**Session 5 Recap** The evening began as the grand ball at the [[Location - Treston|Treston]] council building was winding down. While [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] and [[PC - Balok Feth|Balok]] had already departed after a strange encounter, [[PC - Aelar Thaelond|Aelar]] and [[PC - Trinxis Staciadour|Trinxis]] remained in the company of the stern but seemingly honourable [[NPC - General Hann|General Hann]]. Sensing a shared concern, the General invited them to a more private setting to discuss the growing influence of the trade company, [[Faction - Evereach Trading Company|Evereach]]. As he led them from the main hall, he offered a tour of the portraits of the Tresten Council members, giving his candid opinions on each. They learned of the formidable head of the council, an Earth Genasi named [[NPC - High Justice Drozost|High Justice Drozost]], the city's money-minder and Dubois's ally, [[NPC - Sarah Copperpetal|Sarah Copperpetal]], and the colossal Goliath Watch Commander, [[NPC - Drythus|Drythus]], among many others. Once in a private room, [[NPC - General Hann|General Hann]] laid his cards on the table. He revealed his deep-seated fear that [[NPC - Louis Dubois|Louis Dubois]] and [[Faction - Evereach Trading Company|Evereach]] were on the verge of completely controlling [[Location - Treston|Treston]]'s trade. He saw a single, bold opportunity to prevent this: an official trade agreement with the isolationist elven subcontinent of [[Location - High Vel'Nora|High Vel'Nora]]. Such a pact would be revolutionary, and [[NPC - General Hann|Hann]] presented [[PC - Aelar Thaelond|Aelar]] with a drafted contract, proposing an alliance between himself as Portmaster General and [[PC - Aelar Thaelond|Aelar]] as the trade master for the Sun Court. He urged [[PC - Aelar Thaelond|Aelar]] to present it to his people, framing it as the last resort to free Tresten from [[Faction - Evereach Trading Company|Evereach]]'s grasp. Meanwhile, across the city, [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] and [[PC - Balok Feth|Balok]] were making their way through the darkened streets. Their journey was brought to a sudden halt when they were confronted in an alleyway by the mysterious bald-headed woman who had accompanied [[NPC - Louis Dubois|Louis Dubois]] at the party. She introduced herself as [[NPC - Fyde Shahn|Fyde Shahn]] and, to prove she was no enemy, revealed a wanted poster for [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] that had just arrived at the [[Faction - Evereach Trading Company|Evereach]] office, promptly burning it to ash. Using her potent psionic abilities, she shared her own tragic past with [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]], projecting the memories of how [[Faction - Evereach Trading Company|Evereach]], led by a younger [[NPC - Louis Dubois|Dubois]], had slaughtered her entire tribe in [[Location - Q'Shar|Q'Shar]] when she was a child. For three years, she had served as his closest aide, waiting for a chance at revenge. Believing she had found a fellow victim and potential ally in [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]], she made her proposal: a pact to kill [[NPC - Louis Dubois|Louis Dubois]]. Moved and convinced of her sincerity, [[PC - Mannfred Huem|Mannfred]] agreed.