Dusk, Part Two

Carly Strait

McKenzie Wilkes

The eyes of many old friends turn to the vigil in the castle. A waltz is exchanged for the truth. Another one is marked.

## Summary

Dylan, Griana, Zil, and Kai attend the funeral of the deceased members of The Red Dagger Division, who had been previously murdered by Gnickleback while on a mission to the Fundergnome.

Several members of the The Shroud Assembly also attend the funeral, and so they travel together from the Greenhouse, in two carriages. Kai travels in one with Aelizia Aedan, Tam, and Mavis Maymont. During this ride, she reveals the information she learned from Mercaeum that when a body is taken over by a Despara member that the heart turns black. She refuses to share who gave her this information even after being pressed, which Aelizia interprets as a sign of split allegiance.

Upon arriving to the funeral, Aelizia and Tam go their own way, while the rest enter as a group. As per Caerleon funerary tradition, the eight soldiers whose bodies were recovered are held in transparent caskets, while the four that remain missing are represented by opaque purple caskets. Dylan was shocked to find that four of the twelve caskets are empty (those of Charlotte "Chuck" Constie, Vi, Mitsue and Artep). Mavis attempts to enter but has a panic attack and quickly leaves, followed by Zil Nire. They encounter Tam, who also leaves early. Tam, Mavis and Zil depart together, and we learn that Tam has heard all about Zil through stories they've heard from Amanda and Mavis learns that Amanda is related to Zil, that Zil's favorite snack is popcorn with hot sauce, and that Zil has another relation named James that they are hesitant to speak about. Per Tam's encouragement, Mavis and Zil spend the majority of the night receiving magical tattoos as new/soon-to-be members of the Shroud Assembly.

Back at the funeral, Dylan becomes determined to find the missing bodies, and attempted to gather more information about the circumstances and location of their death, but those she spoke to at the funeral were not willing to provide any information. Dylan was also the subject of much discussion and gossip at the funeral, likely surrounding the mysterious circumstance of her being the only surviving member of the division as a result of her being suddenly discharged from the division without explanation, right before the fateful mission where the members met their demise.

Despite the gossip, Dylan took an active role in the Caerleon funeral rites, including lighting the torch for Captain Malik Joanan and then taking one of the vigil seats for Charlotte "Chuck" Constie. While seated, she received a letter from an "LT" (Specialist Linwood Tonaut, also formerly of The Red Dagger division), expressing empathy and a measure of comradery as they are the one surviving former members of the division.

Griana and Kai are invited by one of the Royal Ladies in Waiting to an audience with the Queen, Her Royal Majesty Iva Zoleri III, who is sitting in the Juliet balcony overlooking the funeral. We learn that the Queen is the same age as Kai (28), is stunningly beautiful, and is deeply grieving the loss of the murdered soldiers. She is deeply respected by her Queen's Guard, who immediately obey all her orders and stand completely still throughout the 12-hour vigil. She offers to fulfill any reasonable request from Team Langdale as a reward for completing their most recent mission, retrieving the phylactery of royal blood from The Hag, with which Archmage Lavinia may be able to lift the Royal Curse. They may have until the post-gauntlet celebration (the masquerade) to decide what to request. After leaving the audience, Griana and Kai spot an intimate moment taking place between Aelizia Aedan and Raf in the hallway.

After returning to the funeral, Griana and Kai are separated. Kai is whisked away by Lyco Sidae and given a side mission. She must to the hospital where Gjina of Team Septice is being treated after a vicious attack by the Despara-possessed Xjomari during his attemped arrest earlier in the night. Marjiani is waiting there to make sure Gjina is okay and to speak to the authorities about what happened; however, Kai is tasked with calming her and convincing her not to talk to the police, preferably bringing her back to the Greenhouse so the details of the event aren't leaked to civilians / non-Shroud members. She accepts the task and heads out to the hospital.

Griana returns to the main floor of the funeral and takes a seat, bumping into an unnamed Water Genasi, who disappears after slipping her a note from Phibi Valpip which alerts her that there are Despara members everywhere and that there is a Planesbreaker in the castle.

Mavis and Zil, meanwhile, return to the Greenhouse and have an intimate discussion while Mavis practices her new-found truth spell on Zil in exchange for a waltzing lesson. Zil asks Mavis to attend the masquerade with them, and Mavis stalls her answer when they are interrupted by Lucas. Lucas informs the two of the attemped arrest of Xjomari and his ensuing violence and escape. He tasks them with bringing Xjomari back to the Greenhouse by any means possible, alive or dead. They are directed to the intersection of Concord and Glenora in one of the lesser districts of Burnfort, where they find Xjomari standing over the nearly-dead body of Roshan, his hands crackling with dark magic, and they prepare to battle him.

Towards the wee hours of the vigil, Dylan momentarily dozes off, during which she has a dream-like encounter with Rebecca "Becca" Oltswin where it is revealed that Becca is developing some new powers, has some ability to see the future, and is communicating with Dylan as a loophole through which she can indirectly help her friends. The conversation is cut short when Becca touches Dylan and inadvertently imbues her with some kind of power. Dylan awakes suddenly with a sore neck, the result of the sudden appearance of a golden arrow tattoo on the back of her neck which matches the tattoos on the other protagonists which mark them as members of the Trueguard.

Griana speaks to Dylan about the note from Phibi and, against Dylan's pleading advice, goes alone to follow up on the lead from Phibi and to find and secure the Castle Planesbreaker.