BIABE 000 - Picking Up The Drops

On a clear morning in Upper Cliffsunder, Ellenor Breatham's relationship with Doctor Cassee Dannel came to an end. Busy researching Abberations after the Murkmire Malevolence, Cassee had found her lover's presence a distraction, as she had been mostly just lounging around for weeks. Without anger, Elle accepted a nervous request to get out of Doctor Danell's Apartment; she had not even told Cassee her true name, though the breakup still did sting. As she packed her belongings, Elle was visited by the ghost of Dee, a Vistani and former mentor from the Whistledrop Crew. Her best friend's spirit had appeared as a Lingering Force bound to her old Fox mask, and she offered guidance and training. Ellenor’s nascent abilities as a soulknife Rogue were awakened, but even this could not save her relationship.

Elsewhere in the city, Punmiri Tel-Phaeun had been attempting to force her way into high society after failing to find satisfaction within the church of Ixhis or in her artisan work. When she heard of a grand party at the Helefir residence, she tried to gain entry to the Port-Lord's Manor, knowing that a single conversation with a noble might turn her life on its head. With her Wand of Magic Detection, she found the party's wards far beyond her ability to bypass, so instead, "Poons" relied on divine charm to pass the guards. Though she got in, her use of Spellcraft was quickly noticed, forcing her to create an illusory double and split. Her pursuers had to split to pursue both figures, allowing the trickery Cleric to invisibly run back to her home stall.

Along high cliffs beyond the city, Merc Firewater trained under Stratus, a Windborn Wild Magic Sorcerer who had recently become his mentor. To learn control, Mercy was told he needed to invoke his magic in a moment of real danger. The Devilborn threw himself from the cliff, channeled his energy to no avail, and died on impact with the water below. However, his wild magic had worked, and immediately restored him to life in an unexpected way. Stratus retrieved Merc from the sea, noting his strange magic seemed to produce an effective outcome even if it was not through the avenue they intended. With a promise to train again next week, Mercy returned to his fish stall at the Middlecliff Market battered, soaked, and barely standing.

Nessa Nina Quickpick Rumbauld Pennyluck had began her day hoping for peace, only to be confronted by Gorli Glumfall. Despite her efforts to set him straight, her grandson Merben Ordri Fizzlehide Pennyluck had not appeared for his evening shift at Glumfall's Luxury Tavern. She promised the innkeeper he would not miss another shift, but as he left, found a letter bearing the seal of the Glitterati: Merben was in serious trouble, and she had been summoned to appear in the Pixis Palace by midday.

Realizing the danger, Nessa sought out the only Whistledrop member she could still find. She located Ellenor in the fountain square, pulled her out of her post-dump stupor, and together they tracked down Merc at his stall. As city guards rushed past in pursuit of an unseen woman, Punmiri appeared invisibly in the stall. Reunited by chance, the four former Whistledrop Crew members caught up. None of their lives had gone well after the gang's dissolution, so they agreed to come together once more for a noble cause: to deal with whatever bullshit Merben had stepped his feet into.