’s scrying dagger. Zitembe was missing, on his way to the Sunken Temple.
- Lady Nyrule held the Eye of Ubtao.
- Alice was a new contact of the party.
- Kaelar was interested in Vonara.
Appendix
Present
Taenae · Vogal · Takhesis Calva · Vonara · Glade · Inete.
References
People: Wakanga · Jannalor Tezim · Jessamine · Korrak · Kaelar · Lady Nyrule · Malyss · Adani · Zitembe · Alice · Ekene-Afa · Taban · Savras
Places: Port Nyanzaru · Mezro · Sunken Temple · Harbor Ward · Critters, Creepers & Crawlers
Other: black orchid · Eye of Ubtao