A Balancing Act

The next trial of the Sentinel Festival begins. With each participant balancing on large poles, the test is a free for all to see who can be the last one standing...literally. Despite several great moves and strategies, there can only be one winner, with Viktor claiming the top prize.

Marik goes to visit Salara, checking in on her and apologizing for being too busy to come sooner. The two discuss life, with Marik opening up about the dangers surrounding him and his fear for Salara's safety, even asking her if she still wanted to marry him despite the curse placed upon him, and the sadness and anger that revolves around him. Despite these challenges, Salara says she wishes to remain with him.

Xanthe goes to visit her grandmother, having been previously invited before. The Lady Paramount opens up about a recent issue where some of her men were killed during the transportation of an artifact that they believe someone could use to dominate a dragon. She was unable to learn if they had the full artifact or just a piece of it, but she believes Xanthe should be aware. Before Xanthe leaves, she is gifted a magical bident, which Xanthe has Via identify later.

During the night, Xanthe awakens to the feeling of heat and the sound of siege engines. She checks her surroundings, finding herself in Avernus. She feels a strange power over this place, the true power to dominate those who are beneath her. As she looks around, she sees some bearded devils taking a bone devil prisoner. Xanthe speaks to them and soon aids the bone devil in escaping, as he promises to help her. The bone devil thanks her on behalf of his master: Mephistopheles. He takes her to an old exit that was not used anymore as angels descended, looking for an intruder.

Xanthe returns to her grandmother the next day, asking why she was given the bident and what sort of a test it was supposed to be. She seems to have no idea what Xanthe speaks about, eventually leaving in frustration.

That morning, Viktor heads to Edwinn's room to speak to him, informing the prince that he had seen roughly four people tailing Edwinn, though they constantly wore different disguises and were very evasive. Edwinn, seeing an opportunity, decides to employ Viktor and try to use him to capture some of these men, believing them to be Davian's agents.

Edwinn presents this new information to the group, with many believing that his skills would serve them well against Davian and his agents, while Marik voices caution, worrying that Viktor showing up seems like too perfect of timing. With that, the next trial of the festival was set to begin.

However, not all was going well at Crown's Rest.....