After some minor trouble on the road to Margush the party arrive just in time for the beginning of the negotiations. In these it is quickly established that of the three great houses Vermilus Carxux is likely to side with Acryn after he is outed as a Mage at the meeting by Francesco. Of the other two Elizabeta is somewhat cautious and promises to side against the serradics if she is assured of at least a chance at victory. To satisfy her in this she asks that the other houses are brought on board and also that the party establish whether there is any truth to the rumours that the Queen of the wood a powerful anominally has sided with the serradics. The third great house appears to have unfortunately already sided with the serradics but after being approached by a younger family member the party decide to orchestrate a coup to install a more sympathetic family member.

Twine also uses his mask to out a priest of the jubilant mask who is also at the party. After a brief discussion he agrees the meet the person at their shop so that he can be shown the rightness of the serradic way.

With this over the party first head to a local brothel to attempt to find the dirt necacery to orchestrate the coup. After some slight misadventures with the maître de they manage to strike a deal with a women called Elena that she will tell them the information if they remove a thug who is impeding the growth of her legitimate business. The 'thugs' name is Vincenzo and he owns a gambling barge out on the lake. After some brief time Francesco is caught cheating and after further aggravating the crime boss in conversation a fight breaks out. All the party bar Samuel quickly fall but after fighting the seemingly invincible warrior priest for several minutes Vincenzo and his Mage decide enough is enough and jump of the boat whether they survive a mystery. The destruction of the barge and the killing of most of his men is enough for Elena however who tells the party that Tamas's dalliance into supplying illegal narcotics led to the death of Elizibeta's son. This eventually proves more than enough to unseat Flint Tamas and a few days later his nephew takes control of the house.

Next twine decides to take the priest of the jubilant mask on their offer and visits the shop in order to be shown proof of what happens to souls to upon death. The priest hands him a mask covered in eyes and the after twine puts it on smashes another mask upon the counter, a soul springs free and twine watches as the suddenly visible soul is consumed before his eyes. After this however things proceed to their predictable conclusion and a fight breaks out. After a few confusing minutes the priest escapes but leaves behind a normal face changing mask as well as the mask covered all in eyes.

The party lastly head into the woods to ascertain whether the Queen of the woods has joined the serradics or not. When they arrive at her court they find a serradic representative already there but after a duel a game of riddles and finally a fight against the queen herself they manage to to persuade her to oppose any serradic forces who enter her domain.

As the party head back to margush they are ambushed by the voice of the ascendant one who at first tries to talk them around but when that fails summons up flux terrors which attack the party.