Strange Aeons / Dreams of the Yellow King pt. 14 / Galen the 1st, 3592 CE / 8-25-22

The Starling has docked near the town of Dabrile on its way south along the Natra River to Liem. While Captain Fred and a contingent of sailors have gone into town to resupply and attempt the replace the crew lost in the nightgaunt attack, the party has stayed aboard to guard the ship. And with good reason, for a cadre of trackers working for local Baron Morcar have ridden up and demanded to search the ship for Baron Morcar's rival, Lord Emilio Demaine. The trackers are led by Captain Glower, the so-called "Grey Lady," Baron Morcar's chief enforcer. However Zolkri stands his ground and refuses to let her aboard. They convince her that Lord Demaine is not aboard, though Esp does let slip that she knows another Demaine, their missing companion who went by the moniker "Kingfisher." The Captain Glower and her crew depart without a fight, she vows that there will be blows the next time she encounters Zolkri and he responds in kind. Captain Fred returns having been unable to secure more crew, and so the Starling will remain shorthanded for the moment. Zolkri makes a quick run into town to pick up some ingredients from the local flower merchants for a poison he is looking to concoct, and then the Starling is once more on her way. Later that day Reuben and Gossamer discover the final phrase needed to unlock the next phase of the party's Dreamland excursions, this time to the legendary city of Celephais. As night falls and they sit down once more to transport themselves to the Dreamlands, Esp adjusts the ritual slightly to give the party more formal attire for their dream-selves, recalling that they will have to attend a gala in Celephais hosted by Viscount Pietro Brellin, the same viscount from whom they hope to acquire a signet ring as one of several gifts to present to the Mad Poet. The party is once more thrust into the Dreamlands and their bodies remain in a trance aboard the Starling. As they arrive at the gala, lit by the warm beams of a sun frozen at sunset, Zolkri must resist being overcome by his mania as the sound of music from a string quartet drifts through the air of the party. He also finds himself almost losing his vision, a disquieting reminder of the curse that was cast upon him the last time he visited the Dreamlands. The party sees Dreamers of all different eras of history mingling in the Viscount's grand ballroom, but they also find more disturbing signs: a puddle of blood pooling from drops falling from the high, dark ceiling, and occasional guests or servants being pulled screaming into the rafters to an unknown fate, ignored by the rest of those assembled. Mason tries his hand at mingling by asking an enchanting woman named Urendra Splinterbone to dance, not realizing she is in fact a vampire. Zolkri searches out the Viscount while Esp and Hemlock try mingling to gain information, but discover that the sycophantic guests speak of little except praise for the Viscount and his gala. When Esp and Zolkri inquire with Viscount Brellin about his signet ring, he warmly offers to give them one, but only in exchange for a favor. The party agrees to act as social emissaries for the Viscount by informing three different guests that he is rescinding his offer to dance the coveted Sunset Waltz with them in favor of his "beloved," who he just discovered will be joining the party later. As they spread out to find the three unlucky guests, Mason realizes he has already danced with one of them; Lady Urendra Splinterbone. She is disappointed at the news, but assuaged when Mason convinces Zolkri to let her feed off him. Meanwhile, Esp bargains with the second guest, Trade Prince Aarvin Telgritte, and Trakir and Hemlock have no luck finding the third, a peasant girl named Maudette, when the other guests make a show of not knowing who she is.