The Red Engagement Party

Spirits were high on the day of the Mauryniths’ party. A ball was to be held in honour of the engagement of Jasmine Maurynith to Lord Cunningham Jr. This was no ordinary union; their marriage included a deal that would bring the Maurynith jewellers under the Cunningham family of businesses, expanding their empire and promising a large sum for both sides of the arrangement. The theme was a grand masquerade ball, in which many nobles from across Empala arrived to flaunt their wealth. The food was prepared to the highest standard, all decorations hung and most importantly, the King’s Hand themselves had arrived to guard the event. Disaster struck midway through the night. In a sudden outburst, the glass was shattered from out of Eileen Maurynith’s hand, and was revealed to be poisoned by one of the waiters, who had worked for the family for years. While the culprit was apprehended and chaos ensued inside, a mysterious occurrence unfolded outside. The bride-to-be vanished from right under the noses of those around her, leaving nothing but an ominous note outside, later determined to be left by the assassin’s guild. The assassins, who appear to have struck up an alliance with the Silverbloods, demanded the Maurynith family amulet in exchange for Jasmine’s safe return. It is unclear why they want the amulet or what they intend to do with it.