As the arrival of the GrayDwarf Monarch draws nearer, weaponmasters s of all houses (and their respective personal guards) are gathered to provide the "official" force of the city.
After some initial bickering and personal rivalries order is created by the arrival of some threats from the priestesses from the GrandTemple .
Meanwhile, most of the Houses of the city line up to watch the arrival of the visitors.
The CouncilOfEight meet up and puts up a comparatively unified front and after some ceremonial chit-chat go off with the dwarven monarch to the GrandTemple.
Now the gray dwarves seem to relax and some drow, with Zhe'raen taking the lead, engage in conversation. Ahriman and Zhe'raen get along well with the foreigners and Ahriman learns about what seems to be a new kind of magic relating to the power of will. Zhe'raen learns that several GrayDwarf settlements have been attacked by a great ShadowDragon, something that is beleived to be related to the ShadowDragon pup that was previously delivered to Zhaunil. Ahriman divines that we probably have a month before this dragon shows up to claim her offspring.
Meanwhile Velve decides to take a closer look at the goings-on at the temple, what with a GrayDwarf and all loose on the premises.
Sneaking in Velve observes a strange ceremony going on in the templeyard where two odd lights hovering infront of eachother seem to be the focus for the attention of the preistesses and the graydwarven monarch. After some pondering, Velve reaches the conclusion that it seems to be some communication between the respective gods of Drow and GrayDwarf religion!
This is interrupted by Velve's second observation: A Drider! And not just any drider, but it seems to be WeaponsmasterXarnael who is back from the dead in this new form! Velve makes a tactical withdrawal, but not before recieving the message from the Drider that is has sworn revenge upon HouseNemalzhi.
Meanwhile Zhaunil, who as gone to observe a caravan of rare beasts and she purchases a live snow leopard and a hive of bees. The latter is a gift for her friend BreedingMistress Shalolin.
During the inspection of various creatures she is informed by a GrayDwarf that the ShadowDragon, mentioned above is looking for her stolen offspring (currently in the possession of Zhaunil). This does little to improve Zhaunils mood.
Velve turns to Xora for spiritual advice, and Xora explains her view on how chaotic the uninverse is. Together, they go back into the GrandTemple, are allowed to pass by the DemonSpiders there, and observe WeaponsmasterXarnael the Drider. Xora disuades Velve from trying to murder the monster, citing that he exists for the Goddess' amusement, and will probably one day face off against Zhe'raen.
With such potent enemies bearing down upon them HouseNemalzhi wisely decides to look to its defences.