A Shady Night in Ru Paulo

Adventure Hooks

Ru Paulo is situated in a desert that is very difficult to traverse. This desert was once home to an ancient civilization that mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind old, broken, and often deadly enchantments. If you are playing Faerûn, Ru Paulo might be in the Anauroch desert where the Netheril Empire once ruled.

Any persons looking to traverse the desert, explore its ruins, or simply establish a base of operations for further campaigns would want Ru Paulo as an ally. As such, an influential NPC may ask the party to assist Ru Paulo in hopes of gaining their favor. If you are playing in Faerûn, Silverymoon might have interest in gaining favor with Ru Paulo - both for its geographical importance and also because their cultures are very much aligned.

Although there is money, reputation, and allies to be gained from helping Ru Paulo (both from the city itself and anyone who would employ the adventurers to help), some adventurers may just jump at the opportunity to go to the Fabulous City. See Chapter 1 for History (Intelligence) check results that may spark interest in visiting.

Chapter 1: Keep your hennies close...

After being called to meet with a trusted NPC or friend (if you are in Faerûn, a member of the Lords' Alliance perhaps), the party is politely ushered to a small waiting room.

This room very much appears to be a dressing room. It is painted light blue and pink with many vanities and mirrors scattered around. The place looks a mess with make-up, brushes, and other beauty products strewn about.

Describe a few minutes pass before they hear music coming from outside the door – it’s fast-paced with acapella accents. Whether or not they choose to investigate, the door will burst open before they can get to it. Read the following:

Should they accept, Katya can offer each party member 200g, two bottles of exceptional wine (Silvery-Moonshine if you're in Faerûn), and a pair of sequin heels whose purpose she won’t reveal except that they are “fab”.

A Persuasion (Charisma) DC 18 check can get Katya to reveal that the real reason she and her employer want to help is to gain Ru Paulo’s support so that they have a friend in the desert (e.g. Anauroch). Also, the heels make you walk silently 3/day and give advantage on Stealth checks (see Heels of Ru Paulo, Chapter 7) - and are unbelievably comfortable.

The horse and buggy is actually an enchanted chariot that had a modified Wind Walk spell cast on it. It is designed to fly its passengers to Ru Paulo (its gate) then immediately transform back into a a sequin covered pumpkin. It makes a raspberry sound when this happens.

Andre Charles will eventually calm down once he learns the party is here to help investigate the disappearances on behalf of their employer (maybe Silverymoon). He will reveal the following pieces of information (the order may vary depending on how the party asks questions):

• The current boat races are coming to an end, with only four performers left:
  • Carolina Thunderbuck
  • La Bai Kai
  • Raja
  • Wintermint
• The last competition was cancelled after Royale Latrice’s drag sail had a stabilizer fall off, causing her boat to crash into the judge’s barge. She was killed on impact.
• And all this season, other drag sail performers have all had “accidents” - ranging from wardrobe malfunctions to physical harm.
• After that, ticket prices for the final performance plummeted; and with no one wanting to attend, they’re essentially worthless (putting future races at risk).
• Andre Charles believes someone is causing this to happen - and (with a lowered voice) thinks it might be one of the remaining contestants.
• Has this ever happened before?
  • Never. Well, except for the one time a performer, Pasta Pipe, died when a stabilizer came loose. She died on impact (Andre will initially omit that her body was never found).
• When asked to talk to the contestants, Andre Charles tells them that it will have to wait until rehearsals are over. Until then:

A band at the end of the stage runway starts playing loud drum and string music and the remaining 3 performers come out, dancing up a storm.

• La Bai Kai is dressed up in an elaborate flower outfit, looking like a flower is blossoming out of her neck.
• Raja is dressed in high reaching, structured jewellery, almost making her look like her face and hands are in jewelled cages. She is almost certainly a Rakshasa, though it’s hard to tell against these stunning costumes.
• Wintermint is wearing a teal and white dress with a slit showing off an impossibly long leg - caused by her unbelievably high stiletto heels.
• Carolina Thunderbuck is missing.

Adam Aces will escort the party out and also give locations of the studios of the final performers. He’ll try not to give too much away about who they are (though he knows each of their performance strengths) because he thinks they’ll need to come to their own conclusions and doesn’t want to influence them.

From here, the party can continue exploring Ru Paulo (see Appendix for random encounters). In a few hours, they’ll be able to meet the performers. If they ask where Carolina Thunderbuck is, she missed rehearsal for today, calling in sick.

Chapter 4: Let your whole body talk

Below is a breakdown of each drag sail performer's encounter. The party can do the following in any order and may even choose to skip.

Chapter 4a: Lai Bai Kai

La Bai Kai (or La) is known for incredibly detailed dresses and makeup work. The reason she can produce so many dresses is because her studio is full of several Unseen Servants. These are invisible workers who are cutting cloth, dying cloth, sewing stitches, casting resin gems, and painting props.

However, La is nowhere to be found in her studio. Indeed, without La's supervision, some Servants are beginning to dispel. Bolts of cloth that are being slowly moved may just drop to the floor.

If the party investigates they find a letter, hastily crumpled up and thrown into the trash-bin.

Song,

I was told what you are doing in Ru Paulo. I’m catching the first caravan out and we will talk about this in person.

Eomeoni

Anyone with an Intelligence of 14 or higher knows eomeoni is the word for “mother” in most far eastern lands. An Investigation (Intelligence) DC 15 check reveals that none of La’s belongs were packed; her closet looks pristine as if she just got up and left.

DM’s Note: La’s mother harshly disapproved of her lifestyle. She kept this a secret for over ten years. The only people who know about La’s relationship with her mother are Bianca del Paulo, Carolina Thunderbuck, and the deceased Pasta Pipe.

Should the party loot La’s studio, they will find:

• 10gp worth of high quality makeup
• Two finished dressing, each worth 50 gp. One is made of vibrant green and blue feathers, with legs and arms poof’d into gorgeous plumes. The other is pink short dress that, when worn, looks like it is made of stiff folded paper.
  • These dresses are well known as she has worn them before. Trying to sell them in Ru Paulo will result in the party being viewed very negatively.

Chapter 4b: Raja

Raja lives with several other half-Rakshasa (see below). She and her ambush will be caught while they smoke tobacco and sip on mulled wine. The studio is covered in lavish pillows and smells of incense.

Half-Rakshasa is a template applied to humanoids. It grants the following:

Limited Magic Immunity: 1/day a half-rakshasa can, as a reaction, make themself immune to a 2nd level spell or lower.

Claw: Unarmed attacks can be treated as a claw, dealing 1d4 slashing damage.

Raja speaks with a purr to her voice.

She knows the following - and will happily reveal it if the party approaches her in a friendly way or if they succeed an appropriate Persuasion (Charisma) check based on their behaviour.

• Everyone knows La Bai Kai used Unseen Servants - part of her appeal was that she was able to Command so many at once.
  • She doesn’t know anything about La’s “eomeoni”.
• Carolina has been sick a lot this season and really is not a fan favourite anymore.
  • Shame, because she and her lover - Pasta Pipe - killed it last season.

Lesser Kolyarut

Medium, Lawful Neutral

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• Armor Class AC 16 (Half Plate, +1 Dexterity)
• Hit Points 65
• Speed 35 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
16 (+3)	12 (+1)	14 (+2)	8 (-1)	8 (-1)	12 (+1)

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• Saving Throws Str +3, Dex +3, Con +4, Int -1, Wis -1, Cha +1
• Damage Vulnerabilities Thunder
• Damage Resistances Piercing, Bludgeoning, Slashing
• Condition Immunities Sleep, Charm
• Languages Common, Celestial

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Actions

Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to heat, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) slashing damage.

Fast Healing. Every round, the Lesser Kolyarut regenerates 2 HP unless it suffered magical damage that round.

The Lesser Kolyarut is a humanoid, dressed in golden half-plate armour fused to its metallic body. Its revealed “skin” is dark grey steel. It wears a heavy red cape and carries a long sword on its hip. Damage it sustains is slowly healed by its metallic flesh becoming semi-liquid and reforming.

“Raja, you are accused of breach of contract,” it says in a mechanical voice, after bursting through a wall.. “The penalty: death.”

Treasure

A paper contract, signed by Raja and Bianca del Paulo outlining that cheaters will be killed. A longsword that never needs sharpening; its hilt has a small gear etched into it (non-magical).

DM’s Note: The only people who knew Raja cheated (2 years ago by bribing judges, and she still lost) are Carolina Thunderbuck and the deceased Pasta Pipe.

Chapter 4c: Wintermint

Wintermint’s studio is actually an amphitheatre. She’s not only an amazing dancer in her heels, she’s also an incredibly talented singer.

The party will find her during one of her rehearsals: she’s singing about music itself and how it makes the bourgeois and the rebels come together; and when it starts, she never wants it to stop; it’s gonna drive her crazy.

If the party waits for her to finish, she’ll breathlessly talk to them in her dressing room. The room itself has several paintings of other performers, all with a red slash through them. These are the women she has “assassinated” throughout the years (by which she means, she beat in the competition).

Wintermint, due to her attitude, comes off as someone who would do anything to win - even if it wasn’t totally on the level.

She knows the following (1st three points are the same as Raja):

• Everyone knows La Bai Kai used Unseen Servants - part of her appeal was that she was able to Command so many at once.
  • She doesn’t know anything about La’s “eomeoni”.
• Carolina has been sick a lot this season and really is not a fan favourite anymore.
  • Shame, because she and her lover - Pasta Pipe - killed it last season.
• Pasta Pipe was a horror performer, usually summoning illusions of ghosts to really spook the judges. She died at the end of last season during an accident - her boat crashed at the Death Drop.
• Raja is known for using a lot of jewellery and props in her performance - and would do anything to win.

Wintermint is an awful liar. If she tells a lie, her entire face goes red. Generally, that’s enough to make her fail a Deception (Charisma) check, but allow players to roll an Insight (Wisdom) check should they feel the need to validate their instincts.

Should the party try to infiltrate her dressing room, they will find the bottom drawer of her vanity has a false bottom (Investigation (Intelligence) DC 15).

She has a set of old, rusted daggers and a vial of poison that has separated into a clear and milky layer. The daggers have a symbol of an assassin's guild on the hilt (perhaps one already in your setting) and/or a mask/symbol to tie to her to that type of organization(s) (such as the telltale black half-mask of the Night Masks in Faerûn).

Chapter 4d: Carolina Thunderbuck

Carolina will hesitate to let players in to talk, saying she’s too sick to entertain. A Persuasion (Charisma) DC 17 can convince her otherwise; however, if the party talks to the other performers first, she’ll reluctantly talk to them (no check required). She’s not wearing her make-up and looks like a humbled boy, wrapped in a blanket.

She knows the following:

• La’s mother hated the idea of these competitions; and La was terrified of her. The mere mention of her mother could cause her to run and never look back. The other performers purposefully didn’t bring it up because they had too much respect for her as a competitor.
• Raja, although she cheated, isn’t a murderer. She just doesn’t have the stomach for her. She would faint at the first sight of blood.
• Wintermint, the Stiletto Assassin, might be a trained assassin (she honestly doesn’t know) but she hasn’t never even seen her touch a boat. She would be surprised if she was capable of causing Latrice’s accident.
  • Also, she’s a terrible liar. When she lies, her whole face goes red. Maybe that’s why she stopped being an assassin?
• Pasta Pipe was her former lover, killed last season when her boat crashed at the Death Drop (a particularly precarious turn on the course). They were madly in love and when they first started to the date, got some of the best attendance ever recorded.
  • The Death Drop can be found because a series of rock outcroppings mark it; it’s dangerous there because there are several lightning quicksand pits and traveling too slowly can cause your entire vessel to crash.
    • Nature (Wisdom) DC 13 or Arcana (Intelligence) DC 13 reveals lightning quicksand is a magical anomaly that causes victims to fall incredibly fast (but is otherwise just sand).
• Persuasion (Charisma) DC 17 (or 12 if they have talked to the other performers and thus can talk about how serious this is getting): The only person who knows Raja cheated and La’s mother would be Pasta.
  • They never recovered her body. It fell through the lightning sands.

If the party wishes to go to the Death Drop, they’ll need one performer to bring them out on their boat.

Chapter 5: Death Drop: Let's get Sickening

Any performer can bring the party out to the Death Drop (the name of their boat is the Pink Flamingo), and if there’s enough evidence, they won’t need much convincing (everyone is invested in solving this mystery).

On the boat leading to the Death Drop (as soon as it’s on the horizon), the party is attacked by a deathly specter (use Ghost MM 147; reduce this ghost’s HP by 30).

The specter starts by trying to possess the party member second closest to the railing. If possession is successful, they’ll try to throw them out of the boat (opposing Athletic (Strength) checks). A member thrown out of the boat is simply left behind (this far from the Death Drop). Most boats move at 120 ft per round but can be stopped after 3 rounds, traveling at half of last round’s speed each round until it stops; if the boat stops immediately, it will be 210 feet away from a stranded passenger.

The specter’s horrifying visage is that of a woman with deathly pale skin, white hair, piercing eyes beneath long lashes, and blood constantly streaming from her mouth.

Chapter 6: Dungeoneering is Fundamental

At the Death Drop, the party will notice the rock outcroppings appear to be more like spires. A History (Intelligence) DC 15 notices that they are actually temple spires of long lost civilization (perhaps the Netheril Empire) known for their magic. In order to get close enough to examine, they'll need a quick Survival (Wisdom) DC 12 check to locate patches of lightning quicksand so they don't accidentally go through.

Legends around the lost empire (Netheril Empire) say that their floating cities crashed into the desert eons ago. A Perception (Wisdom) DC 12 or Investigation (Intelligence) DC 12 reveal that these spires go down deeper under the sand.

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If the players go under the sand using a lightning quicksand spot, they’ll find themselves dropping for 15 feet before the sand clears and they drop another 20 feet into an open, underground area. It is lit by torchlight and they can see several undead servants (mostly zombies) working to reinforce the “cave” ceiling with buckets of clay. They do not fight back.

In front of them is what appears to be a temple. A Religion (Intelligence) DC 12 reveals that the iconography is not one of the major or even intermediate deities; a DC 15 results in knowing that it is of Myrkul, the god of death (who died centuries ago, replaced by the current death god, perhaps Kelemvor).

In front of you is a temple made of sandstone. The main doorway is guarded by pillars showing carved skulls decorated with elaborate chin ornaments. Their angry eyes have burning torches that illuminate the cave. The dead slowly make their way around you, shuffling to areas of the cave (climbing steps and wood scaffolding) so that they can continuously patch the ceiling with clay.

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Those attuned to magic feel a pulsing, unholy energy from within.

Room 1: The Shade of it All

The first room of the temple is mostly empty - save for a large, roaring fire in the center. Around the brazier are metal stands, each ending in a two-dimensional depiction of a creature. Investigating the stands reveals they can be twisted to raise or lower the cretaure at the end. The stands depict the following:

• A dire lion roaring
• A bulbous spider with mandibles posed to strike
• A woman drawing the arrow of her bow
• A man brandishing two scimitars above his head
• A dragon with wings spread out as if to take off
• A mindflayer with head-tentacles spread apart
• A large snake looking posed to strike
• A zombie, with many see-through holes in its body

Read the following:

The room is silent save for the fire burning in the center of the room. Surrounding it are 8 stands, composed of a single pole and a two-dimensional depiction of a creature. Investigating the stands reveals the poles can be twisted to raise and lower the puppets. Amidst the shadows being cast on the brazier, you make out the following words inscribed on it:

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On the east wall, the Favoured Ones;

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Upon our bellies, our war is won.

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On the west wall, the Cursed Ones;

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The punishment is the Demonweb’s shun.

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There is a doorway to the north, blocked by a solid stone slab.

Room 2: Shade. I Call Shade.

In the next room, there is a single treasure chest, boxed in by 4 pillars in each corner. The chest is locked (Thieves’ Tools (Dexterity) DC 13 to open).

Inside the chest are two pots of Oil of Magic Weapon, a Ring of Protection, a scroll of Animate Dead, 4 obsidian crystals (15gp each), a polished jasper (40gp), a cut garnet (100gp), and a fuzzy pink box.

Inside the fuzzy pink box is painting of a man and a woman, dressed in fanciful clothes. It has been lovingly placed over a man’s black and white suit that has been mostly eaten by worms.

The opening of the chest sets off an alarm: a cold breeze causes all lights to flicker and the sense of being watched can be felt. At this point, Pasta Pipe will now know that the temple has been invaded and begin summoning minions.

Placing a hand (or looking with a direct source of light such as a light spell on a small object) into the skull relief’s mouth will reveal a lever that can be pulled to open a secret door at the back of the room.

The secret door reveals a hallway where Pasta Pipe is finalizing her plans to kill all of the contestants. If Pasta was notified of the party’s presence, she has already finished summoning 2 Shadows (MM 269). If the party catches her surprised, she summons them after one round (unless she dies first). This does not replace her Throw Shade ability (see below).

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Pasta Pipe

Use the Mummy (MM 228). Increase the HP to 84. Add the following ability.

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Actions

Throw Shade. As a reaction, once Pasta has reached 42 HP or less, summon 1d4 Shades (use Shadow MM 269). On a 4, Pasta dies and black smoke leaks from her broken mouth.

Chapter 7: Epilogue (Sashay Away)

Pasta Pipe has old parchment in this secret room. In it, she outlines each performer and the secrets that will end them. Wintermint’s secret was that she never actually passed her assassin’s guild test - she never actually killed her target. Carolina, oddly enough, has no secret and her name is surrounded by hearts.

On Pasta’s body, there is a gem that glows with very faint energy. After dying and falling beneath the lightning quicksands, the gem granted her undeath. It is, however, an evil item.

Gem of Vengeance Beyond

This pale, green gem is a religious item used primarily in unholy Myrkul sacrifices.

Once per month, on a new moon, the gem finds the closest corpse and raises it, emphasizing the hate and spite the person had in life. Depending on the person’s life and cause of death, their risen form can change (such as a mummy, revenant, zombie, etc.). A creature risen this way gains the ability to summon 1d4 Shadows (MM 269) once per long rest.

This item’s effect can be repressed with a Dispel Magic, affecting it for 1d4 days. If the gem is destroyed using mundane means, it reforms on the next new moon (wherever the largest piece is). A Religion (Intelligence) check DC 25 reveals it loses all power if an undead creature willingly places the gem in its heart - permanently destroying both the undead and gem.

When they return to Ru Paulo, Bianca del Paulo will be ecstatic. The documents (and gem) are proof enough that the accidents will stop. The surviving performers will also be very much relieved that they can go on performing.

The only person who seems less than thrilled will be Carolina - she will take a somber but accepting mood. Bianca understands that they’ll need to go back to their employer (perhaps having to travel all the way to Silverymoon) - to report that they can count on Ru Paulo as both an ally and a friend.

Unfortunately, Bianca doesn’t have access to those “fine ass chariots” that Katya had originally used to get the party here - so they’ll have to make it back on foot. But they’re free to stay in the city if they so choose.

Further, Bianca would love to offer the party a very special gift: her heels.

Heels of Ru Paulo

Uncommon, Requires attunement

Despite being 3-inch stiletto heels, these black and gold sequin shoes not only look fabulous but are incredibly comfortable - easily worn all day. In addition, 3/day the wearer can put “the bass in their walk” and click them together, granting advantage on Stealth (Dexterity) checks for 1 minute.

These are the same shoes that Katya had promised as a reward (albeit the ones she offered are red and kind of basic).

Chapter 8: Extending the Adventure

Should the players want to continue with this campaign, there are a few ways to keep the adventures going:

• Carolina may ask the players to destroy the Gem of Vengenace Beyond to give her closure. This would require them to seek out knowledge of the old civilization that originally created it.
• Bianca del Paulo, having seen just how capable the party is, may ask them to explore some old ruins outside of the city. There are many, many other places that pulse with power - power that needs to be controlled, contained or perhaps destroyed.
• The party will need to travel back - but with the Gem of Vengeance Beyond in their possession, trouble will surely follow (especially from folk who wish to study and perhaps unlock the gem's true power).

Pit Crew Facts

Most of the miners actually switch, but they thought it'd be funnier this way.