Alberico, the Malespero aide, 1 Malespero Guard, Louis, a Malespero Armsman, Mar, the Magpie arrive, following Pasquale.

Mar, the Magpie have been dismissed.

The grand parlor has been transformed for todays ball with the grand dining table stripped away to provide a large open space for dancing whilst the collections of couches and seats remain in their comfortable clusters. At this point in the event the music is light and unobtrusive, a soft strum of sound woven into the background. The pleasant landscapes on the walls have been covered with large tapestries showing both joyous and sorrowful moments in life, to fit with the theme of the ball.

Pasquale is close to the entrance wearing a combination of silks embroidered liberally with silks and a bleached bone mask that shows an androdynous face split by the growing limb of a tree. The mask doesn't do all that much to hide who he is though. Partly because of his role as greeter but also because he is spending almost as much time coughing as he is talking. "Welcome." he offers "And thank you for joining us in our celebration today. That is a lovely outfit." That last is said even when the outfit is not all that lovely. With just as much seriousness as for those that are.

Someone wearing Sun mask is making one last pass around the room before joining Pasquale at the door greeting. Jan, being rather distinctive even with a mask on is fairly recognizable.

Someone wearing Bone Colored Half Skull Mask wears bone-coloured silks with a luxurious fur cloak over for warmth. But since they're in the warmth of the tower, she forgoes the fur and shows off her slender skeletal frame. It's hard to discern who she in under the mask with the darkened eyes. A skeleton at the life masque. Irony or appropriate?

Someone wearing teardrops upon the cheek enters the tower hall and casts a look around. Their hair has been slicked back and shrouded in black silk, much like the rest of them. The person moves to find a drink, collects it in gloved fingers, and takes a sip while watching the others around the room.

Someone wearing a starlight unicorn mask has waited by the entry till a companion arrives. The unicorn then dips a head and smiles toward the Phoenix who steps in just behind her. Dainty slippers are dry and free of ice, boots having been exchanged for them at the entry.

"Its a pleasure to have you both here today." So says the man with the mask split by a thorned branch to the unicorn and the pheonix. "The pheonix and the unicorn. Both seem rather appropriate today."

Someone wearing Sun mask smiles and welcomes the latest arrivals "Hello! Welcome! Please enjoy the refreshments and the mysterious company." She smiles towards the Thorny Host "Thank you! I was trying to remember what those firey birds were called!"

Someone wearing an armored steel helmet(the face is covered, it counts) slowly makes their way through the entry, knowing full well they stand out, hoping to find their own little area to exist from the others, as they watch around them.

Someone wearing a fiery phoenix silk mask was not entirely certain that she would be attending the event, however after some goading from folk at home she's managed to find her way into the event. Tonight she is wearing a fiery sleeveless honeysilk gown rising into a phoenix with a matching set of jewelry and slippers. Black eyes astutely take in her surroundings from beneath her phoenix mask, until they fall upon the starlight unicorn, and then a small smile alights her lips, "Ah, there you are," she calls out to the masked unicorn. Then she's greeted by the thorny masked person and someone bearing a Sun mask. She dips her head respectively toward each of then. It is easy to see that she bears a large scar of a canine bite on her left arm, something that looks to have been a very deep wound. For those that have seen her recently, that might be an easy identifying marker.

Someone wearing a starlight unicorn mask says, "Seems to offer hope and strength, life, endurance so thought it might be a good one to use this evening." A glance around is given and then an approving nod. "Seems people were in a mood to dress up and venture out into the cold for this."

Someone wearing Bone Colored Half Skull Mask studies the Phoenix through her dark eyeless sockets. "The firebird is my personal sigil," she advises the other woman. That's very telling, for those who know the gravelly voiced woman and can place her speech.

Someone wearing a mask split by a growing thorn covered tree would be remiss if he let Fray merely go off to post herself in the corner like one of the guards. He takes a few moments to cough (clearly finding the mask to be a considerable annoyance in the process) and then moves to speak to Fray. "An interesting interpretation but a fitting one I think." he gestures towards the centermost cluster of seats. "Why not join Jan and I at the central table?" Invitation having been given and the need to greet guests reduced, Pasquale (thats the man in the thorned mask) starts towards those seats himself. "Dance if you like." He claims a seat upon the couch and settles himself in a comfortably lycene fashion. "But I'm just going to watch." Almost as if he ordered it directly the music shifts into something far more appropriate for dancing and one of the liveried servants comes over to give a glass of rich blood red Nilanzan wine into his hand. "I can see why it was a popular theme tonight." he tells the lady in the bone mask.

Someone wearing a fiery phoenix silk mask turns her attention to the woman in the Bone Colored Half Skull Mask. She delicately lifts her brows in her direction while a lightly amused smile graces her lips. "Indeed?" she speaks in a light Lycene accent. "The firebird is my House sigil." It does not seam as though she cares overmuch if people figure out her identity from the go, and that about her would be easy to identify her. She looks over at the unicorn, "You look lovely tonight," then she looks back to the thorned one, "Thank you for hosting tonight. It feels as though it's been forever since I've been out to a party." It probably has.

Someone wearing teardrops upon the cheek continues to observe the others, taking in their details. The Phoenix' dress is given a longer look before they study the Unicorn and the Skull. Then the hosts - and Fray - are looked toward. The teardrop-masked person seems disinterested in mingling.

Someone wearing an armored steel helmet(possibly known as Fray) nods to the thorn masked person and joins in a seat near them. They seem confused, but remain attentive of the occupants.

Someone wearing Bone Colored Half Skull Mask grins below her half mask at Phoenix. She then turns to the Host and offers a nod. "Life, death, rebirth. I opted for death tonight," she drawls, amused. "A pyreweave cloak would be nice though." She looks at the Steel Helm Fray and chuckles. "A wallflower in shining armor."

Someone wearing Sun mask ahhs and smiles "I imagine there is a story on how a phoenix came to become such an important symbol, some day perhaps I will learn what it is. Please, do enjoy yourselves." Her attention shifts towards Fray and she confesses "I am much more at home in armor than finery, I suspect our most gracious and mysterious host may be trying to ensure I have a kindred spirit to speak with."

Someone wearing a fiery phoenix silk mask dips her head once more in the Half Skull's direction, but glances over at the Sun at her remark. "The phoenix was created near around the time Death was born. It was once an eagle, who was the only creature brave enough to approach Death, and Death was so pleased at the Eagle's bravery that she rewarded it by transforming it into the first Phoenix ever." A pause, "Or, so the story goes." Of course the person who has a phoenix as a House sigil might have looked into this. "My ancestor is said to have had a phoenix companion, if you believe some of the history books."

Someone wearing a starlight unicorn mask laughs and whether Phoenix decides to dance also or not, begins to lightly step to the rhythm of the music being played. As she passes Phoenix, she murmurs something softly to her but her voice rises to say. "Such a lovely tune."

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Someone wearing Bone Colored Half Skull Mask before departing.

"It is a grand myth." Pasquale agrees after the Phoenix has told her story. "And I think you both chose very fitting costumes." he looks to Fray. "Surely you have some stories of less mythical proportions to share with me today?"

Someone wearing teardrops upon the cheek finishes their drink and slips out of the party.

4 Silvershields leaves, following Someone wearing teardrops upon the cheek.

Someone wearing an armored steel helmet turns towards Pasquale, their amber eyes piercing through their helmet. "I do not think any of my stories would be suitable for this...gathering"

Someone wearing a fiery phoenix silk mask seems to be at piece standing where she is, in the thick of things, as the starlight unicorn dances around her. She does her best to give the unicorn a reassuring look, "I'm fine. I promise," she says out loud, even as she rubs at the large canine scar on her arm. She lowers her voice a notch to likely speak more reassuring things to her. Or, maybe it's less than a notch than she expected as some things might be able to be heard.

Someone wearing a fiery phoenix silk mask mutters, "... sacrificed some ... willingly. I don't remember what I sacrificed, because it ... be a sacrifice if I did. So, ... ... ... I'm concerned, whatever I sacrificed, it never ... I did it ... help save the ... ..."

Someone wearing Sun mask's head tilts at the person in a phoenix mask "Truly? That is quite a tale. Most impressive ancestors it is a fitting crest indeed and the mask looks stunning." A gleeful cackle at the armored Knight's confession and a broad grin "Oh, well then maybe another time. All the same do drink up and have your feel, Mystery Dame. Perhaps sometime later you can share some of those tales." She leans in to listen to the Thorny Tree and murmurs back briefly before returning a grin to the guests.

Umi, the curious turtle arrives, following Titania.

Someone wearing a starlight unicorn mask lifts the phoenix arm and spins under it as the music of that dance comes to an end. She stops and glances at the others for a moment. "Tales can be so entertaining. One can enjoy hearing them time and again.

"Lord Ian Kennex tells the very best stories," the woman in the phoenix mask declares boldly, glancing over in the armored woman's direction. "My stories are all pretty boring, in comparison," she decides. "Such is the life of a glorified paper pusher." As if. But she nods solemnly when she says this.

"Given the people I recognise already, and my own tastes, that seems unlikely." Pasquale tells the helmed Fray. "But I understand that the setting might feel a little formal and grand for any soldiers tales." He shares a few murmured words with the lady in the Sun mask before indulging in another bout of coughing. His words when he recovers are soft and mostly meant for the lady in the sun mask. "Its nice to see people dancing."

Slipping into the Grand Parlor a cloaked figure dressed from head to toe in Starlight silk, the silk is in the many shades of greens and blues. The face is covered so it can not really be seen, but the skin that is seen is also in the same hues of the silk. Staying close to the entrance, perhaps just incase they want to flee they can easily!

Someone wearing Sun mask smiles towards the man in the Thorny tree mask "Looks like being picky about the musicians paid off, excellent call. I can't help thinking we're going to have an overwhelming amount of food left over." she ahhhs and nods at the phoenix, "Lord Ian does have some amazing tales. Some are so much so it's kind of hard to suspect he's not pulling one's leg." she smiles towards the person in a unicorn mask "That is an absolutely amazing mask, by the way. Stunning."

Someone in an armored steel helmet speaks up a little trying to join in the spirit of things. "I did hear from a bard once that you can tell a lot about someone not just by the story they tell, but how they tell it." She thinks she did well enough.

Trihy, an unassuming and dapper dressed man arrives, following Zakhar.

Someone wearing a starlight unicorn mask says, "Thank you. Palace Seraph Ailith had it made after she designed it for me as a gift after I accompanied her to Sungreet and helped her there. She had a talent for designing things be there tapestries or clothes or unique gifts. She is away from the city now I have been told but will make sure to tell her if should see her again."

There's a bit of a scuffle at the door as the old man steps inside without costume, instead wearing armor which has not been cleaned recently. There could be a bit of /someone/ on his persons, there's a wave to a few behind him to bring a very large painting into the room behind him as he takes some time looking around the space and all of those dressed up as other /things/ "Pasquale?! What is this? A party?!" The old man's voice is gruff and sounds to have spent far too many years shouting over battlements. He's favoring a cane made of bone, someone's leg it looks like and wood. "I've your painting." He nods to the unicorn with a stare then to the phoenix in passing as he makes his way to try and find Pasquale.

Someone wearing Sun mask looks towards Pasquale to see if this needs intervention or not.

Another bout of coughing makes Pasquale tip his mask up off his face. Or maybe its just because it makes drinking his wine easier. Either way it makes it impossible not to know who he actually is, if anyone had any actual doubts about it. He looks ill, but it is Pasquale, so that is probably not particularly surprising. He inclines his head in agreement to Fray. "I could not agree more. Sadly the taciturn have many of the greatest stories whilst also telling them the worst. Typical of life in general I suspect." he looks up to the lady in the sun mask. "We will give away anything that is left over." Zakhar's arrival raises a small, almost unwilling, little laugh. "You certainly picked a grand moment to reveal it Zakhar. Did you plan it?" he pauses for a few moments before asking "Will it traumatise my guests?"

Someone wearing a fiery phoenix silk mask glances aside at the starlight unicorn and lets about a wistful sigh. "There's quite the many I thing I wish I could talk to her about." For a moment, her mood saddens. However, the entrance of Zakhar coming into the room drawing on about some painting or another captures her attention. She dips her head in his direction in a regal manner, a light amused smile dancing upon her lips. "A painting?" she queries. She is, after all, a patron of the arts.

The figure in the silk makes her way around watching people dance, spotting Pasquale the silken figure makes its way over to him. Her eyes dart to Zakhar as the man comes in. Her head tilting to the side looking as ocean blue eyes peer out from under the cloak hood that hides the face. "Lord General." the soft voice comes keeping her face cast in shadows, "Thank you, for the invite."

Someone wearing Sun mask smiles warmly "hi! Welcome!" she tells the hooded figure "IT looks like you might be in time for something interesting...or in time to be emotionally scarred, only time will reveal." she flashes a grin towards Phoenix "Zakhar's works are all rather remarkable-those I've seen at least."

"AHA! There you are!" The old man stops in front of Pasquale, giving a glare towards the Sun as if he recognizes their voice from under the costume. "He requested something of worth." He says this as if he might be sour of something between him and Sun. To look back to Pasquale and offer the rarest of nods to a lord. Snow white hair which has taken on a life of its own and swirls and fluffs in its own directions bounces some in the nod. "I give you a piece of love within danger." He turns back to the others for a moment. "There should be somewhere to put it?"

"After making such an announcement." Pasquale tells Zakhar "How could I do anything but put it where my guests can resolve their curiosity." he gestures to the wall with the sunflower painting on it. "Why not put it there for now?" he too looks terribly curious. His eyes drifting to the painting. "Although I worry nobody will quite understand."

Pasquale drops Freedom of chain and a desire of love.

Titania steps back from Pasquale as he is busy, her head turn to look at the Sun nodding her head so that she is not seen, "I think you." he moves to touch the persons under the Sun masks arm. "I do like your mask."

Zakhar takes Golden skull with silk brain pocket from Sling Satchel with bleached thumb bones.

Zakhar takes Unassuming metal chest with rune etchings from Sling Satchel with bleached thumb bones.

Zakhar takes a thin cigar rolled with cloves from Golden skull with silk brain pocket.

Someone wearing Sun mask smiles to Titania "Thank you. It's not as extravagant as some but it does the job and you inspired me when it came to the gown, thank you for that. And for coming. " She examines the painting "Ahhh, you do have a particularly taste in paintings." She remarks with amusement towards the man thorny tree mask.

Quenia unties her mask and sets it aside, noticing a fair few people likely going maskless now. The Marquessa steps forward to regard the painting, tilting her head this way and that. All the way, she's absently rubbing a rather large canine bite on her left forearm that's scarred pretty deeply. She glances between Pasquale and Zakhar, then back to the painting, then to Pasquale. "Sunaia?" she asks, tentatively.

Pasquale moves to his feet so that he can follow Zakhar across for the unveiling. His eyes taking in the bloody scene without admiration but not surprise. "That is exactly what I had hoped for Zakhar." he says after a moment. "Thank you." For a few more moments he studies the bloody painting before he finally realises it might require some explanations. "A long time ago." he says "There was a warrior who fought in the elven wars." he gestures towards the woman who's fighting the wolf. "A woman called Reidar Holte. She served her house throughout the war until in the days just afterwards it was destroyed by the Traitor and she fled east into the territory held by the mor'ral. She was captured, or rescued, by them and over time became a part of them. She even married one of them, the wolf herself." he turns his head a little to cough. "But the same force that destroyed her home also came for the Mor'ral and eventually that terror came to them as well. There was a battle in which they both fought and in that battle Reidar was terribly wounded. The wolf couldn't handle this and so she gave up her name so that Reidar might be saved." another cough. "But Reidar knew how terrible it was for the wolf to be held captive by this foe and so she made a promise that she would free her even if it was the last thing she did." a gesture to the painting. "And so it was. That is what this painting is. A reminder that sometimes freedom is worth any price."

Pasquale is overheard praising Zakhar: Nobody else could have done that painting justice

Someone in an armored steel helmet was not sure what they were looking at, but she agrees with its meaning very personally. "I am not good at appreciating art, but it's message is something worth commemorating." She exclaims.

The hooded figure nods her head, "I am glad that I was able to help." she says softly hen look in the direction when Pasquale explains the painting, she breaths deeply perhaps moves from the story that was told. Her fingers tighten on the Suns arm slightly.

Someone wearing Sun mask looks towards the hooded figure and pats her hand "It's jarring, isn't it? Or is it the tale? Are you ok? Would you like a drink?"

Quenia listens intently to the story that Pasquale tells, all the while rubbing at the large canine scar on her forearm. She's quiet all throughout and her silence is only broken when the Malespero lord speaks something quietly to her and murmurs something back to him. At his last set of words she gives him a quiet, understanding, if not a bit sad, look, and whispers something to him.