Chapter 8: DONLON Report
General Summary
SESSION 8 WORLD ANVIL RECAP:
Elinor wakes to Dahlia knocking on her door just before sunrise. Elinor dresses quickly and rushes to meet with her. They ride their horses to have a morning picnic and do googley eyes at each other for a while. Dahlia mentions her intention of not proclaiming to be either pursued or a pursuee, but she does still mention that she hopes Elinor will call on her. Dahlia discovers from some of the animals on the property that her beloved duck Benjamin had been shot and killed the night before and tied to the underside of a carriage. She mourns for her dear friend with Elinor there at the pond. Soon after, Elinor shows Dahlia her special yarn ball that summons the nearest cat. It was a gift from her late brother Davinor. The two bond over their stories of grief.
Dominic has spent the night on the floor outside the door to his and Nicholas’s room, as Nicholas refused to unlock it for him, perhaps from a place of grumpiness but also perhaps from a place of inattention, as he had hyper-focused on completing a painting for “Lia” who he had met on the grounds the day before. Nicholas finally lets Dominic in, who is dying to sleep on the lavender-infused pillows, but Edwin announces that everyone is waiting for them at breakfast.
Dove asks for Oliver’s help in seeking out information on Dahlia, as she does not trust her. Oliver is leery about this attitude, but agrees to just generally ask around the upper class folk while Dove searches around the lower class. Dove sneaks into Dahlia’s room and finds a few things out about her: Dahlia is a natural redhead who wears brown wigs when presenting as part of the Blumett family, presumably to stay unnoticed in her place of work at the Mythical Menagerie. She has worked to make some sort of herbal poultice for the Shadowby family, but no longer does, and she has a few items of interest in her desk, like a piece of soft coral carved into the shape of a wolf. Dove bickers with the ghost of Benjamin and goes off to help the family leave the estate.
Soon before leaving, Oliver strikes up a conversation with Lord Grant Blumett. In this conversation, we learn that he and Heather Blumett have performed some sort of soul-bonding ceremony that some aristocrats and upper class people do after marriage. The Frosts have performed this bonding as well as most if not all of the royal Shadowby family. Oliver also learns that there are rumors that Prince Phillip Shadowby is unhappy in his marriage.
The party say their goodbyes to the Blumetts, and once again Dahlia states that she hopes Elinor will call on her soon. They depart in their carriages and later that night find themselves in the great city of Donlon!
The city is a bombardment of sensations: smells of sweet and savory foods, sounds of bustling and energy, cloth and stone textures with everything in between. It is incredible – the greatest city in the known world. They arrive at their city estate and meet Aunt Alice, who sets them all straight with a few quippy words of wisdom. Instead of going to dinner, the party decides to sneak out (though it does take some coercion to get Elinor involved, as she argues that there is no sneaking necessary since they are all adults and no one is forcing them to stay inside). After some shenanigans at the gates, Dominic sneaks off alone with the party following behind jovially.
Nicholas apologizes to Oliver for his frosty attitude towards him lately, and they make amends. Elinor, understanding now that Nicholas has been keeping some great secret from her, becomes offended and acts aloof towards Nicholas, despite him trying to hype her up about Dahlia. The conversation turns toward the Blumett lady and how she also has secrets, the most obvious of which is her red hair that she hides under a wig. Elinor is shocked and angry to find out that Dove and Nicholas have been snooping on the Blumetts and demands they stop, while also deciding that she must reel her feelings in and remember to keep her options open for further possible courtships. Elinor and Nicholas decide to go to the far side of the city to run some errands, and Oliver and Dove split off to search for Dominic.
Dominic meets with an old dwarvish friend from his military days, who is astonished to find out that he is now part of the gentry, as granted by the King. Buttered up by Dominic’s gift of parties, the dwarf relays some info about General Wilhelm Zephyros, who has evidently been arresting members of the court left and right with the support of the Shadowbys. Dominic decides to go shopping.
Oliver and Dove walk through the dark city streets, now a little less populated than either of them remember. Suddenly, they are ambushed from behind by some cloaked members who, under a charming effect by Oliver, reveal that they are the Secret Society of the Stormcloaks on a mission to kidnap Oliver. The Sterling lord, excited by this sudden turn of events, lets them drag him away after charming Dove into leaving him. He allows them to beat him to unconsciousness, activating his ring which is set to siphon some HP from the other wearer. The ring works, meaning that Prince Phillip is wearing his ring and has heard the signal: Oliver is in trouble.
Dove runs off to get help, but instead of finding Dominic or any other member of the party, she bumps into a face she hasn’t seen for many years.
