[DAWN — ARC TWO BEGINS: THE BLACKSTAFF CONVERGENCE]

  The dream ends. The summons begins. The city’s eye turns inward.

  ?

  SCENE: DAWN AT KERESKA’S FAVOR

  The sun has barely crested the rooftops.

  Inside the tavern, warmth lingers from the night before. Empty cups. A fire gone to embers. The scent of vender and brandy clings to the air like memory.

  Lorin moves silently. She lights a single ntern.

  At the center table sits a sealed scroll marked with the sigil of Bckstaff Tower: a silver staff crossed with an eclipse rune.

  It hums faintly with magic.

  ?

  MOMENTS BEFORE THE SUMMONS — SCENE: ROOMS (MULTI-FOCUS)

  ?

  MELODIA

  She wakes in silk sheets, curled beneath a starlight-patterned throw. Her thighs tangle delicately beneath soft ce, one hand resting on her moonstone choker.

  She rises without dressing fully—just a slip and stockings—padding across the room barefoot to her mirror. Her lips part as she sees her reflection.

  Her voice, low and warm:

  “Today, we are music and bde.”

  She fastens a silver brooch to her corset. And smiles.

  ?

  MEL

  She wakes facing the wall.

  There’s dirt under her nails and a blue flower growing from her floorboards—the seed from yesterday.

  She doesn’t touch it.

  She dresses slowly. Quietly. Leather bracers. Moss-toned wraps. Thorn whip across her back.

  Her hand pauses over her sketchbook.

  Then she tucks a feather between the pages.And leaves the room.

  ?

  DAKA

  Is already awake.

  Already doing push-ups.

  Already shirtless.

  Already yelling at himself in the mirror:

  “You’re the tower-breaker, the arcane-bastard-puncher, the damn orc with fir—let’s gooo!”

  He punches the wall. Kisses his pirate hat. Straps on the gun.

  And struts down the stairs.

  ?

  KRUMMAR

  Wakes with his hand on the dog’s fur.

  The prayer tarp is folded. The mace already cleaned.

  He kneels once. Whispers something in Dwarvish.

  Then dresses like it’s war—quietly, reverently.

  He carries a new item:A book of soul-anchoring magic, bound in pale leather.

  He does not open it.

  Not yet.

  ?

  SCENE: THE LETTER IS OPENED

  All are gathered.

  Lorin reads it aloud:

  ?

  To the Saviors of Breya and the Recimers of Grief,

  The tower stirs.

  The Bckstaff has seen the ripple your actions created.Memory has become votile. The fracture near Dock Ward was one of twelve.

  You are summoned. Not requested.

  Come to the Bckstaff Tower by midday. Bring your full selves.

  The city dreams of you now.Let us see what wakes.

  — Vajra Safahr, Bckstaff of Waterdeep

  ?

  The room goes quiet.

  The chimes of the city begin.

  One. Two. Three.It’s time.

  ?