How do I sneak my PCs into the ball?

[dglass]

The players need a key to continue on the quest. It is held in the dungeon of a nobles country manor. There is going to be a large house party tomarrow (game time). What I wanted to have happen was the characters get inside and have a social game session instead of the usual non-stop combat. The ball is by invitation only and there are armed guards around the estate. This is due to the fact that the noble family is evil. They invited all their evil friends and people they want to corrupt. In the dungeon there is all kinds of BoVD stuff going on. There is also a time constraint. Another (evil) group trying to steal the key and they certainly will if the PCs don't steal it first.

The two player characters are 7th level and Chaotic Neutral. One is a lizard-person Monk. The other is a cat-person Monk/Cleric. Both races are almost unheard of in this human-dominated part of the world. I have a whole host of NPCs who can assist them but I prefer for the players to think of the plans. I don't mind giving suggestions to them if they are stuck. And I have a feeling they will be stuck.

So far, the plan I think I will suggest to them is for the party Enchanter to cast an illusion on them and then bluff their way past the doorman. If all else fails I have a powerful patron NPC who can get them in.

Can anyone think of a better plan?

 

[ThoughtBubble]

All I have to say is, "Thank you honored guests, for attending. Tonight, we have a special treat for you. From the far corners of the world, we have brought you a specticle."

That's right. They're the entertainment. Who wouldn't want to see a lizard man throw daggers at a cat man, who deflects them?
After putting on a show, maybe they could saddle up to someone with odd tastes.

 

[Hand of Evil]

First the players need to do some recon, gather information, where is the food coming from, who are some of the guest, what surrounds the estate, who produced the invitation, who controls the list? There are a number of questions they can look into.

Servants, the rich, powerful, and evil never know some of their busy little evil henchmen.

Replacement, the players replace two others going to the party, maybe even saying they were sent by Dr. Evil as he has to flay someone.

Hide in the shadows, okay they go and just try and stay out of sight, moving room to room checking the place out.

Crash, they enter the back way and just bluff their way at the party, saying they are with this person or that.

Forge invitation, hire a good one to faults the documents.

Entertainment is good but I would be concerned about what evil people find enterainment. Tonight we rip the tongues from these two and eat their kidneys! Mmmmmmm, could be a interesting plot twist.

 

[Kyramus]

pokeballs? lol

 

[Tala Taproot]

Masquerade

What if it's a costume ball? (they would have to get - forge, steal, otherwise come upon - invitations) If everyone is in disguise noone will immediately know who the PCs are or, more likely, aren't.

Evil Party-Goer: My, what a striking costume, such lovely whiskers. And you, your scales look positively revolting.

Lizard Person PC: Revolting!? Why I oughtta...

Cat Person PC: We really have to be going now. Good chatting with you. Oh, look over there, a vegetable tray. <grabs lizard PC> C'mon!

 

[Psychotic Jim]

There is always beating up the caterers and taking their place. Though for any disguise routines you might need them to get ahold of some Hats of Disguise or Alter Self magical items of some sort, maybe with a limited duration to pump up the drama of the mission with an urgent time limit.

Are any known evil people going to be there? If so, how are the relations between the pary and the local authorities? Maybe they could get a "warrant" to search the place and interrogate everybody like modern cops or something.

How about somebody disrupts the party and starts attacking the guests? Whether an enforcer of good or just a rival of one of the partygoers, there is major trouble that needs dealing with in the most subtle of ways, and the nobles need to bring a party of adventurers to deal with the problem as quickly and as quietly as possible, the adventurers being the PCs of course. There could also be other problems that need dealing with also, like some escaped experiments in the basement running loose and being a major embarrasment. The PCs could be pest control.

 

[dglass]

Thanks for all the input. I think I will make it a costume ball after all.

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Ok, this plan would take a character with some pretty swank social traits. Find an attendee to the party who seems like they wouldn't mind being seen in public with the characters, say as a status symbol or something. Then have him best by hired thugs on the way there- the characters "conveniently" come by and rescue him. Also conveniently, they're dressed for a party since they were at another one but had to leave. If the noble buys this line so far, it should be easy to get an invitation to accompany him as protection and color. Of course, it's best to make the nobleman think this was his idea.

 

[Zack2216]

I'm sure this might have been mentioned already, but here's my take.

Option 1: they are monks, and you said that they could get some help from npcs. Espionage. Get the casters (or maybe a rogue with a good makeup kit and high skill points in bluff) to change their appearance. They sneek in, join the party until they can get what they are after.

Option 2: You mentioned BoVD, so I thought the party was going to be one of those black leather whip parties, and that they could sell themselves as, well, "entertainment"? But now that I think about it, I doubt that will be part of your setting.

Good luck

 

[Speaks With Stone]

In Shanghai Knights they got invitations to the party from a pick pocket and then disguised themselves as out of town noble types.

Simple and fun. Besides how often does pick pocket turn out as a useful plot driver.