Lady Treece - The evening started in much the same way many of these functions do. Some time to see and bee seen. Followed by the hosts opportunity to regale his guests with some form of entertainment followed by a feast and frivolity. As I have attended enough of these function to flood two lifetimes I dispensed with the formalities and moved directly to self gratification. The crowd was filled with the requisite noble families and their brood of over-groomed under-mannered offspring. I was surprised to see a small group that I was not familiar with. I recognized the masquers handiwork and the tailors hand, but they did not move and act like nobility. Nor were they guests of the Heisenberg's. Curiosity got the better of me. One of the men, presumably a warrior noticed me watching him. Without hesitation he abandoned his consort in typical noble fashion. He was anything but typical. His aloofness was refreshing. After a brief discussion that confirmed my assumptions on non-nobility we parted company.

After the dreadful opera we were ushered into the banquet hall. Again the group brought a breath of fresh air. Usurping the hosts right to begin dancing with a formal pairing of the estate owner and his wife. Two of their members took to the dance floor. Ignoring all protocol they danced with the passion of Gipsies.

My Lord was introduced with the other guests at the head table. I had know for some time that his dealings were less than noble. This meeting with the Spade family was evidence enough of that.

All seemed to go according the the plan of these type events until I noticed a change of staff. The subservient house staff was replaced by men and women of strange proportions. Taller and leaner than healthy people could afford. As they moved to protect the exits some delivered severed heads to members of the head table. The guests seemed oblivious to the affront. It wasn't until a slave girl was slaughtered by members of the head table that the guests snapped from their trance. It was then I noticed that the guest of honor, a nine year old girl and her companion, were as villainous as any in the hall.

I watched my master for cues as how to react, but he sat calmly watching the slaughter. My instincts for self preservation kicked in and my blades came out. For a time I watch and dozens of the guests were slain. The group I was watching earlier had managed to put up a decent fight, though their mage was quickly neutralized by Crux and Septius. It didn't take long for thing to get out of hand. When the Pit Fiend arrived in the room I recognized the need to extricate myself from the fray.

For a time I kept watch from the main hall outside the banquet room. I knew if I didn't at least make an attempt to show fealty to my lord I may feel the wrath of the feeding frenzy in the next room. When the two lovers arrived in the archway unclad with only bow and arrow I suspected I should attempt my move. When the male departed and rushed to tackle Crux I new I had to act. The half elf was clearly a warrior type, but close quarters fighting was not her strong suit. In another circumstance I would have enjoyed an encounter of another sort with her. She was exquisitely sculpted. In seconds the man returned along placing himself between me and my opponent. His eyes told the story. She was his and none shall bring her to harm. The charismatic warrior I met in the main hall and his guest arrived soon followed by waves of vampires and demons. The four of them were in this together, but their chance of escape was unlikely. These creatures moved too quickly to outrun. I surrendered by guard against the half-elf at the request of her man. It was the words from the dragon shaman that stung my conscious. All these years I had enjoyed the comforts of nobility turning a blind eye to their atrocities. These people who had stayed to fight in defense of those who had fled were the true nobles in this house. Would that I had cast my lot in with them earlier. Now it is my honor to defend their escape.