Dawn, Part Two

"You can be in love with your best friend." - Griana Arande

Our heroes attend their first Shroud Assembly, well, assembly. Can they make a good impression on their new allies? A new mission is requested, and granted.

Summary
Griana, Dylan, Zil, and Mavis meet Kai and Luka in the Foyer of the Greenhouse a few minutes before the scheduled time for the Shroud Assembly meeting. Lukas leads them through the oak door into a much larger Greenhouse space, obviously the namesake of the main building. It is a huge, mall-sized space with rivers flowing through it, and beautiful greenery throughout. The group is led to a meeting room with four seating areas, and they are told to sit quietly. Four leaders of the Shroud Assembly (called the "Four Pillars") arrive over the next few minutes.


 * Representing "Intervention":
 * Aelizia Aedan, accompanied by Lukas and Tam (late arrival). Team Langdale is seated behind her.
 * Emrys Varsden, described as a buff, tall elven man reminiscent of Henry Cavill. He wears custom deep burgundy armor. Accompanied by five soldiers in similar armor who walk in step with him.
 * Representing "Intelligence":
 * Lyco Sidae, accompanied by two "shady-looking" elf mages (one male, one female) in black mage robes.
 * Zaren Laux, an intimidating human woman with a shaved head and tattoos covering her body. Accompanied by Raf and, after Aelizia's introduction, Mavis.

Introductions are made and Mavis is told to sit with Zaren, who quickly invites her to sit next to them. Aelizia leads the meeting, explaining that the capital city is overrun with Despara and requesting that Shroud members on outside missions be pulled back to Burnfort. Conversation ensues, with Zaren as the main dissenting voice, as she explains that there is a growing crisis on the western border (Caerleon's border with Arkala). Dylan confides in Aelizia that she is aware of the crisis, and that she has inside information (from the letter from Linwood Tonaut) that Arkala is also battling the Despara threat and so it would be unwise to leave them without ally troops. After discussion, they come to a compromise that all Shroud members would be called back except for those at the western Arkalan border.

After the meeting concludes, Dylan speaks privately with Aelizia requesting permission to go to the Fundergnome to recover her team's missing remains and exact revenge against Gnickleback. Aelizia agrees, allowing Dylan two Shroud members as backup (Mavis and Tam). Dylan tells Griana, who insists on coming as well. The four depart in a carriage within the hour, while Aelizia goes to the apartments to notify Kai and Zil about the side-mission but forbids them to go, explaining that their presence is needed in town to keep up appearances for the Gauntlet.