With the battle on the horizon, I received an invitation from Stoic Alder to join in a celebration known as a battle's eve feast, a lowlander tradition. The celebration is described as a "precautionary good-bye," though the general mood was much more upbeat than the description might suggest. Upon arriving at the feast, I met Poky, along with several allies from the Astral Ward and the Tyrian Alliance. The initial atmosphere was...unenthusiastic, through no fault of the lowlanders. Despite their varying experiences as diplomats and leaders, the alliance and the ward found themselves being overly cautious. Perhaps it was the upcoming battle, or maybe guilt that past bonds hadn't been maintained with the bearkin—either way, I took it upon myself to set things in motion. I began by introducing Queen Jennah, Dagonet, and Anise to some of the lowland council members I'd become acquainted with. Jennah and Waiting Sorrow, still operating under her Fading Aurora alias, obviously had much to discuss and wasted no time delving into conversation. Dagonet and Agriculture Master Soaring Crest hit it off right away with talk of environment and ecology. And as for Anise and Barbed Vale, well, you could mistake the two for old friends if you didn't know better. The party continued to gain momentum as the predinner activities commenced. Anise "kindly" volunteered me for a friendly sparring match against Barbed Vale, a gesture I plan to repay her for in time. At the risk of looking a bit silly, I also helped kick off the dance circle by showing off a few moves. My display encouraged several of the guests to cut loose and enjoy the moment despite the daunting mission ahead of us. Afterward, I caught Stoic Alder alone, practicing for a speech. Guests began to gather, and the bearkin's leader offered our alliance a moment for opening remarks. Isgarren took the opportunity to say some words of...encouragement? I can say with some experience that speeches are no easy thing. Isgarren seemed a bit off his game, causing some confusion among the lowlanders and alliance members alike. Fortunately, Stoic Alder restored the mood by delivering a rousing speech of his own. To the backdrop of music and celebration, our allies took a moment to step aside from the festivities. Few words were said, but an unspoken understanding of the feat that lies ahead of us held strong.