The Life of the Party

In Zanelor's courtyard(14:51), he bids the group good night. Leona tells him they've met Soren, and asks how he is, but Zanelor says he doesn't know. Kesra insistently pulls them out of the alley.

The group return to the tavern(23:10), and Kesra tries to get Maudit to hook up with the bartender. Out of the corner of her eye, though, she sees the old man that stabbed her in the chest, whom she intentionally avoids. Maudit learns that the tavern has fight nights once a week, with people betting on who can stay standing the longest.

Roman enters the tavern(38:12) - he approaches Leona and asks for a word with her, and they step outside. She tells him that she saw him with another woman, and he tells her the woman's name is Santi and her older brother asked him to walk her home. She tells him that she is going to be performing at a party the following evening, and he takes her back to the warehouse(45:05). Maud is there, and Roman tells her about Leona's attendance at the party. Maud gives Leona a list of things to do:

1. There's a rumor that First Lord Theo and the Mistress of the Hunt, Adelaide Wolfewood used to be very good friends, but not any more. Maud wants to know if the two have repaired or renewed their friendship in any way.
2. She wants to know if Vysera, the Warden of Easthaven is allied with the First Lord
3. There will likely be a young woman named Lady Eisen with Adelaide Wolfewood. Maud wants Leona to make friends with her and get to know her - Maud wants to know what she's like.
4. She wants Leona to talk to Zora de Clare and verify or disprove a rumor that she is marrying the First Lord for political gain, not for love, while the First Lord is very much in love.
5. She wants Leona to keep an ear out at the party for the name Andromeda Skyseeker, or her brother Andokir.
6. Lastly, she wants Leona to keep an eye out for anyone wearing a certain religious pendant - circular, with a bird in the center, wings extended behind it. She asks Leona to try to get the name or learn the face of anyone wearing it.

In exchange for Leona's willingness to look into these things, she tells Leona that the Divine Covenant are responsible for the disappearance of many people around Senmarria. She says that Lord Kentigurn was a member of the Divine Covenant, but that he left right around the time that Leona was born, and never gave a reason why. She believes that this was connected with his sudden death. Maud doesn't have any information about Leona's parents yet. Leona tells Maud that Soren mentioned the Divine Covenant, and that he's looking for his sisters. Maud tells her that the Silence has seen their bodies; they are dead, and Soren is in denial. Leona tells Maud about Maudit's abduction by the Cult of the Dragon Queen. Maud gives her a sending stone, with which Leona can contact her. Maud also asks her about Deirdre, and Leona tells her about Amaryllis.

Roman escorts her back to the tavern(1:11:11). On the way, they get to talking about Lord Kentigurn, and how Leona misses talking to him. She says that the last story she remembers sharing with him was about the Empress, that she had some information that changed her, but that she still loved her children. With that, they arrive back at the tavern, and say good night.

The following day(1:19:08), they head to pick up their clothes. When Deirdre tries on her dress, it doesn't hurt, despite her burns. Her attendant says "Ainsley, Varonestra sends her regards". (break skip - 1:32:37) Her face shifts, and it is, in fact, Varonestra. She asks about Eachthighern, suggesting that maybe she should report about him to Oberron and Tatiana. The rest of them get their dresses, and they head off to the party.

They arrive at the castle(1:51:09). Leona immediately looks around for people who look important and sees a number of people(1:55:06):

* Roman Kentigurn, with a slender young woman with bright golden eyes
* A massive gold dragonborn, High Seeker Zarakas Kalondriak, with two other female dragonborn (one young red-scaled, the other gold-scaled)
* A set of 3 dwarves - Chief Drakehide of Icemeet, his son Godric, and his wife, Harfig Embermane, a member of a famous group of adventurers called Death's Chosen
* A tall, elegant half-elven woman (the Warden Visera) wearing a dark blue dress, and a dagger with a brilliant white handle, with her son (Xandren)
* A human woman with incredibly dark skin, with a pendant around her neck, standing with her wife, Justice Ever Hassan, a cleric
* Another priestess, wearing dark blues, with a headpiece
* A couple - A woman wearing extremely nice armor, with a very angular face and blue eyes so bright, they look almost white, with a golden helm, and white-silver hair that comes down to her chest. She is standing with a man with similar bone structure, white-silver hair with expensive robes and a dark cloak. Both have slightly pointed ears. They are Ninyrra and Niall, Lord Kentigurn's cousins, who, last Leona knew, were considered missing.
* The 7 De Clare brothers

Maudit also looks around(2:05:18) and sees

* A young man with bright red hair, scraggly beard wearing black robes ebroidered red, following an older gentleman with a staff
* A tall, rugged half-orc, lots of tattoos

Kesra looks around(2:09:55), looking for alcohol as well as any guards. She sees both city guard and crownsguard, as well as general Rodolpho Macierre, the cousin to the empress. Kesra and Leona both notice Alexandra Kentigurn, looking drunk.

Leona heads to Alexandra (2:14:37), passing by Ever Hassan and her wife, whose pendant looks like what Maud described. Leona tries to speak to Alexandra, but is rebuffed, and Kesra leads her away. As Kesra goes to find alcohol, Leona shares with Maudit and Deirdre the rumor that Maude gave her about Zora de Clare not marrying the first Lord for love.

Deirdre heads(2:25:42) to talk to the older man with the staff, hoping to learn more about magic. Leona recognizes his robe as being from the Crystalline Academy. Deirdre tells him about the phylactery they found, and asks if there are other ways of achieving immortality besides lichdom. He refers to the young man with him as Renna and tells Deirdre that a powerful fey might be able to do what she's asking about. Maudit asks him about gaining control of sorcery powers. The man explains the difference between sorcerers and wizards, and says that the academy also teaches sorcerers.

Kesra finds a halfing bartender(2:41:10) named Greg, who gets her an extremely expensive champagne.

Leona recalls what she knows(2:43:39) about Warden Visera - she was a member of an adventuring group called The Seven, and approaches her. The talk about the first Lord's upcoming wedding, and how Visera is glad that she could be there for him. She says that not as many people approach her these days, and she's glad Leona did.

Kesra approaches the half-orc(2:51:49). She introduces herself as Captain Amelia Burke, a friend of Lord Theo. She captained an airship for The Seven, and is the only one to have ever crossed the Great Pass. Kesra tells her to call her Jane. The captain offers to arm-wrestle her for her real name, and they find an empty guard station. It's a hard-fought wrestling match, but Kesra wins, impressing the captain. Leona and Maudit rejoin Kesra as they finish and also meet the captain.

Leona asks around(3:07:12) about Warden Visera and about Zora de Clare, but doesn't learn much before she gets called to the stage. She gives a wonderful performance, and the crowd is quite taken with her. Deirdre and Maudit join a number of couples dancing to one of the slower ballads Leona sings.

Leona rejoins her friends(3:26:13), deciding that she wants a drink like what Kesra had. They go find Greg and get drinks, and a nervous young man introduces himself to Leona. He says she can call him Rey. They speak of Ilverness, and how Leona's never been away from it. They share a dance and a lovely chat.

While Leona talks to Rey(3:36:05), Deirdre goes and finds Roman. He is talking to Santi, but keeping an eye on Leona and Rey, and seems jealous. Leona says goodbye to Rey, and begins looking around the party.

At this point(3:43:11), Adelaide Wolfewood offers a toast, and motions for an enormous boar to be brought out, which she says that she hunted herself. Rey joins Leona and her friends for the dinner. Leona notices there are 3 empty invitation-only seats very near Lord Theo. Rey tells them that he might be heading east toward Feybreach, to look for a friend of his named Lena. After a lovely chat, Rey says his goodbyes and leaves. Leona and Deirdre go to find more people to talk to, noticing that two of the empty seats are for "A. Macierre" and "A. Macierre" - the empress' children, according to Leona. On their way out, Kesra gives Maudit some advice to be wary of what might be behind Deirdre's pretty exterior. Meanwhile, Deirdre tells Leona about seeing Varonestra, and says that she thinks this might not be a good time to get into a real relationship with Maudit.

On their way back to the tavern(4:24:02), the party are attacked by a group of thugs. Rey shows up to help, killing one of the thugs who was attacking Leona. The party finishes them off pretty quickly, with one thug running away. Investigating, Maudit finds a coin with a thieve's guild badge from Wolfcrest. Rey walks back with them to their tavern. Before they go to bed, Deirdre asks the party, if they ever hear the name "Ainsley" or "Varonestra" to please let her know. As Deirdre goes to change out of her dress, it clings to her skin, tearing her flesh off of her. As Leona rushes to help her, she collapses, unconscious...