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The Rule of Sneakery
What happens
- 00:00:11 Aabria's greeting names the six archfey. Recap (recap): the Rue and Frog-BINX meeting with the Court of Seafoam, the Lords of the Wing's private salon with Prince Apollo, the ball with fireworks, and "our spymaster birdmaster connecting the final dots between Gwyndolin and BINX" — 00:01:06, 00:02:18. She opens chapter eight.
- 00:02:18 Final rumor phase. Aabria says it is the last one and the Bloom has "hit the peak"; she lists the rumors still on the board (Squak courting Prince Apollo, Grabalba "a bit of a floozy", the Court of Wonder taking too much credit, "The Green Hunter" adapted into a movie, Apollo calling off the engagement with Grabalba for Rue's sake, Andhera at the Bloom for Grabalba and Unseelie–Goblin ties) — 00:02:39, 00:03:07–00:03:35. Omar adds that the Lords of the Wing being fun might make this not the last Bloom; Brennan accelerates it with a rumor that the Court of Wonder is greedy for magic, and adds a Goblin–Seelie rumor about the Goblin assault being averted diplomatically and Hob possibly leaving early; Emily starts a rumor that feelers went to two film actors, spread through Flock of Familiars; Lou, that Andhera has found his match in BINX, started by casting Suggestion on someone sent "into a luncheon" to scream it 00:10:39; Oscar, that the Lords of the Wing have found matches, with Squak courting Wannessa; Surena, that Apollo wants to recruit Lord Airavis into the Court of Wonder; Emily, that Wuvvy was seen in Apollo's private parlor. Nobody burns a token — 00:04:15–00:14:32.
- 00:15:16 Epistolary phase. Viscountess Grabalba writes to Andhera that she and Fable have shared a romantic evening; Andhera replies with congratulations and "preemptive marriage gifts" (old newspapers); Squak writes an audition letter to two actors; Chirp writes to Jeremy Renner's agent; Andhera writes to "Airry Pearry"; Squak receives mail from Pillar Boy; Brennan writes BINX "We owe Buddy a visit"; BINX writes Chirp, asking to talk at her radiator — 00:15:16–00:26:02.
- 00:26:07 Chirp goes to BINX's radiator, a collection of mortal-realm things; BINX tells her she works with Gwyndolin, who is "a real person", that portals are closing and she found a loophole; Chirp says she believes the Unseelie Court is closing the portals and that she is stringing Suntar along to learn how; BINX warns of being trapped in the mortal plane, then Chirp is given a beetle brooch — 00:26:07–00:40:19.
- 00:40:24 Letters continue: Blemish and Boil write to Hob that the Goblin Court is joining the Seelie Court by his union with Lady Sylmenar. Hob will report to them. Rue's letter to Hob was handed to Wuvvy and never delivered 00:43:25–00:43:33; Oscar speaks the letter as Rue, and Aabria frames it: "camera-wise, Wuvvy is reading this letter." 00:44:06; Hob's P stands for "Pnackolas" in Hob's own line 00:47:04; Aabria: "It was ripped up." 00:48:01. Rue also sends the Chorus a note and Wuvvy brings back "At your earliest convenience at the top of the tower." 00:49:52; Rue speaks to Wuvvy about duty and love, and Wuvvy leaves by tapping the vase of black and white peonies 00:54:46. Chirp writes to Suntar and Squak to Apollo (a "Mad Libs" letter 00:55:54); Chirp's Wisdom save brings a vision from Suntar that Aabria reads as "a flex to prove value" 00:59:33. BINX receives marriage inquiries from the middle peerage of four courts, who ask about her desire to marry and "begin to bolster your court" 01:02:12 — 00:40:24–01:03:11.
- 01:03:13 Rue meets the three members of the Chorus at the top of the tower. They offer a mask and a place among them; the Chorus propose Wuvvy as replacement master of ceremony 01:10:31; Rue says they will give up the post whatever happens to the Bloom and reveals the wager's prize 01:10:39, 01:11:06; Aabria feels "indignation" and the Chorus ask whether the title is "yours to give" 01:11:28, 01:11:49; Rue speaks of the purpose of the Bloom 01:12:12; after the outburst a golden magnifying glass is generated in Rue's pocket; Rue, overwhelmed, goes to find BINX — 01:03:13–01:17:09.
- 01:17:25 The Lords of the Wing wait for Suntar. Chirp's Deception 19 and Squak's 29 with advantage draw out Suntar: the Unseelie Court has been stockpiling objects to close "the tears in the veil"; she asks them to answer by the end of the week and sit with them "in our box" at a play 01:24:45; Chirp and Squak agree to keep this from Grandfather — 01:17:25–01:26:31.
- 01:26:31 Hob reports to Blemish and Boil (Deception 20); he says he and Andhera "have become sparring partners" and proposes helping the prince rise over his sister to prevent a Unseelie–Wonder alliance, and Blemish/Boil answer "The Court of Craft." 01:30:24, 01:31:15; the assassin or saboteur lead stays with him 01:29:06; he asks to refuse future medals of valor or courage under the rule of sneakery (his phrase, 01:34:16). He tells his horse he has fallen in love — 01:26:31–01:35:19.
- 01:35:25 At the tailor's shop BINX has built a three-dimensional map; Hob and BINX talk about love, Rue, Andhera and Hob's orders; BINX proposes framing Suntar for Apollo's murder; learning Hob is ordered to marry a lady of the Seelie Court, BINX says "I am a new court" and asks what if he married into it, "not me, Rue" 01:45:22; Hob tells BINX to go to Andhera. Rue goes to the radiator, finds it empty and heads for Andhera's quarters — 01:35:25–01:47:39.
- 01:47:39 Andhera summons the Queen of Air and Darkness at a sea cave; he demands to be included; she makes him take 28 psychic damage on a failed Wisdom save, weeps "tears of black ichor" 01:54:58 and leaves — 01:47:39–01:56:18.
- 01:56:19 The Lords of the Wing chant for Grandfather and have brunch; Grandfather doubts the betrothal story ("I still do if you weren't lying to me." 01:59:52), sends them out of the nest and keeps it, staying "until it is confirmed" 02:02:45; asked "who?" he names the Sea Wall 02:06:48; they meet Andhera and a clumsy exchange follows; Andhera, who overheard their Message talk about his balconies 02:09:39, invites them to stay; Rue joins, and Squak rolls Insight against Andhera and Rue's Deception (natural 20; Aabria says only "Yes!" 02:13:46) and keeps probing until Rue lets slip that Hob, BINX, Andhera and Rue meet at a tailor's shop; Andhera blurts the plan to overthrow the courts, which per Aabria "just got lost in the mix" 02:14:41; BINX walks up — 01:56:19–02:16:12.
- 02:16:13 Hob, now Major, sets out for the Seelie Court to meet Lady Sylmenar; Prince Apollo steps into his path and begins to draw a sword; Aabria ends the chapter — 02:16:13–02:18:04.
- 02:18:04 Next-time preview (see Table talk).
Frames
Key quotes
- “this, my friends, is going to be our final rumor phase.” — Aabria 0:02:18
- “Did you hear what the Vicar screamed at the top of his lungs?” — Brennan 0:10:51
- “Yours in casting, Airry Pearry.” — Squak 0:20:01
- “my plan is to maybe just speak with her and see if she'll be forthcoming with me.” — BINX 0:34:33
- “Your time flitting around the Bloom is at an end.” — Blemish and Boil 0:41:02
- “An interesting wager to be sure.” — Chorus 1:11:49
- “My mother invented darkness.” — Suntar 1:21:46
- “I must invoke the rule of sneakery.” — Major Hob 1:34:16
- “Who are you to order me around?” — The Queen of Air and Darkness 1:51:47
- “They're not staying.” — Grandfather 2:05:15
Who and what appears
Player characters
NPCs
- Advisor
- Baroness Alven
- Boil and Blemish
- Buddy (Fey Realms)
- Caw
- Fable
- Fey of the Seafoam, Stone, Deepwater and Seelie courts
- Gobble
- Goblin King
- Grandfather
- Lady Sylmenar
- Mrs. Haversham
- Prince Apollo
- Princess Suntar
- Queen of Air and Darkness
- Salt goblins
- Sorwen
- The Chorus
- Theodore (Fey Realms)
- Ustain Bolt
- Viscountess Grabalba
- Wannessa
- Wrackingspelt
- Wuvvy
Locations
- Abandoned tailor's
- Andhera's apartments
- BINX's radiator
- Court of Wonder
- Goblin Pagoda
- Hanavan
- Sea Foam Court
- Sea cave library
- Sea cave mouth
- Sun-dappled meadow of the Seelie Court
- The nest
- Top of the tower
- Unseelie Court
Items and artifacts
- 3D map with figurines and red ribbons
- Beetle brooch
- Cup and ball
- Goblin letter
- Golden magnifying glass
- Hob's medals
- Letter with Locate Object
- Molten gold cloak
- Rolling suitcase
- Rue's undelivered letter to Hob
- Tokens
Factions and organizations
- Court of Craft
- Courts of Stone and Deepwater
- Goblin Court
- Lords of the Wing
- Proposed Unseelie–Wonder alliance
- Seelie Court (Fey Realms)
- Trickster Court
Roll log
| Time | Character (player) | Roll | Result | DC / AC | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00:29:59 | Chirp (Emily) | Insight | "That's a 4." corrected to "7 total" (die not given) | vs BINX's Persuasion; Surena's figure is garbled ("14 plus, you know, 24") | Aabria: "You feel overly comforted that she's alive." |
| 00:39:20 | Chirp (Emily) | History | 25 | — | recognizes the brooch |
| 00:48:57 | Rue (Oscar) | Insight | 12 | — | notices Wuvvy's nail bend the letter |
| 00:57:41 | Chirp (Emily) | Wisdom save | natural 20 | — | rides through the vision |
| 01:05:03 | Rue (Oscar) | Insight | 17 | — | the room is formal, without malice |
| 01:08:07 | Rue (Oscar) | Insight | 21 | — | sees the three coordinate |
| 01:20:07 | Chirp (Emily) | Deception | 19 | — | Suntar: "you are incredibly clever" |
| 01:22:33 | Squak (Lou) | Deception or Persuasion (skill not named), with advantage ("That's one." "That's two.") | 29 | — | Suntar softens |
| 01:27:56 | Hob (Brennan) | Deception | "Dirty 20" (total 20) | — | Blemish/Boil accept |
| 01:32:59 | Hob (Brennan) | Insight | 11 | — | reads Blemish and Boil |
| 01:36:32 | BINX (Surena) | Dexterity | 15 | — | Aabria: "you get the hang of it in probably like 10 minutes."; Surena: "it's just perfect" |
| 01:48:31 | Andhera (Omar) | Arcana | 17 | — | feels his mother's magic |
| 01:54:26 | Andhera (Omar) | Wisdom save | 7 | — | 28 psychic damage |
| 01:57:36 | Squak (Lou) | Perception (Chirp helps) | 18 | — | warned of Grandfather |
| 02:12:08 | Rue (Oscar) | Insight | 9 | vs Chirp's Deception 18 and Squak's Deception 28 | beaten |
| 02:13:44 | Squak (Lou) | Insight | natural 20 | vs Andhera and Rue's Deception | Aabria: "Yes!"; result not narrated |
| 02:13:48 | Rue (Oscar) | Deception | natural 1 | — | per Oscar |
| 02:13:52 | Andhera (Omar) | Deception | 14 | — |
Natural 20s: Chirp 1 (Wisdom save), Squak 1 (Insight) · Natural 1s: Rue 1 (Deception, per Oscar). Hob's "Dirty 20" is a total.