Lie To Me

Fate's Chosen begins to prepare for dinner. Alexander tells the group that he need to get to his duties, and says his goodbyes. They soon find some alcohol in a large study, and Xandren arrives, pulling Aureo into a side conversation.

Deirdre finds some interesting books, including some history on the Wolfewood family - she learns that their last name used to just be Wolfe, but it changed after a quashed rebellion led to a massacre of many family members. The Grand Mistress is the last remaining Wolfewood.

Xandren and Aureo chat for a while, with Xandren standing very close and finding a lot of excuses to touch Aureo. Eventually they rejoin the others, and Xandren welcomes them all to Wolfecrest.

At dinner, they meet a terrifying-looking, but thoroughly friendly Tiefling named Xytharia Quellcrest, who is a High Priestess of the Raven Queen. She tells them that she is from Solaris, in I'olynne. Marshall asks her about her service to the Raven Queen, and she tells him about the events of Death's Chosen, who saved her from Orcus.

When Xytharia mentions the Divine Gate, Deirdre asks her about it, and she describes the Dawn War and the establishing of the Primal Ban. She asks Deirdre about who she follows, and when Deirdre tells her about the recent appeal of Sarenrae. Xytharia tells her that Aimee Stormwilde is one of her dearest friends, and was a member of Death's Chosen, along with her brother, Malamir, who has a magic shop in the city now.

When Maudit mentions being able to read fortunes a little bit, Xytharia asks him about a friend of hers, whom she hasn't seen in a very long time. Maudit says that the cards indicate misfortune, and she says that that's completely typical of Andy, who has a pseudodragon, rides a broom, and is a warlock for an Archfey patron, whom she calls "The Mistress", whom Deirdre recognizes as not a member of the Seelie court.

Marshall asks her about what happened to Orcus in the end. She tells him that his avatar was destroyed, and most of the cult was wiped out by Death's Chosen. Maudit asks her about why she's in Wolfecrest, and she says that she's very close to the Grand Mistress.

Xytharia asks Marshall how he came to Senmarria from I'olynne, and he says that he came over on an airship with Captain Amelia Burke. Multiple courses are served, with a delicious pineapple dessert. The Grand Mistress eventually breaks from a conversation with Warden Vysera, and welcomes them all to Wolfecrest, asking them to tell her more about themselves.

Leona tells her that she's from Ilverness, and they've all been on adventures together. She asks the Grand Mistress about The Assembly and Asmodeus, telling her that he heard that Roman is part of The Assembly. They ask where Roman is now, and Aureo and Marshall tell them about having fought with him. The Grand Mistress tells them that Roman is a member of the Silence, which means, if he's associated with The Assembly, he's a double agent, because The Assembly is diametrically opposed to everyone. Their goal is to bring Asmodeus back to the Prime Material plane, through dark magic.

Kesra asks about the Black Watch, and the Warden tells her they are a group of elite devils, who work for the Assembly. They are commanded by the leader of The Assembly himself, Apollyon, the King of Torment.

Xytharia asks Kesra about herself, and the mercenary groups she's been a part of. Kesra mostly demur, and the group tells Xytharia that this is typical, and they don't even know where she's from. Xytharia reveals that she knows where Kesra is from, and visited her there when Kesra was a little girl. She tells them it's a little town called Reizen. She tells her that it's her duty as a High Priestess of The Raven Queen to protect Fate-Touched, and lays a hand on Kesra's shoulder, who gets a vision of her father again, this time recognizing him as Zanelor Sylvarian.

Xytharia talks to Maudit about tieflings - she says she and her brother are the only abyssal tieflings. Marshall asks her if she knows of Helm, whom she recognizes as The Watcher. He tells her that he thinks he brought Helm to Senmarria from where he's from originally, before I'ollyne.

The Grand Mistress tells them that they've been tracking the movements of devils across Senmarria, and they are aware of several of them having been abducted. She tells them she believes they are all very important, and encourages them to stick together and have each other's backs.

After dinner, Leona asks them whether it would be good to let the Silence know about Roman being a double agent. The Grand Mistress tells her a bit about the history of the Silence, and that they were sworn to protect the Divine Gate, but encourages her to use her best judgement.

The group leaves the Keep, and, on their way back to the inn, passing a group of older people playing chicken-shit bingo. Leona takes a moment to end a message to Maud, telling her that Roman is not to trusted, and is working for the Assembly. Maud asks where he is, but Leona only tells her that she's safe. Maud says "Very well, Shea Hallowell".

As they continue on, Maudit gets grabbed by his friend Finn, and he introduces her around. She tells him that he was in prison, but made a deal to get out. Maudit invites her to come back to the tavern with them, and she agrees. At the tavern, Finn asks Maudit what he's been up to lately, and, as he starts to tell her, Xandren arrives, clearly drunk. Aureo quickly takes him outside.

Maudit and Finn catch up, and she offers to do some gambling with her. She says if she wins, he should do her a favor, and if he wins, he'll do one for her. She wins, and tells him that her sister, Charlie, has disappeared. She told her about a human wizard named Damon who she'd been hanging out with, and has been gone for two weeks. Maudit agrees to look into it. She tells him about some old friends of theirs, including one named Parker, who works for a blacksmith in town.

Marshall follows Aureo outside, where Xandren tells him that he loves him, and the crown family is shit. Aureo tells him that he can't be with him any more, and Xandren tries to grab him, but Aureo pushes him away.

Deirdre take Kesra upstairs for a moment, telling her about Roman having modified Leona's memory. She says that Leona seems like she's in Kesra's care, and so Kesra should know. They talk about what Kesra learned at dinner, and Kesra says that her whole life has pretty much been a lie. Deirdre asks her to come with her to the Sarenrae temple in the morning, and she agrees.

Maudit tells Leona about his friend's sister, and she recognizes the name Damon as Roman's middle name. She agrees to help him look into it. After their discussion, Leona begins to play a song on her lute and fly around the tavern, performing for everyone. Marshall grabs Kesra and buys her a triple whiskey, telling her that she's doing a bloody good job, and that nobody gets to define her, but her.

Leona finds Aureo and offers to send Analena a message for him. He tells her to say that he loves and misses her, and she does so. She asks him about the memories that Marshall restored. He tells her about remembering being out with his father, and watching devils take his mother.

Marshall sees the intimate conversation between Aureo and Leona and follow him upstairs, telling him to go get her. He tells him that his feelings for her aren't important right now, and that the time isn't right. They argue about it, with Marshall identifying with Aureo's choices.

When Kesra and Leona are getting ready for bed, Kesra tell her that Deirdre told her about Roman. She says that she knows what it's like to be magically manipulated in a relationship, and tells her emphatically that, at no point, ever, was any of it her fault.