Dance Off!

Professor Trellan revealed to Laytanna that he was a member of the Copper Daggers, and she revealed to him that she was a member of the Skaa resistance. The Resistance had been watching Everett Dalton for many years and were hopeful that any friends still left in the house might continue to work toward Skaa freedom.

The party was a fun time. Kyrie pushed Xan into a dance contest when challenged by the party’s host, Wes Albion. Together they beat, not only Wes, but also, Leonid and Branna Albion. Sergei demanded Anreah dance, and then made a scene when she refused.

Leo got Branna drunk and put her to bed, then talked to her little sister, Wicha, who seemed to have a sharp mind and political savvy.

Trellan found his counterpart in house Polunin, Qwynira, far less disagreeable than their initial meeting. A casual comment peaked his curiosity, but he didn’t dare breach protocol to ask about her history in the breeding program. She apologized for Baron’s temper.

Wes talked to Xan and offered to supply them with weapons against House Polunin.

Several people warned Xan against getting involved with Kyrie.

Night Raid

Trying to remember everything that happened….

You checked around and discovered an extensive complex of tunnels and secret passages in the depths of House Dalton. Also, your father left behind extensive, coded notes that you are struggling to decipher. Vill revealed his nature and part of his history to Xan. Rylynn, Vill’s daughter who works for a nearby house as a dance instructor, arrived to tell her father about rumors that House Dalton’s former Skaa were being mistreated by their new owners. Qwynira, a female Terran serving as House Polunin’s seneschal, visited to discuss the advancement of the royal courtship. After a brief discussion, a paired date was arranged. Baron and Relania would attend a dinner party at House Albion, local weapon’s makers. To ensure propriety, Kyrie and Xan would accompany them.

That night, alerted by Vill’s warning, Xan lead the Copper Daggers in a mist-covered raid. The abusive overseers were no match for the Daggers’ powers. After freeing the skaa from abuse, the Daggers left the abusers cowed with threats of further retribution.

What Lies Beneath the Surface

The crew sat amidst the tattered remains of their once elegant affair, catching their cousin Leonid up to speed on what had gone down in his absence.  Anreah was greatly relieved at Leo’s arrival and allowed him to escort her to her room.

Laytanna became Trellan’s personal secretary working in his library on most days in alarmingly close proximity.

Leonid checked in at local parties and found the rumor was that Polunin wanted to get their hands on the actual house of House Dalton – for the secrets it supposedly contained. Hurrying to inform Anny, he instead, found Baron snooping outside her window. The two exchanged some posturing before Baron challenged Leo to a race. Leo agreed, but mostly to get the letch away from his cousin’s window. Baron was proving the better racer, until Leo pulled out a desperate move yanking out the  support under Baron to send him crashing to the ground. Leo flashed the angry noble a wry smile as he glided by overhead.

Zandour and Vill found Kyrie snooping about the menagerie looking for evidence the party had been a fake. Luckily the pair had been in the process of fixing the books and had counter evidence ready at hand to send the woman away frustrated, though also seeming strangely pleased. As she was being escorted from the premises, Kyrie intimated that she would get to the bottom of all the mysteries hidden in House Dalton.

Zan and Vill gathered the team and headed to the lower levels. There, they found an ancient, skaa caretaker who complained that his charges were growing out of control. He took the team lower and showed them a large cave filled with strange, mad beasts with ill-fitting skin. The records marked them as Koloss. Vill spotted a familiar cage and took a moment to confess his origins to Zandour. A fight broke out, and in subduing the mad koloss, the caretaker was killed.

A Toast to the New Lord!

Zandour Dalton found his sister in the menagerie as expected. This meant something was bothering her. Whenever Anreah - or Anny - was feeling down she spent time with her favorite pets, Leeber and Tyber, though Zandour had no idea why. To everyone but her, the beasts were all claws and teeth. Anny was probably soothing them, but then they should be docile to everyone, not just her. They hissed at his approach, but she kept them in control, bopping the hisser on nose and patting at his claws when he complained.

Something was indeed bothering her. House Polunin had tapped them for the "honor" of throwing their Announcement Ball, forcing them to celebrate their own defeat. With Father dead, the house was in financial freefall. They had no liquid resources for such an affair, at least not one that wouldn't beggar them or embarrass the house, which she was certain was the true goal of the event - rub their noses in their defeat. She gave him a valuable heirloom from the house's treasury and instructed him to take care of the food.

Zandour gathered his two loyalest retainers. Vilkus, Vill, had been his father's longtime Skaa body man, and was now his. Zandour was still getting used to the hulking man's constant presence at his side. Professor Trellan's wisdom could likely come in handy as well. They put their heads together and came up with an idea. They would offer up the house's renowned menagerie for the gala's feast. Not for real, of course. Anny would never stand for that. They would serve fowl instead.

Several hurdles were overcome. They had to convince Samden Urvon to take the figure off their hands. He had been ordered by the Polunnin's not to offer them anything. They threatened to implicate the man if they weren't satisfied. They took a loss, but got the cash.

On the docks they were attacked by an organized group of Skaa thugs, who bloodied Zandour and punctured Trellan. They then had to convince the Skaa overseer to release the goods. Again, they had been instructed not to by the Pollunins. A quick reminder of the friend to the Skaa House Dalton had always been opened the stores.

At the party, Trellan rescued a Skaa maid named Laytanna from the abuses of young master Trafford Polunin who was upbraiding her mercilessly for no other cause than his own amusement.

Zandour asked the beautiful, Kyrie Dalton to dance. She obliged, inquiring while on the floor if his house has any fight left in it. Zandour assured her they were duly cowed and willing to serve. Seeming disappointed, Kyrie ended the dance early and returned to her family's table.

After the meal was served and the crowd was basking in the family's exotic largess, Vill spotted a man standing as staff whom he did not recognize. He tried to keep the man in sight, but all at once he seemed to vanish. Vill alerted Zandour and Trellan. They searched the crowd, spotting him just as the assailant launched his attack. He was coinshot, and he had Anny in his sights! The trio managed to engage the man and protect Anny, but just as the fight was joined, Baron Polunin crushed the man's skull with mistborn fist.

Guards rushed in and tensions were high. Sergei Polunin stood to announce how saddened he was by the marring of this grand affair, especially since he had an announcement to make. In order to mend the damaged way between their houses his son Baron would marry Anreah. Baron leapt to the woman's side taking her in a possessive embrace his lips seeking hers. Anreah stilled him with her power, and he responded with and angry shove. Guards tensed again, but Sergei beckoned and the Polunins left in en masse.

A tense beat passed as Anreah regained her feat and summoned what she could of her dignity, before Leonid Paltuni arrived with a flourish. He looked around at the overturned carts and stunned partiers. "Did I miss something?"