Havoc at the Hotel Cavalier is the third episode of Dimension 20 LIVE, Fantasy High: Sophomore Year.
Recap[]
"Last week on Dimension 20 LIVE, our heroes discovered that their friends Fig and Riz were missing! We had some stuff in the morning that ended up being that Tracker is coming along on our quest, it ended up being that we sort of-- Gilear went and got coffee for people (he was completely abused). We also met wonderful Boggy the Froggy, “magic is real and so is my frog.” Discovering that Fig and Riz were missing, they fought an Evil Nightmare Riz in his office from a dispelled magical mirror, found out that Fig had apparently shattered magically an entire jewelry store at the mall and taken a giant ruby, and we also discovered that in the photograph of Riz's dad from his office Sandra Lynn and Sklonda could both see a Tabaxi woman in an evening gown. You guys headed to Bastion City, and we ended on the same day, the first Saturday of your spring break, going into spring break, we ended in Bastion City outside of the Hotel Cavalier. But that's not where our first scene takes place."
Synopsis[]
Late at night in his office, Riz Gukgak tries to uncover the identity of the Shadowcat. He makes a connection between the name Shadowcat and his weapon, the Sword of Shadows. He recalls that it was forged by a tabaxi ninja. This reminds him of a photograph where his father is standing with his arm around a tabaxi woman with black fur. He vaguely remembers that his father used to work with this woman on occasion. He also notices that the photo has aged oddly, the part with the tabaxi woman looks much better preserved than the rest of the photo. He begins to examine the photo when he hears the door close behind him.
Riz creeps into the main room where he heard the noise come from and sees that a mirror has been moved into a corner. He moves around the room, using the mirror to see if there is anyone else. After seeing that there is no one in the room, and not enough space to crawl behind the mirror, Riz goes to investigate the other room. As he passes in front of the mirror, he immediately notices that his reflection is wrong. He points his gun at the mirror, asking what his reflection wants. The reflection says that all he wants is for Riz to look at him, Riz then asks who the reflection is. The reflection then presses itself up against the other side of the mirror, revealing a pale goblin mannequin with black eyes and joints. The mannequin then introduces itself as Baron, Riz's romance partner. Riz says that Baron isn't real, and Baron protests this, saying that if Riz continues to say hurtful things, there will be consequences. After a brief, but very unsettling conversation, Riz shoots the mirror. Baron then leaps through the shattered mirror and grabs Riz by the throat, twisting his head and beginning to drag him toward the mirror. Riz claws at the floor, and during the struggle shoves the photograph of his father and the tabaxi woman underneath a floorboard. Baron drags Riz through the mirror and Riz falls unconscious.
Meanwhile, Fig Faeth is in the midst of an enjoyable nightmare where she has become so famous that she never needs to speak to anyone and becomes completely isolated. As she is having this dream she is also vaguely aware of what her body is doing. While semi-conscious, Fig packs a bag and books a hotel for the night. She takes her tour bus to the Elm Valley Mall, robs a jewelry store, seals her father Gorthalax the Insatiable into a ruby, and then drives to Bastion City. She checks in to the Hotel Cavalier.
The rest of the Bad Kids, along with their hirelings, arrive in the parking lot of the Hotel Cavalier just as the sun finished setting. Adaine begins casting Comprehend Languages. Sandra Lynn tells the group that she and the rest of the "hirelings" have to follow The Bad Kids' lead to avoid affecting their grade on the assignment. Gorgug and Kristen discuss the photograph and suggest that Adaine cast Detect Magic on Sandra Lynn because she could see the tabaxi woman while the Bad Kids could not. The group walks into the Hotel Cavalier as Adaine casts Detect Magic on Sandra Lynn. In the lobby are an air genasi who appears to be the concierge, a vulture aarakocra and two gorillas who appear to be bellhops. The group talks to the concierge, telling her that they want to send a call to Fig in an attempt to figure out which room she is in. After several incorrect guesses as to Fig's room number, Adaine finishes her Detect Magic ritual. She senses a transmutation effect on the concierge and then casts Dispel Magic. The concierge is then revealed to be a cambion, and tells the bellhops to kill them. In the moments before the fight breaks out, Adaine notices no magical effects on Sandra Lynn and sees a guestbook with Fig's signature in it. Kristen looks over Adaine's shoulder and sees that Fig has checked into the lower penthouse.
As the cambion gives the order to kill them, the two gorillas rush at the group while the vulture aarakocra runs to the elevator. Adaine acts first, casts Greater Invisibility on herself and then runs into the elevator with the aarakocra. Gilear runs around frantically, almost uses the concierge desk for cover, and then takes the Dodge action. Cathilda takes a bunch of swings at the cambion with her daggers. Kristen casts Sanctuary on Gilear and then runs to the elevator to jump on top of it once it moves past. The cambion tells the gorillas to hold the party and then vanishes in a burst of flame. Fabian uses Gilear as a springboard to attack the gorillas, which as the illusion fades, are revealed to be barlguras. Fabian slashes at one of them twice, and Sandra Lynn fires two arrows at that same one before joining Kristen by the elevator shaft. The barlguras then move for Gilear, Fabian manages to stop one with an attack of opportunity, reducing it's speed to zero (thanks to his Sentinel feat). The other one makes it to Gilear and despite the added protection from Kristen's Sanctuary spell and Gilear physically dodging the attacks, the barlgura still hits him, killing him instantly. Fabian concludes that Gilear must be the chosen one for the barlguras to attack him when Fabian is clearly the bigger threat. Tracker then transforms into a full werewolf, attacking the most injured demon. Ragh also swings at that demon.
The elevator starts to descend and Kristen and Sandra Lynn jump on top of the elevator car as it passes down, managing to avoid drawing the attention of the aarakocra, who as the illusion fades, is revealed to be a vrock. As the elevator comes to a stop, they see six more barlgura and a vrock, as well as the cambion appearing in a ring of flame. Looking further into the satanic penthouse, they see Riz chained to an altar and Fig standing over him with a curved knife.
Back in the foyer, Gorgug screams, "For Gilear!", and flies into a rage. He decapitates the injured barlgura. He then takes a swing on the second barlgura.
In the penthouse, Riz sees the elevator come down and prepares to dodge out of the way of Fig's knife. Adaine casts Dispel Magic on Fig, and with Boggy's help, shatters the spell so completely that Riz get his stuff back, and Fig and Riz get to act next. As this is happening, Riz sees a person dressed head to toe in black, face concealed, roll a pair of slitted yellow eyes and then disappear into shadow. Fig grabs Riz and casts Dimension Door, teleporting both of them into the coat room upstairs, before inspiring Riz with a wink. Gorgug hears them appear in the coat room and tells them that Gilear has died. Fig and Riz rush out into the main room, where Fig captures Gilear's soul. Riz shoots at the remaining barlgura, misses and then hides. Cathilda runs up and slashing the throat of the barlgura.
Kristen recalls that the Nightmare King had fought on the side of demons in the Blood War. Sandra Lynn helps boost Kristen out of the elevator. Fabian tells Kristen that Gilear is dead, and Kristen reluctantly casts Revivify, bringing him back to life. The cambion opens a gate, and all the demons from below appear in the lobby. Fabian calls for the Hangman, attempts to use Gilear as a springboard for a second time, and knocks him unconscious. Fabian then attacks the cambion. Three barlgura rush for the coat room, another two run for Fabian, and the last two go to grab Gilear's body and run out the front door of the hotel. Gorgug, Fabian, Kristen, Tracker, and Ragh all take swings at them as they run by. Fabian and Tracker hit, Fabian manages to stop one barlgura while the other one grabs Gilear's body and heads for the door. Two barlgura attack Fabian, and Fabian then commands the Hangman to attack the barlgura that has Gilear. Sandra Lynn runs out the front door of the hotel and shoots two arrows at the barlgura. Two barlgura rush into the coat check and Fig commands them to retrieve Gilear, which they run off to do. Ragh joins Fabian and attacks one of the barlguras. Tracker runs out the front door and leaps onto the back of the barlgura carrying Gilear.
In the lobby, the vrocks let out a demonic screech, paralyzing Ragh and Cathilda. Gorgug runs at and attacks the cambion, sending it flying into a pile of luggage.
In the basement, Adaine uses the Sword of Shadows to stab in the corner where she saw the cambion make eye contact earlier. After the sword does not connect, she Misty Steps up into the lobby and then runs outside. Riz takes a shot at the fleeing barlgura and kills it. Fig grabs the bag of gems with the ruby in it from the coat check closet and casts Fear on the demons remaining in the lobby. Fig threatens to put the remaining demons into the ruby, and three flee into the hotel. Kristen runs out of the lobby and casts Spare the Dying on Gilear.
Back in the lobby, the cambion swings at Fabian. Sandra Lynn comes back into the lobby, takes shots at the cambion, and misses. The two remaining barlgura take attacks on Fabian and Gorgug. Fabian is knocked unconscious by the barlgura. Tracker transforms back into human form and then casts Healing Word on Fabian. The vrocks screech again, poisoning Gorgug. Gorgug then attempts to kill the cambion, but due to the poison does not connect.
Outside, Adaine hands the sword back to Riz before coming back into the lobby. She realizes that the cambion is probably resistant to fire and cold. Adaine casts a lightning based Chromatic Orb at the cambion, which fries it within an inch of it's life. Adaine then shakes Cathilda in an attempt to free her of the stun. Riz leaps upon the Hangman and they roar into the lobby. He jumps off the Hangman, hides, takes a shot at the cambion, and misses. Fig uses Hexblade's Curse on the cambion, makes an attack, and misses. Cathilda comes out of her stun and slashes at one of the vrocks. Kristen moves into the doorway and casts Spirit Guardians, summoning a bunch of post-graduate philosophy students. She then tells everyone to run outside. The cambion then Misty Steps to Kristen, where it is promptly roasted to death by the philosophy majors. Sandra Lynn takes some shots at the barlgura before running out the door towards Gilear. The last two barlgura, having seen the cambion burned by the philosophy students, turn and flee into the hotel. Ragh shakes off his stun before striking at one of the vrocks and running out of the hotel past Kristen. Tracker runs out onto the street. Fabian jumps onto the Hangman along with Gorgug and Ragh before doing several donuts and speeding out of the hotel. Adaine grabs the sign in book before she leaves. Kristen asks the philosophy majors if they can see the tabaxi woman in the photo with Riz's dad. The philosophy students give a bullshit pretentious answer.
The party convenes on the street outside of the hotel. Tracker casts Cure Wounds on Gilear and Kristen casts Lesser Restoration on Gorgug. Kristen recognizes that the ruby that Fig had grabbed is cursed. They all pile into the van. Adaine casts Identify on the ruby, and Riz ponders the connection between the shadow stuff and the shadow cat. Fabian suggests they go to a restaurant called The Swan's Little Parade. They briefly argue about whether or not to send Gilear home. While Kristen, Fabian, Gorgug, and Fig ponder discuss if Gilear is the chosen one or the Nightmare King, Riz realizes that the barlgura attacked him because they thought his frantic behavior was an indication that he was casting a complex spell. Gilear clarifies that he is not the Nightmare King, and is in fact, woefully unprepared for any kind of adventuring. Adaine gives him Boggy to hold and Gilear starts crying. Fig attempts to persuade Gilear to take a vacation, and, while Gilear confesses that he is disappointed in the live that he has lived so far, he wants to support the Bad Kids in their endeavors the best that he can. Fig tries to give him a sapphire and when she does, one of the panels on the van lights up. Gorgug asks to see the sapphire, and the party discusses ways to keep Gilear safe during fights. Adaine casts Identify on the sapphire while Sandra Lynn calls the Bastion City police. Fig cast Disguise Self in order to see what the police are saying. Adaine finds that the sapphire is a material component in the Magic Jar spell, and that the sapphire contains a powerful celestial. They decide to put the gem in the van's radio so the celestial can talk to them. As they do that, the gas tank reader begins to glow blue and a cheerful voice comes over the speaking as soft angelic music begins to play over the radio. The angel introduces itself and Adaine introduces herself as Teddy Geiger. Riz then warns everyone to go easy on the lies because the mirror creature that attacked him was born of his lies. He then confesses that Baron from the Baronies was a lie and that he is not seeing anyone. Kristen then tells the group that she is gay. Everyone says that they knew, except for Tracker, who sarcastically pretends to be surprised. The angel that currently resides in the van expresses excitement at the prospect of being their van, and the Hangman seems jealous. The party teases Fabian about his relationship with the Hangman, upon which it is revealed that Gorgug has kissed the Hangman, although Fabian has not. The van then takes them to The Swan's Little Parade.
Back at the Hotel Cavalier, Fig infiltrates the police. She doesn't hear anything about gem robberies, but she does overhear them talking about a number of unsolved cases at the hotel. After realizing they already took everything of value, Fig bluffs her way out of the situation by pretending to be a detective struggling with overworking herself who is also in a relationship with the police chief. She then skateboards to catch up to the van.
Adaine continues Identifying the gems, concluding that they are powerful spell components. Riz deduces that the tabaxi woman in the photo with his father is the same shadow person he saw in the corner of the basement at the Hotel Cavalier. The party arrives at The Swan's Little Parade.
The party decides they will continue to try and rescue Aelwyn. Fig says she feels unsafe around the group right now, and Tracker mentions there are things she can do to help protect the party. The maitre'd at the Swan's Little Parade tells them that the menu is a secret and costs 20 gold pieces. Adaine says they will get menus for everyone. Riz calls his mom to ask her about the Shadowcat. Riz begins to explain what happened to Sklonda, before Sandra Lynn takes the phone and recounts the story. She then hands the phone back to Riz, who asks his mom about the tabaxi person, and Sklonda tells him that her name was Kalina. She then tells Riz that Kalina could become completely invisible and was almost impossible to scry on. She says that the last time she saw her, Pok was reaching out about the ship that he and the elven oracle would eventually die on. Adaine looks for Kalina's name in the book she took from the hotel, but does not find it. Gorgug notices that Ragh is looking at the photo. Gorgug asks him if he can see who is in the photo and Ragh looks terrified. Adaine gives him Boggy. Tracker says that she's going to work on a way to keep them magically safe, and then maybe Ragh will talk about it. Adaine, Fig, and Kristen Prestidigitate various things to help cheer Ragh up. The party decide to sleep in close quarters that night before continuing on to Fallinel in the morning. At dinner, in recognition of all Gilear has done for the group (including volunteering to get them rooms for the night), Fig promotes Gilear to tour manager with a salary of 10 gold per day (which goes toward paying off the 300 gold debt for materials for the Revivify spell used on him), and Gorgug gets a text from Zelda that reads, "Did you leave without saying goodbye?".
Locations[]
Featured Characters[]
The Bad Kids[]
New[]
Returning[]
- Sandra Lynn Faeth
- Gilear Faeth
- The Hangman
- Tracker O'Shaughnessey
- Cathilda Ceíli
- Ragh Barkrock
- Boggy The Froggy
- Philosophers
Mentioned[]
- The Nightmare King
- Aelwyn Abernant
- Arthur Aguefort
- Pok Gukgak
- Kalvaxus
- Sklonda Gukgak
- Lola Embers
- Gorthalax the Insatiable
- Bill Seacaster
- Zelda Donovan