The Solar Festival

The beshipped Fishwives were invited to an opulent summer solstice festival [possibly orgy, versions differ] by the Marquis at his vast estate overlooking the port.

As part of their preparations, the companions made their initial acquaintance with the fabulous haberdasher Ivellios and began their employment of their tiefling valet, Excellence. Outfits and transportation arranged, they arrived at the festival a little before dark.

The Marquis' estate had been turned into a vast maze. They wandered it looking for the Marquis, but were suddenly beset by assassins, including a robed magic user and a drow gunslinger, who seemed particularly focused on Ilabrar. Despite the disadvantage caused by surprise and overindulgence in mind-altering substances, the companions managed to overcome the assassins with the aid of the mysterious black-clad elf who had been asking around after them. The elf was tragically slain by a poison pistol ball.

The Mute, Illiterate Half-Orc, who apparently received a separate invitation, arrived slightly too late for the fight, but had acquired a detailed, tasteful tattoo of a nude elven woman on his right arm.

The companions met with the Marquis, who made them a proposal - if they could clear the island for settlement, he would arrange for the halfling refugees to settle there and for the Fishwives to receive a share of future trade revenues.