A Dwarven Birthday

In the morning (16:39), after Soren leaves, Leona and Deirdre do some window-shopping and girl time. Maudit hangs out in the tavern, people-watching, and Kesra returns from the house of favors. They come back together around noon, and Kesra gets the bag of goblin ears from Deirdre's bag.

Kesra and Deirdre take the goblin ears(20:27) to turn in the ears to the city guard for the bounty. Kesra takes a few pamphlets for mercenary groups. From there, they head to the armorers. They were unable to fix her breastplate, but they've managed to put together a new, recycled one for her. Meg tells Kesra that she can't find a bard for her niece's birthday party, they can work out a deal for the breastplate. Kesra and Deirdre agree, and Kesra also asks about armor that would be suitable for Leona. Meg agrees to get Leona's measurements at the party. On the way back to the tavern, Kesra asks Deirdre about her plans after the wedding, and Deirdre says she doesn't really know, but she will probably just head to the next city. Kesra also looks at Deirdre's bag and gets a little freaked out by it.

Back at the tavern (40:45), Leona is talking very excitedly at Maudit about him telling her fortune. Kesra and Deirdre catch them up, and Kesra heads upstairs to take a nap. Leona goes looking for a copper wire and gets distracted by a shop that sells musical instruments. She trades a few things for a lute, and heads down the street, singing happily. Someone hears her singing her, and approaches - he introduces himself as Theo, and asks her to come and perform at the rehearsal dinner at the castle the following evening, to which she agrees, excitedly.

Leona returns to her friends (1:03:29) and tells them about the party. Deirdre wakes Kesra up, and Leona arranges for some pocket pretzels to take to the rehearsal dinner, in case there's no food. Leona also learns how to cast Message with the new copper wire. The 4 of them head to the birthday party.

They find the Stoneharrow household(1:18:37). Meg greets them as they get there. Leona gets them started singing and dancing to a dwarven party song, and they all sit down to eat. Leona continues to entertain the kids while they eat, telling them the tale of a dwarf who saves an island of people from a dragon. During the story(1:28:50), Kesra gets pelted with a a pie in the back of the head, and a huge food fight breaks out.

After the food fight dies down (2:09:28), Leona makes up a song for the kids, dancing around with her lute. Kesra "helps" by flinging little bits of food, and Deirdre joins in with her lyre. Maudit uses Minor Illusion to make shadows on the wall to enhance the story. The kids enjoy themselves, and Keg tells Kesra to just keep the armor. The group also tries their hand at the boulder toss. Deirdre crafts a flower crown for the birthday girl.

Leaving the party (2:25:13), they decide to go take baths to clean up, and get their clothes cleaned. They relax in a big communal hot tub, and Maudit realizes that he can breathe underwater. Kesra's hair turns back to a strawberry blonde, as hair dye washes out of it. Kesra says that, no matter how much she dyes it, it keeps growing back.

After the bath (2:53:53), Leona goes to talk to Theo's assistant, Shara, about the party. Shara gives her the details about the party, telling her that there will be about 100 people there, and gives her a voucher for her and her friends to get new clothes made, by the royal outfitters. She gives Leona half of her payment up front.

Meanwhile, back at the tavern (3:01:58), a drunk Kesra asks Deirdre about why she's so nice all the time, and Deirdre says that it makes her happy to see other people happy. Kesra insists that that doesn't make sense, since the world isn't nice. Deirdre says that, overall, the world has been pretty nice to her. Maudit goes to his room to read more of the Tiamat book that he bought.

Leona returns (3:10:44), telling her friends that they need to go get fitted for their outfits before they go to bed. Leona asks Maudit if he's ok, and he says that he is. He wants to know more about these cultists and what they want from him. Before they leave, Kesra tucks her hair into a beanie.

On their way to the shop(3:20:00), Leona sees Roman with another woman, seeming to have a great time. They arrive at the shop, and the workers there are quite grumpy about how last-minute this is, but they get their measurements. Deirdre stays behind for a moment afterwards, asking them to make Maudit's clothes match a horn chain that she has.

Heading back to the tavern (3:26:20), Deirdre spots Kyuu's distinctive double tail. She and the rest of the group investigate, coming into a small courtyard behind a house. A man steps out, who looks similar to Soren, but older. They introduce themselves to him, and he demands to know if Venvyre sent them. He tells them his name is Zanelor.