The Performance of a Lifetime
I don’t know if this will reach anyone… but, if you get this, please, send help. This village I was passing through is under some kind of musical enchantment and whatever is going on, it isn’t good. My skills weren’t enough and I need help getting out of here, and if you’re powerful enough… maybe help everyone else escape, too.
- Zephyrus
Recap
Nock, Yulvik, later joined by Panella, find themselves in a village controlled by an ambient music that influences weaker minds. After clever usage of the Silence spell, they learn enough information to head to the tavern to meet the suspicious man who recently came to town. There, Nock and Yulvik meet Duke Solo, an intimidating figure who invites them to perform in a Talent Show for his benefit, if they fail to entertain him to his satisfaction, they will be sworn to his service. However, after he does not let them leave of their own free will before the talent show, things quickly turn sour. Panella gets pulled out of Nock’s bag of tricks right in the nick of time as the showdown begins! Being near Duke Solo seems to put folks into a bit of a blood lust frenzy, but despite this awful aura and Duke’s charming his way to a standstill at the height of battle, Nock’s weasels come through and snap everyone out of their charmed stupor at the last moment in time to stop Duke in his tracks and psychically smite him to pieces while he is walking away. No stupefied villagers were harmed as Yulvik handled Duke and his metal construct summons, Panella skirts around the room relatively unharmed (except by weasels), and Nock gets the kill shot… and produced the most weasels of anyone in the group.
A short investigation leads the party to discover the schematics stash for some of the items Duke was using to be more powerful in and out of battle, as well as a pile of his gold. Panella is able to disarm the strange device pumping the musical mind control enchantment through the air. They are able to find Zephyrus, who summoned them in the first place, arguing with the just-now-unstupefied villagers who find him in a jail cell and assume he must belong there. With a little convincing, they release him and remember their actual jobs in town and head back to their normal lives. For now, it seems the village is safe… except for the bodily biohazards left behind at the tavern.