Owls and Bacchanaelia.
The lead up to the Bacchanaelia...
Druk finds... or rather, recognizes something he's always known. The oft overlooked couriers and messengers of the city can put a slight thumb on the scales of society, because in any large event, there are a great many invitations going out, and it is always possible to misdirect a few. A couple of random invitations redirected, and no one is ever the wiser. If he wishes, Druk can have his messengers ignore a few people, and steer invitations to a few others. It can't be done in mass, that's too obvious. But no one ever notices a little bit of sleight of hand.
And whom might he invite or disinvite? There are about 500 Humans in the upper class of Massilia. That's actually more than the upper class of Orcs, because despite being in charge, the Orcs have a much pointier social pyramid. To a leading Orc, other important Orcs are either servants or threats. Sometimes both. But Humans are much more complicated. The upper class is spread across about twenty leading families, and by convention includes the important priests. There are others who are borderline cases, mostly wealthy but not rich merchants. As is often the case with Humans, there is great variety. Some Druk knows to be willing allies of the Orcs, others quietly (very quietly) resist. Some prize wealth, some knowledge, some fame, some a little of everything. One aspect of the upper class that is missing here: none seek military glory. Orcs look very harshly on that sort of Human.
Bryon, meanwhile, initiates her new familiar and starts training in the ways of being a familiar.
It's harder than she expected, because every time she tries to tell the owl her own name, the Owl responds with "who?"
Titus catches up with Fanclo Ancius, master of the Pharo Cove Tavern. Fanclo wouldn't be called "Upper Class" by most of the upper class, who would be hesitant to name an "innkeeper" as one of them. But, financially, he could certainly fit in. And he knows their tastes better than anyone, because that's how he makes his living.
The two visit the Slave Market, where Fanclo was very curious to see the "exotic" slaves recently brought in. They are similar to Elves in some ways, but in others, not. They seem to have a certain glow about them. Literally. Their bodies are natural light sources- not as noticeable in daylight, but definitely so at night. Soft, colorful light seems to come from within them, and hover around them. They speak an odd version of Elven, no one is familiar with it. The sellers aren't talking about their origin. Possibly, they want to keep the location of this strange race a secret.
There are a half dozen of them here, both male and female. Titus learns that only three have already been sold. Fanclo speculates that people... even Orcs... might be afraid of slaves of unknown origin, who might be harboring secret magical powers.
"Still I am tempted," he says. "They are exotic. People like to have the exotic around, for parties. Maybe debut them for your event. What do you think?"