September II Event Results

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september ii event results
EPISODE 10: Star-Studded Showdown at the Glamour Gala!
September 16 - September 30
TIMELINE
9/16-9/29 Go Fish, Magic Resonance Shield
9/19 Investigate: Stella's Jewelers
9/21 Investigate: Celestial Gala
9/22 Investigate: Pet Gala
9/29 Celestial Gala
9/30 Memory recovery

A couple of important notes at the top!
⭐︎ Since this isn't just any old event, but the arc finale with a big boss battle, I'm including a writeup of the broad strokes of how the main event (the Gala) goes down in the summary/aftermath section. As a result, the result writeups for each mission will be a little shorter than usual.

⭐︎ All characters recover a memory of their past lives after the Gala mission. This time, everyone recovers a memory either of a great achievement, or a great disappointment in their past life. You always have the option of having your characters recover joint memories too!

Go Fish Mabel Mutsumi Natalia Harley Hope	Magic Resonance Shield Mabel Mutsumi Natalia Harley Maya Dirk	Investigate: Stella's Jewelers Hope Maya
Investigate: Celestial Gala Reese Natalia Dirk	Investigate: Pet Gala Mabel Harley	Boss Lottery: Shellustria Mutsumi Reese Natalia Harley Hope Dirk Maya

kitty costume suggestions
Suggestions received:
Purrmaid
Pawmatist
Apothekitty

All excellent submissions, but the winner is purrmaid since it's the most on theme! There's a lot of hissing involved, but the combined crafting genius of the Nova Knights produces a beautiful glittery mermaid tail to slide over Niangniang's back feet. The luxurious seaweed wig and tiny pearl necklace really pull it all together, especially once you place her in a little bed of velvety blue blankets.

go fish
Mabel - 19
Mutsumi - 1
Natalia - 12
Harley - 1
Hope - 18
+1 SP to Mabel, Mutsumi, Natalia, Harley & Hope
Mabel and Hope have some pretty good tidal crab hauls! Natalia helps. Mutsumi and Harley both wind up with crab catching-related injuries despite this being an incredibly safe activity. In total, the Nova Knights bring home 13 Everwave tidal crabs.

magic resonance shield
Mabel - 13
Mutsumi - 4
Natalia - 17
Harley - 6
Maya - 11
Dirk - 10
+1 SP to Mabel, Mutsumi, Natalia, Harley, Maya & Dirk
Mutsumi and Harley are clearly having an off week, but great job everyone else! Nautis thinks this might be just enough to protect you all from the Harbingers' magic should something go really wrong. The shield is cast just before the Knights depart for the Gala, leaving them all with a faint pearlescent aura.

investigate: stella's jewelers
TEAM: Maya & Hope
Roll 1: Gain intel on the Harbingers' plot - FAIL
Roll 2: Be subtle about it - FAIL
Sure hope Maya and Hope had a good time investigating, because it was not a productive mission! They weren't able to collect much useful information before they were booted from the store for too much ogling and not enough buying. Even if they did buy anything, the customers and staff seemed to be able to sense that they weren't really here to buy, and once it was clear that they weren't just here to spend mad cash on fancy accessories, they were chased out of the store for being disloyal patrons. They did catch a glimpse of the eponymous Stella herself, and she seemed to be acting pretty strangely for the wealthy owner of a successful business...chalk that one up to Abyssal influence, I guess!
+2 SP to Maya & Hope

investigate: celestial gala
TEAM: Reese, Natalia & Dirk
Roll 1: Gain intel on Gala security and entry - SUCCEED
Roll 2: Be subtle about it - FAIL
Well, they're successful, but the Gala security staff will remember all three of them in whatever identities they appeared in. Sorry, Dirk, you're still invited, but if you appeared in your mundane identity for this mission, it did not go super well for you.

Security might remember them, but that doesn't mean they learned nothing! They gather some handy information about the very mundane security to pass on to York and Delta, who assure the Knights that they have plenty of material to work with. The most important takeaway is that security gets a lot tighter once the red carpet is over, so it'll be key to stop whatever Shellustria is planning before then — once the guests are inside for the benefit dinner, it might as well be on lockdown. What happens at the Chalra City Arts Council Couture Benefit stays at the Chalra City Arts Council Couture Benefit.
+2 SP to Reese, Natalia & Dirk

investigate: pet gala
TEAM: Mabel & Harley
Roll 1: Gain intel on Gala security for pets - SUCCEED
Roll 2: Make friends with celebrity pets - SUCCEED
We've got two regular models of mission success right here! Mabel and Harley learn a lot about the Pet Gala side of security, and since it's mostly focused on the pets, there's a little less security around the human beings since some of these celebrity pets have whole teams of handlers. They'd almost definitely have a better chance of getting in as handlers for a celebrity pet, such as Niangniang...wow...what an opportunity! Haven't you always wanted to go viral, Maomao? Nautis can make it happen. In fact, she already is.

Nautis is working on an invite for Niangniang thanks to their investigative work. And Mabel and Harley are reaping the benefits of their efforts because now they have Chau Wow's number. That's right, they have the personal cell phone number of the sunglasses model dog. Can you say puppy playdate??
+2 SP to Mabel & Harley

boss lottery: shellustria
As described in the event signups post, I used RNG to determine which characters would feature in which part of the final set piece.
Showdown: Natalia & Maya
Capture: Mutsumi, Dirk & Hope
Cleansing: Reese & Harley

cleanse: cursed jewelry
TEAM: Reese & Harley
Roll 1: Cleanse the Gala attendees of Abyssal influence - SUCCEED
Roll 2: Minimize injury and collateral damage - FAIL
Nautis was right — there was something to worry about with all of this cursed jewelry from Stella's congregating in one place! Once things start to go down, the various Gala attendees wearing bespoke Stella's jewelry — and anyone in the crowd wearing those deep discount pieces — begin to act a little...mob-like. They're not outright violent, but they are aggressive, and they are closing in on any Nova Knights they can find to keep them from getting into the Museum. Taming a bunch of possessed civilians shouldn't be that complicated, but the various costumes make it way more of a hazard than you might expect...

Either way, it's a good thing they have the Star Suite power Soul Flash, which helps cleanse ordinary people of Abyssal influence. There's just a lot of it to cleanse! And unfortunately, by the end of it, the red carpet set has been absolutely trashed. The remnants of costumes litter the ground, and a few art installations have been smashed up. Yikes.
+5 SP to Reese & Harley

showdown: shellustria
TEAM: Maya & Natalia
Roll 1: Claim victory over Shellustria - SUCCEED
Roll 2: Minimize injury and collateral damage - FAIL
Maya and Natalia have the final face-off against the Harbinger who's been scheming and preying on the innocent people of Earth for the Abyss — Prince Shellustria, a man who has beaten multiple Nova Knights into the ground, including Maya! It's the toughest fight they've encountered yet, and even with Dance of Light Maya and Natalia end up in rough shape, but there's no mistaking it: the Nova Knights finally have Prince Shellustria beaten, his magic exhausted and his will to fight smothered.

He's still alive, though, and Maya and Natalia have no strength left to stop him from fleeing...they'll have to rely on their teammates to capture him! The desperate nature of the fight led to some serious property damage to the museum lobby, but that's what people have insurance for, right?
+5 SP to Maya & Natalia

capture: shellustria
TEAM: Dirk, Hope & Mutsumi
Roll 1: Take Shellustria captive - FAIL
Roll 2: Minimize injury and collateral damage - SUCCEED
There has to be some sort of cosmic irony about Dirk, Hope & Mutsumi failing to capture Shellustria a couple of months after they failed to capture a Constellation that then fell into Shellustria's hands. But after chasing him into the Secret Dinner Room of the museum, despite their best efforts, however well-coordinated, Shellustria escapes their would-be clutches...only for Mistiluxia to appear from nowhere and scoop him up. She warps them both away shortly thereafter, but it's a certainty that whatever fate awaits Shellustria with the other Harbingers, it won't be a kind one.

At least this part of the museum doesn't end up as trashed as the lobby!
+5 SP to Dirk, Hope & Mutsumi

summary/aftermath
Between the 19th and the 21st, the Nova Knights investigated Stella's Jewelers and the celebrity human and celebrity pet aspects of the Gala, with varying levels of success. The most important part is that they were able to secure a way in to the Gala by having Niangniang pose as a celebrity pet with the Nova Knights as her entourage. The red carpet event is roped off from the observing public, and the only people allowed into the red carpet area are the attendees, their personal entourage, and select members of the press. There are a couple of options for how your character gets into the Gala:

⭐︎ As one of the handlers for Niangniang, celebrity influencer cat.
⭐︎ By way of a security blind spot engineered by York and Delta. There's a section of the roped-off area close to the museum entrance that is out of view of any security cameras.
⭐︎ Nautis has fabricated some press passes for those who want to pose as interviewers. Your credentials say you report for the Calpica Chronicle.
⭐︎ By legitimate invite. If you're that kind of person.

Remember, everyone has access to an alternate costume for this event: an over-the-top, maximalist-artsy outfit inspired by elements of their past lives which, conveniently, is more or less on theme for ocean conservation. Nova Knights can switch freely between alternate costumes while in supernova.

On the evening of the 29th, the Nova Knights will head to the Gala's red carpet. It's full of TV stars, screen actors, trending musicians and all kinds of famous personalities wearing just as broad a variety of costumes: suits made from reclaimed ocean trash, outfits comprised of objects stuck to a sheer bodysuit, dresses with staging that would put a mid-size theatre to shame...and at least one celebrity in a very fancy fish mascot costume. Polarizing pop scene darling Bailey Starling is in attendance in a dress designed by Shelley Lustre...and it sure is exactly what anyone familiar with his art might expect: a shimmery gown with a vast train, studded with little seashells like pearl lace. The tiara looks like an expensive Stella's original with seashells glued to it. Wow. Rich people really will buy anything, huh.

And let us not forget the celebrity pets! Tasseltail the cat litter mascot and Chau Wow the sunglasses model who is also a dog are in attendance, of course, but there's also Radical the skateboarding cockatoo and the famous detective horse Charlie Otto.

Here's a writeup of how things broadly go down at the Gala and how the missions fit in. For easy navigation purposes, I've put it under some handy collapsible text.

Part of the reason that Niangniang makes for a convenient cover is that it allows her and the Nova Knights to keep an eye out for Shellustria, whom they know is going to be here. The Knights spend some time on the red carpet gathering intel by whatever means makes the most sense for their cover, but they know that they need to confront Shellustria before the red carpet is over, because security gets a lot tighter after that.

The whole party eventually follows Shellustria into the museum lobby while the red carpet event is still going on...and it turns out to be a trap! The Harbingers knew that the valiant Nova Knights wouldn't be able to stand by if they suspected a risk of mass harm and were counting on them showing up to save the day. As the Nova Knights have defeated monster after guardian monster over the last few months, the Harbingers have been collecting data about their magic — and now they know just enough to use it against the Knights.

The museum lobby is decorated with a variety of ocean-themed art, including an elaborate aquarium installation along one wall. The ceiling is painted to look like the starry night sky, and the way the room is lit only enhances the effect. Once all Nova Knights are inside the lobby, Shellustria activates the magic array he'd prepared ahead of time, and everyone's transformation charms break. Weapons disappear, supernova-dependent gear ceases to work, and the effects of any ongoing magic powers vanish in an instant — the only thing that keeps everyone from de-transforming on the spot is the magic resonance shield, which keeps their magic intact just enough to keep everyone in supernova.

Things are looking bad for the Nova Knights, and Shellustria is doing about the amount of villainous gloating that everyone can expect from his personality. He is a little enraged that they've managed to hold onto some scrap of magic, but he's finally about to secure a major victory and send every thorn in his side directly to the Abyss. He'll claim rule over this planet at last...!

But either by the power of friendship, the conviction in their cause, or just a deep-seated desire never to see the inside of the Abyss (again), the Nova Knights shock Shellustria by managing to tap directly into the power of the Constellations. Everyone receives a temporary but massive power boost from the Dancer and the Three Sisters, manifesting new weapons and accessories (that perhaps have a special star-studded appearance) and granting them use of their powers once more. The Nova Knights spring free from Shellustria's trap, repowered and resolute, to take back the day.

It turns out that the threat the Nova Knights came here to stop was entirely real: once things start to go down, the various Gala attendees wearing bespoke Stella's jewelry — and anyone in the crowd wearing those deep discount pieces — begin to act a little...mob-like. They're not outright violent, but they are aggressive, and they are closing in on any Nova Knights they can find to keep them from getting into the Museum. Taming a bunch of possessed civilians shouldn't be that complicated, but the various costumes make it way more of a hazard than you might expect...

While Maya & Natalia face off against Shellustria in the final fight, the rest of the gang is there to protect Niangniang and safely dispel the Abyssal influence on Chalra City's innocent citizens. Once Shellustria's been defeated, Dirk, Hope & Mutsumi chase him deeper into the museum in the hopes of capturing him while Reese & Harley continue fending off the jewelry-possessed civilians. Mabel is on Niangniang guard duty.

Ultimately, Mistiluxia makes off with Shellustria before they can capture him, and they have a massive swath of property damage to show for it. The museum lobby and red carpet are absolutely trashed, and some art has been permanently damaged. But that's not really the Nova Knights' responsibility here! Besides, doesn't being damaged in a desperate battle between good and evil add a little something to the artistic value anyway?!

There's a lot of confusion among the civilians once the dust settles, and while no one (human or animal) was seriously harmed, the organizers of the event cancel the rest of the Gala. Sorry to any curious Knights who were hoping to get a peek of what happens behind those closed doors...maybe next year!

🌊🌊🌊

Once the fighting is done for the day and they've safely relocated either to the hideout or home, the temporary power granted to them by the Constellations dissipates, and everyone returns to their civilian identities. Unfortunately, everyone's transformation charms are still broken. It'll take Nautis a couple of days to replace them and the hideout will be temporarily inaccessible without their charms, but Nautis can stay in touch via text, and their communicators still work, so they'll hear from her if anything happens. She advises everyone to lay low and take the opportunity to rest and recover.

+# SP	NAMES
+9 SP	Natalia Harley
+8 SP	Hope Maya Dirk
+7 SP	Reese Mutsumi
+4 SP	Mabel

Please comment if you have any questions! The event log will have a top level for each limited mission, and if you're curious, here are the rolls for this event. All rolls are d20 unless noted otherwise, and the skill ratings of 1-4 are converted into modifiers of -1 to 2. Other modifiers such as the headcount for each mission, combat type, and eclipse are added to the total modifier.

Don't forget to take down your new SP! As of this post, event SP is immediately granted and you can go hit up the rewards page if you so choose.

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