A red carriage pulls up. Aiden, his wife, his daughter, and an attendant/guard for his family step out. He brings his family to nearly all public appearances, probably for image reasons. Everyone is quite surprised at the identity of the attendant: It is Kayla Avari, the Rashemi agent you captured on Sarkon, who had apparently infiltrated the Order of Sharar. She definitely is aware of your suspicions of Zarun.
You recognize a number of famous figures; the mighty Paladin Texter (Peregion was first ambushed on the way back from his home); the wealthy retired-mercenary-turned-banker Mirt, Laeral, who supports Aiden over her former student Aleena for reasons unknown; Brian the Swordmaster, a retired adventurer and master blacksmith who operates the largest arms-manufacturing business in Waterdeep along with House Bladesemmer; Eremoes Hawkwinter and his son Genos, mighty warriors in their own right and the leaders of House Hawkwinter, the leading providers of military logistics services and equipment; Challos Amcathra, Partiarch of house Amcathra, which among other things is the leading breeder and trainer of war horses; Gural Amakyl, heir to his house, a leading agricultural interest, Laeros Assembar, who provides many of the fine carriages used to get to the event; Huld Balarbanta, patriarch of House Balarbanta, breeders and trainers of griffons for the military, among other things; Archmage Patriarch Maskar Wands, whose house specializes in magical research and training; Orbul and Katya Brossfeather, whose house specializes in forestry; Caladorn Cassalanter, an important trainor of professional warriors; Patriarch Muarguez Gundwynd and his daughtor Jynnia, of the hippogriff breeding House Gundwynd; Patriqarch Nimor Lathkule, whose house specializes in gem mining, important for magical resources, leaders of a number of houses specializing among other things in mercenary warriors, including Eagleshield, Durinbold, Gauntyl, Gralhund, Hillguantlet, Ilutyl, Husteem, Jardeth, Jhansczil, Kormallis, Manthar, Ruldegost, Roaringhorn (Cavalry), Sultlue (Cavalry), Ulbrinter, Stormweather, and Raventree, Tchazzam (Archery), Tesper, Thunderstaff (War Wizards), and Thorp; and from trading houses such as Anteos, Artemel, Dezlentyr, Cragsmere,Hothemer (wagon fleets), Nesher (woodmaking), Talmost (textiles), Margaster, Gost, ; the magic-selling and training House Eltorchul; other breeding Houses Ilzimer and Irlingstar; shipbuilding and operating Houses Wavesilver, Zulpair, Ambassadors from Cormyr, Neverwinter, Tethyr, Aglorond, the Dales Council, Evermeet, Evereska, Silverymoon, and Sembia.
The Sembian ambassador approaches Aleena and says "I am Pamela Panaric, Assistant Ambassador to Waterdeep from Sembia. I apologize that my boss was unable to attend, as an emergency in our country has caused him to be called back. See, Lord Selkirk, our leader as appointed by our representative council, and his heir Miklos and a number of their attendants, were murdered by elvish terrorists en route to a family wedding in the Dales as they passed through an area that was once covered by Cormanthar. This was about one week ago. Ambassadors have been called back to meet with the new leader, a noble exiled by the Selkirk's named Loganis Dragonspeaker, a mighty warrior an adventurer who rides a powerful dragon into battle.
