Short Synopsis
The Adarbrent Trading Company assembles a motley crew of mercenary-adventurers to expand trading routes to the Border Kingdoms. These adventurers have been sent to secure a trading contract with wizard Elaztara of Rymdyl. She is willing to sign a contract if the party escorts her to Blackalblade.
On their journey north to Blackalblade, the party is set upon by a party of drow. The party efficiently takes down the drow. Khazad interrogates the spirit of one of the dead drow to discover that these drow have been paid to assassinate Elaztara.
Upon reaching Blackalblade, the party assists Elaztara with being outfitted in fine clothing. In particular, they go to a former gladiatorial arena-turned-fashion catwalk, to seek fancy boots from famous designer Christian Louis. After helping extract C.L. from a group of threatening fashion designers, C.L. agrees to provide boots for Elaztara.
Later that night, when the fashion show, a handful of the models turn into abominations and begin attacking the crowd. The party leaps into action and deftly defends the audience. Upon striking down the largest of these abominations, the monstrosities return to their normal human forms.
Elaztara and C.L. both agree to sign trade treaties for the Adarbrent Trading Company. Warlan receives a wand from a flamboyant gnome fashion designer.
Long Synopsis
The Adarbrent Trading Company hires fashion consultants Gae-ell, Gullwyn, Kepesk, Khazad, Naeric and Warlan to help open markets in the Border Kingdom. In particular, they have been asked to secure a trading contract with the wizard Elaztara of Rymdyl. Her influence has temporarily waned, but she has the opportunity to “be somebody”. As she is being stalked by something more dangerous than paparazzi, she asks these consultants to escort her to Blackalblade so she can attend a fashion show.
Along the way to the show, the party is ambushed by drow in dark Goth-inspired threads, including their whip-wielding leader. The consultants give them a quick dressing down involving multiple arrows, fireballs, lightning bolts and animated stones. The drow leader escapes, despite Gae-ell’s and Warlan’s pursuit. Khazad talks to the spirit of one of the deceased drow and learns that the drow have been hired to assassinate Elaztara.
When Elaztara’s entourage reaches Blackalblade, they help Elaztara prepare for a fashion show. They meet with Viv who will outfit Elaztara. Viv indicates that Elaztara should go seek the famous designer Christian Louis to get some trendy boots. The party heads to a former gladiatorial arena-turned-fashion exhibit where they find Christian Louis being extorted by a pair of women and their guards. Warlan plunges into the conversation and suggests that C.L. should consider signing a contract with the Adarbrent Trading Company. Kepesk and Khazad make their way into the room and help Warlan usher C.L. out of the room. Grateful, C.L. agrees to provide shoes for Elaztara. Meanwhile, a flamboyant forest gnome designer Kendrick Glittersem explains that the haute couture extortionists are part of a group known as the Moonlight Enterprise, and this enterprise has been shaking down many of the fashion designers in town.
Later that night, the group escorts Elaztara to a fashion show and accompanied by C.L. and Viv. When the model Luna Posey appears, the light seems to shrink from her. Luna and a few of her companion models are suddenly changed into plus-size abominations that begin to attack the audience. Warlan leaps down, with no ulterior motive, to rescue the glamorous models and beautiful heiresses on the far side of the room. Kepesk makes a casting call for lightning strikes with so much exuberance that his spikes pop out of his clothes. Naeric takes a beauty shot with her arrows. Gae-ell mingles in the cattle call, but rises above them all to throw some glam and bam at the abominations. Gullwyn goes into the adjoining booth with the Moonlight Enterprise and tries to dispel the magic enchanting the models, but it does not work. He is perturbed that they seemed to be enjoying the slaughter. Khazad summons a dragon stylist to work on one of the abominations and goes to trim down another abomination. Gullwyn suspects the Moonlight Enterprise is involved with this en vogue show, and tries to drop a fireball. His magic is countered by one of the Moonlight Enterprise and the extortionist group escapes. When the party brings down the largest of the abominations, she turns back to human. Her fellow models also return to their original forms.
After the battle, our gallant knights of high fashion manage to resuscitate the injured and wounded extras on the scene. Glittersem the gnome puts his wand into Warlan’s hands as a gift. Both Elaztara and C.L. sign contracts with the Adarbrent Trading Company.
