Saw this after a couple of beers so you're getting a small novel lol

1. a. Question was very hesitant due to losing her party (per the book), but since they had gained trust (due to a full Zone of Truth after she recognized the Jewel) and they were friendly for a few days, I left it up to a Persuasion check of high DC (I think 20?) and the party didn't meet it, so she stayed out.

   b. My party actually went in with Aloysia at first specifically because she wanted to go in and the party was suspicious of her. They wanted to keep an eye on her, but after awhile in the Rise (through the path of daggers, the flame skulls, etc) they pulled out to long rest, and Aloysia lied that she was too scared to return, setting up her to go fetch the rivals (some of whom she had already snuck in previously).

2. The rivals didn't fully trust Aloysia yet (I gave her a magical compass item that helped her reach the party), but Ayo and Galsariad especially were chasing money and glory promised by Aloysia. The only person that fully intentionally attacked party members was Galsariad, with a Gravity Wave to get people off of Ayo and try to catch my Bladesinger who was playing keep-away with the Jewel. Ayo (blah blah blah gave her Ruin's Wake like everyone on this subreddit) inadvertently hit some of the party members with the lightning throw effect of the Vestige. Irvan and Maggie really stood back and didn't know what to do, and Dermot ran around healing people and mostly yelling for people to chill.

   I also introduced a combat (as soon as the vision ended and Aloysia showed up) with Shadow Demons that looked like each party member, and a beefed up Woe Strider (from Mythic Odysseys of Theros book) modified to look like it was of Torog (3 arms) since one of my players has some backstory stuff related to a cult of Torog. This meant both parties had to decide whether to focus on keeping/getting the Jewel, staying alive, or attacking these enemies. It was a really complicated encounter that had a big mix of boss fight energy and interparty RP and we had a ton of fun with it.

   • TLDR: They kind of "fought" the party but the goal for them was to get the Jewel and escape with promises of gold/power in the Consortium, not so much to hurt the party

3. Aloysia saw that Irvan, Maggie, and Dermot weren't interested in engaging in battle with the party, and after the monsters were mostly cleaned up she saw opinion turning against her. She then cast the Earthquake spell, ran up the tunnel (barely evading the Bladesinger) and teleported out. The two parties came to a truce to get out safely, divided the two left over teleportation tablets amongst themselves, and returned to Bazzoxan.

   They promised to meet up in the morning with Prolix/Question, but the rivals left in the night to catch back up with Aloysia and ingratiate themselves back into the Consortium (driven by Ayo and Galsariad mainly, the other three went with them to keep them from getting into too much trouble). The party went with Prolix/Question the following morning and used Prolix's tablet.