Equinox Ball - Grand Ballroom A

Talathel simply nodded at the speech. Undead pirates? He would have to practice his ki. 

He looked around for Darvin and soon found him. His date's ghastly purple dress stood out in the crowd. He wandered over to them.

"Darvin, friend. I hate to pry you away from your lovely date, but I require a private word with you." 

They stepped away from the crowd for a bit.

"I did as you asked, but Nym was already very drunk. Something is bothering her, but Evalaen took her out of Jere so she could revel and not draw so much attention to herself. I believe as of now, we are all set for your presentation."

"And you?" Darvin motioned to Talathel's mug. Once again, Talathel felt the sting of his past.

"Thanks for the reminder. I am out of milk." He gave a laugh and looked for someone new to talk to.

I posted the above so as not to cause any confusion as to where Darvin's post was starting. We may think of doing from now on. On another note here is what Shandri looks like and Darvin's outfit for the evening. Unlike the mannequin, Darvin is wearing a shirt.

Darvin nodded to Talathel as he left. He took Shandri's arm and led her into the grand ballroom. It certainly lived up to the name. It had high vaulted ceilings with ornate chandeliers hanging down. It was undoubtedly just as impressive from the outside with the floor to ceiling windows lit up.

 He looked around the room until he found Shandri's father, Orlando, standing next to the punch bowl. He was finishing up a conversation and getting dangerously low on punch.

Darvin looked to Shandri, "My dear, if you'll excuse me, I have to go talk to your father."

"Darvin, you aren't going to talk to him without me. You're going to need me if you want him to pay off your lien," she replied with an amused smirk on her face.

"How did you know about that?" Darvin asked dumbfounded.

"Darvin, sweetie, everyone in town knows about the lien. Also, everyone in town knows what you have been doing on that ship for the last three years. And if they didn't earlier they know now after that half-elf's outburst."

Darvin stared at her. He didn't know what to say. He thought she had no idea of any of it. Finally, he managed to stammer, "And yet you are helping me?"

"Well, it was once a nice ship. It deserves to be again. Plus, you're no good to me drunk and depressed."

Once again Darvin didn't know what to say. He had hardly spent any time with this woman. Yet she was trying to help him even though she was fully aware of his sordid past. "We only spent the one night together. Why are you going to all this trouble?"

She laughed at him and said, "Two reasons. One, I needed a date to the ball. You were obviously available. And two, there is a lot of good in you Darvin Amblecrown. I could see it that night. I can see it now. My father would call it untapped potential."

Darvin nodded, "Thank you for the kind words, they have been few and far between lately. And tha..."

"Don't thank me for that yet. We have yet to speak with him. My father loves nothing more than his only daughter, but his own money is a close second and getting him to part with it won't be easy."

He nodded to her. This woman had him absolutely spellbound. He was not overcome with lust, as would have been the case over the last three years. Granted, Shandri was a beauty, more than a few heads had turned as they walked in. Instead, Darvin looked at her with feelings of respect and gratitude.

He led her over to the punch bowl where he got his date and himself a glass, while also grabbing an extra one. Then he approached her father. Shandri held back but was close enough to hear the conversation and interject if need be.

"Lord Greycastle, it appears you are low on punch. Hopefully this helps," Darvin said as he offered the glass to Orlando.

"Thank you, but I doubt you came over here just to quench my thirst."

"Yes sir, I was hoping we could continue our conversation from earlier." Darvin replied.

Diplomacy
Roll(1d20)+8:
20,+8
Total:28

Holy balls! I'm doomed when we actually start fighting things.

Equinox Ball - Grand Ballroom B

Talathel watched as Johan made his way up to the balcony. He was not surprised to see that he had gone for a more secluded place. He figured the party scene was not Johan's place.

What was Talathel's place? After traveling throughout Faerun, usually by himself, he had found his transition back into Baldur's Gate to be awkward. He seemed to be a step behind everyone else, unsure of what to do.

The first ballroom seemed to be a little stuff. He didn't want to be trapped talking politics with the council. So, that ruled out Ballroom A. The revelry outside at the commoner's dance would have called to him in his past, but no more. He decided that Ballroom B would be a happy medium. He entered through the double doors and looked around.

There was a lot of merriment before him. Talathel circled the outside of the dancing. Creatures of seemingly every race were here. Talathel figured at least one half elf would be made tonight, the poor thing.

More than once he was tempted to switch to wine, but he did not. He found an open chair that had been left unattended. He sat down and watched the festivities unfold. His eyes scanned the room. He enjoyed the music. He took it all in. He had missed being around people.

Though not looking for anyone in particular, his eyes kept focusing on a human. She wore a red dress, with a material that seemed to glow. Talathel felt an urging that he had not felt in many moons.  In spite of himself, he found himself rising to and approaching her. The human seemed to be part of a group, but not attached to anyone in particular.

"Happy Equinox to you, fair maiden! I am Talathel. I could not help but notice you from across the room. May I have a dance?"

Charisma
Roll(1d20)+5:
19,+5

Total:24

To A Colored Animal Inn... and then to the Commoner's Dance

Taking a cue from Nick re-posting some context!

Nym danced clumsily into the streets. "I should have brought my lute!" She feigned strumming, and began to half hum half sing.

"Hmm HMMM HMM today that you're not mine to keeeeeep.
Hmmm hmmm hu-hmmm mmm mmmm!"

"I'm usually better at remembering this paaaart! Hmmm hmmm hmmm"

"It’s only water. It’s only fire. It’s only love."

"It’s only slaughter. We’re only liars. It’s only blood."

"They’re only thoughts that I’m having - thoughts safe within my head.
You’re only crying. You’re only dying! You’re only dead."

Nym slowed her pretend lute playing, staring off into the darkness toward the docks. <"Maybe you should take this,"> she murmured in Elvish, pulling her lien collection from her pocket and handing it to Evelaen. Still staring toward the docks, she added, "I'm going to go tttthataway," and pointed the opposite direction toward the town square where the general Equinox party was underway.

Nym stretched her back before beginning to clumsily skip toward the commoner's party. She turned back to wave at Evelaen, adding, <"Goodbye, lovely human, if we both survive the night, I hope we meet again!">

<"Nay, fair half-elf, though it is early for some, for you it is far too late. You should come with me to the Lady Narath and perhaps we can sing and create merriment that will undo the filth that has been laid bare."> She said as she hooked her arms into Nym's. <"Besides, Illuvaen wouldn't want his beloved to be companionless tonight!>

Nym allowed herself to be lead for a moment, her face defeated, before she stopped walking. "I don't want to go there... it's... I..." Tears were in her eyes as she whispered, "anywhere but there."

"Fine, we'll go to the lovely in where Beranhond and I are staying. You can tell me all about Illuvaen and sing songs!" She said pulling Nym off toward the colored animal inn.

"That's a really weird name..." Nym murmured as she was pulled along. "Is it by the docks?" she asked.

--------------------------------

After being pulled along by Evelaen for several minutes, Nym slowly began to realize that she was ruining more than her own evening. "The drinking is supposed to lead to forgetting, not drunken guilt," she thought, annoyed.

Nym slowed her steps, pulling them both to a stop. "You know, I don't even have by lute, so I'm not much for singing songs tonight," she said lamely, avoiding Evelaen's eyes. "I think I'll return to my own colored animal inn and you should return to the ball..." Evelaen seemed unconvinced, so Nym added, "Pipper hasn't been outside for a good hour at least, so I should do that..." She cleared her throat, adding quickly, "and stop making a mess of things." Nym looked through Evelaen. "Besides, Beranhond probably would appreciate your company."

Evelaen seemed uncertain, but Nym assured her she'd return to her own inn until the human let her go on her own way reluctantly.

Nym walked slowly along the docks toward the inn, enjoying the fuzzy feeling of the wine in her head. She leaned against a dock gate looking into the inky water below. "I wonder how many stones in my pockets would keep me from coming back up?" she thought. She shook her head as though the thought could be pushed away like an unwanted spiderweb even though she knew it couldn't. She kicked a few stones into the water and watched the surface ripple and then become still again, feeling oddly satisfied by it. Finally, feeling chilled in her lightweight dress, Nym finished her walk to the inn.

Nym opened the door sheepishly, and was greeted by the two half orc barbarian brothers she'd met the night before. "OY, ELF LADY! NICE DRESS!" Ort yelled to Nym, punching his brother Fin in the ribs. Their companion Kepio, a goliath warlock, rolled her eyes at them.

"FUCK YOU ORT, YA GIT" Fin yelled back, kicking at his brother.

"I already told you both, no fighting in here!" Tores, the Dwarven bartender yelled at the pair, her voice annoyed with their antics.

A plan began forming in Nym's head. "You need these two out of your hair?" Nym asked Tores, smiling mischievously. Tores just gave Nym a look of exasperation and rolled her eyes. To the half orcs and goliath, Nym asked, her eyes sparkling "You three want to escort me to the dance in the town square?"

"WE DON' DANCE, LADY ELF," Ort yelled.

"Some of us DO," Kepio grumbled, glaring at Ort.

"We don't have to dance!" Nym replied sassily. "We can eat and drink." She smiled, crossing her arms.

"WE LIKE THOSE THINGS GOOD, YA?" replied Fin.

"Thank you," Tores whispered, relieved. Nym winked at the bartender.

"Ok, five minutes!" Nym replied to Fin, Ort, and Kepio, running awkwardly up the stairs, stumbling a bit at the top and laughing at her drunk self. She changed, grabbed her lute and some money, and poked Pipper to see if he was awake and wanted to come too. He grumbled in annoyance, eyed Nym, and then scooted out of her reach to go back to sleep. "Fiiiine, I'll go spend the night with people twice as tall as me then. You were going to even out the heights with me, but I GUESS I can represent all the short people of Faerun myself." She smiled at the fox, scratching his ears, before she left her room.

"Alright!" she exclaimed excitedly to her enormous friends. "Let's get out of here!" Kepio seemed happy to have someone who wasn't a boorish idiot to talk to for the night, and the brothers seemed excited to eat and drink more. Nym found she had to jog to keep up with her three companions, but forgetting was worth it.

Equinox Ball - Upstairs Overlook

Johan ascends the stairs to the overlook, passing a few partygoers up the sweeping staircase. The music is more muted and echoing up from the grand ballroom floor, and from the large open balcony behind the distant music and cheering from the commoner's parties filters up.

He takes a glass from a passing butler, not bothering to drink it as he wanders around, his eyes scanning the much sparser crowd up here to see if anything catches his eye.

Not sure if Insight or Perception is more relevant for noticing people of interest in the overlook/balcony:
Insight(+6): Rolled a 9, so 15.
Perception(+11): Rolled a 1, so 12.

Equinox Ball - Speech

It was a moment later that Beranhond found himself pushed up a circular staircase to a platform for the formal speech that begun the ball.
"Greetings Lords, Nobles, Merchants, and Free Peoples of Baldur's Gate on this most blessed day! I wish you fair weather, fair wealth, fair justice, and always, fair wine and song. I am told that it is on this day that important announcements regarding the future are announced and I am glad, nay exuberant, that the city council has chosen me to announce them." He swallowed and looked around catching eyes.
"First, one of the pleasures of being in front of so many people is that I have a chance to present a version of myself that is straight from my mouth instead of from the mouth of others. It is true that several years ago I was a part of a group named Kilink that sought to find out the source of the earthquake that so damaged the city." There was some booing at this, but Beranond continued. "It is true that we discovered the source." Some minor booing. "Yes, we did, though, I will freely admit that we did not manage to bring it to full justice."
"Still, it is a new year, a new season, and a new one of hope. The group I am a part of is back, it is renewed, and it has the full backing of the council to seek out and harass the undead pirates that ravage our shipping, our coast, and our very lives." He slammed his hand onto the podium. This wasn't entirely true as yet, but Beranhond figured that making such a bold statement would help firm up the weaker parts of the council. Besides, they asked him to give the speech in part to humiliate him, but they should have known better.
"Yet, we shall not be alone! The city has agreed to reach out to other privateer and to sttart the active formation of a grand flotilla to actively reclaim the waters around the sea. As a city we have been far too passive in our defense, we have let the city fall into waste and that will not continue."
"Tonight, one behalf of the city council, I ask you nobles, you merchants, and you free people to join together in helping to finance and outfit this flotilla. I ask you to join your hands together so that we might make a better Baldur's Gate!" He raised his fist as clapping tumbled around him. "Though, at this moment I mostly ask that you raise your glass, that the band strike up a sound, and that we celebrate the beginning of a new dawn." The room thundered with applause. Beranhond smiled around, beaming. It wasn't his best speech, but it was good enough on short notice.
At that, the doors opened up and the grandballroom was open for the party to enter.

At this point you can spread out and move around. There will be five locations you can wander around in.

1. Grand ballroom A: City Council, Orlando
2. Grand Ballroom B: Drinking and Dancing
3. Entrance, this room we are in.
4. Upstairs overlook - a more secluded section with some darker sections.
 5. The commoner's dance

Feel free to start the posts off as you like. I'll add in the locations that not one has posted yet tomorrow.

Equinox Ball - Introduction

The Equinox Ball, one of the foremost events in the long history of Baldur's Gate, started off with a flourish. At precisely 5:49 the grand parade set forth from the harbor and made its way through the city. Although sad and tame by historic standards the grand parade still included the marshaling of the nobility, the merchant princes, and the other variety of guilds, collectives, artisans, and other such people who wished to bang drums, cymbals, and cry havoc.
It took thirty minutes to wander through the streets, in part because the historic parade route past the temple had been abandoned ever since the catacombs underneath had become a warren for the various syndicates.

 Beranhond, wearing a splendid white doublet with a blue cape followed closely behind the city council. He had been forced to join the council for the parade, much to his chagrin, and along the parade route many of the townsfolk spotted him and called out to their friends.
"Ah, the prophet, he returns!"
"Last time he came he brought a Tormish army that faltered and is now mostly zombies, what hope does he bring this time?"
"He healed the many!"
"He his a bringer of death."
Some of them called out his name others mocked him. Yet, he marched on, trying not to show his unease at the situation.
"It's a good thing Evelaen managed to skip the parade. Well, maybe. Eh, it's really that I'm mostly just jealous." He thought to himself as they marched along.

Finally, with all the pomp and splendor it stopped in front of the L'aeis de Sro, a large multiroomed pavilion made of numerous glass sheets bound together with iron. The interior of the pavilion was really boring stone work, but once a year the glassblowers competed to replace the broken sheets of glass that comprised the exterior. Large limelight were rigged to shine lights across the glass and create an intense brightness that helped illuminate the interiors.

At this point the parade split into two parties with the lower classes finding their way to the less costly, but in their minds infinitely more entertaining fest, while the upper class made their way to the ball. The council, merchants, remaining priests, and other important figures entered first, followed by the other party guests who arrived on their own schedule.

 The entrance to the ball was guarded by two richly dressed guardsmen carrying large, unwieldy, halberds that they were supposed to use to block those not invited. Naturally, this meant that the two guards held tightly to them and hopped against hope that they didn't collapse on them.
"Well done men." Beranhond said as he approached. From the shadows Evelaen stepped out wearing a flowing red dress, with a large silvery necklace.
"Hmmm, we clash a bit." He mentioned as he took her arm looking up and down her a bit possively before quickly looking back up.
She laughed. "No, red and white go splendidly together. That blue doesn't quite work, but it'll do for now."
They walked past the guards and into the ballroom Beranhond looking for a drink before having to hobknob with the council for much of the evening.

Alright folks. At this point I just want you to make your entrance and find yourself in the entry space before the opening speech starts. Feel free to add details as you like - the pavilion is designed after the Crystal Palace of industrial England, so feel free to use that as a model. Don't leave the entry room yet as after the formal speech I'll create different posts for each space in which you can wander and interact!
 

Update

Hi folks, in order to bring everyone up to date to the proper time and place the next post is going to be at the starts of the Equinox Ball. If you have any else you want to care of that isn't related to the Ball, post it here and I'll take care of it will be taken care of within this post and without RP.

Otherwise the Equinox Ball will start on Thursday!

A Proposal for the Baroness deHaville

The Baroness deHaville's estate was enormous. Nym wondered how three people could possibly use so much space as they approached the gates. Nym tried the gate handle. "Locked," Nym said before teleporting to the other side and opening the gate for Evelaen and then re-locking the gate once she was inside.

Nym walked up to the oak double doors to the front of the house and knocked. After a few moments, the door creaked open, and an annoyed young woman peered out at them. "The mistress won't be buying anything, especially at this hour," she said, frowning.

"We're here about the Baroness' missing son and husband," Nym offered, smiling. "We have a way for her to contact them directly, which should make them much easier to find."

The woman blinked, surprised. "Well, uh, come in then," she said, gesturing for Nym and Evelaen to enter. "Please wait here while I fetch the mistress."

Left alone in the entryway, Nym looked around at the opulent furniture and huge paintings. "Strange place, this," she said half to Evelaen and half to herself.

Questions, Shadows, and Singing Elves

Johan made his farewells for the night from Odin's, following Nym's slightly overdramatic exit in a cloud of magical sparks. He followed his feet, enjoying the cool breeze ruffling the edges of his coat as the sky continued to leech the leftover light and fade to a deep blue-black. He could feel a chuckle escape his lips as the faint sounds of singing caught his attention, and looking up he saw the sign for the Elfsong Tavern again looming overhead.

"Seems I liked this alehouse a bit more than I had previously thought. Well, the Syndicate dropped me off here before, and they doubtless had some eyes watching us all day before, so what more harm could it do?" he thought, before pushing open the door.

Inside the crowd was much more substantial, a particular group of mercenaries taking up the largest tavern, and looking around aimlessly with stunned expressions as the notes of the ghost's song echoed around the rafters.

Johan made his way over to the bar, and when the half-elf bartender was free, he caught her attention, and said "Lady Elandara, might I trouble you for a question for a moment?"

She cocked her head in curiosity, smiling and nodding, and after she finished drawing the set of thin beers for the table of mercenaries, she made her way over to his booth. He gave her a thin smile, and said "I wonder if I could trouble you a question about an individual I've seen a few times around the...less savory sections of Baldur's Gate; He, or it rather, is a shadowy figure, humanoid in general shape but impossible to clearly make out. Sound familiar by any chance?"

Diplomacy(+16): Rolled 19, so 35.

Drink Your Troubles Away at the Purple Wyrm Inn & Tavern

Nym wandered the city until she had calmed down enough to think straight. She considered going to the ship for the night, but didn’t really feel like talking to anyone she knew at the moment so decided an inn was in order. She considered returning to the Blushing Mermaid, but it had been a bit seedier last night than she’d recalled. Besides that, it was on the other side of the city, which was unappealing. While trying to sell rituals, the Purple Wyrm by the docks had been suggested as an up-and-up inn and tavern that merchants and adventures frequented. “Vampires and assassins and questionably moral people,” Nym grumbled as she turned around and headed toward the docks.

It didn’t take long to find the Purple Wyrm Inn and Tavern with its well-lit sign. Nym rented stabling and a room, and once she had her animals settled in, she headed back to the tavern. The patrons were boisterous but pleasant, and Nym settled into a seat along the edge of the bar where she could people watch.

After a few minutes, the young dwarf behind the bar came over to Nym. “Havin’ anything tonight, lass?” she asked, smiling. Nym noted that her beard was expertly braided.

“Yes, I’d like to get something to eat… and a drink too, I think. It’s been a long day,” Nym replied.

“We’ve got a nice brassla on tonight with fresh eel and oyster. I recommend it with the blackbread and waterdhavian cheese. Cheese ain’t made in Waterdeep anymore, though. Since… you know.” The dwarf shrugged and smiled as she pulled out a small pad of paper to write down Nym’s order.

“That sounds perfect,” Nym replied, letting out a long sigh.

“And t’ drink?”

“I think something strong but manageable for less hearty, non-Dwarven folk. What would you recommend?”

The Dwarf woman chuckled, “Don’ want t’ end up on the floor tonight, then. We have fireseed if you’re lookin’ for strong strong. Our house red is fine, and we have a nice clarry too. I could add a shot of seawine at no charge if you’d like it stronger.” The woman winked, smiling.

“Yes, I’d love the clarry with a shot of seawine,” Nym replied, satisfied. She wondered who named a liqueur ‘seawine’ and if they were drunk when they named it.

Over the next few hours, Nym continued to drink, learned that the bartender’s name was Tores Forgehood and became her friend, met a group of six merchants and adventurers and became friends with them, and was coaxed by her new friends to take the stage and play some music since no band was scheduled that night.

What's in a Name?

As Darvin stood there panicking about the name of the brown eyed, blonde haired beauty standing in front of him, something clicked in his brain.

"Shandri Greycastle. Her name is Shandri Greycastle. Her father is one of the wealthiest merchants in the city. You jumped out of her bedroom window the morning after a good rutting as her father came looking for her." 

Darvin looked at the woman in front of him. She was quite beautiful. A little taller than him, well proportioned with dirty blonde hair and big brown doe eyes. He was a little dumbfounded he hadn't called on her again. But then again he had been an idiot for the majority of the last three years.

"Where's the monkey with the hat?" Shandri asked causing Darvin to be shaken out of his thought.

"Oh, he's back on the ship. Keeping everything on schedule." 

"Darvin, you keep telling me about this ship but you have yet to let me see it."

As she said this to him, an idea began forming in his head, "That's because, my dear Shandri, it is nowhere near ready for someone as lovely as yourself to grace it's decks. However, as it turns out I was just looking for your father. You wouldn't happen to know where he is?"

She looked at Darvin kind of skeptically but also seemed amused, "Well, if you're looking for father you're going in the complete wrong direction. You know he works in the financial district. You're walking into the industrial district."

Darvin looked around him. He was smack dab in the middle of Baldur's Gate industrial complex. Nowhere near the financial sector.

"Ah, so I am. Well, may I oppose upon the lady and ask her to escort me to her father's place of business?" Darvin asked while offering her his arm.

Day One Evening Reconvening

Nym was tired. This had been the longest day she'd had in some time, and she was glad it was at least mostly over. She slowly made her way back to Odin's shop in the dark. The shop was dark, and the door locked. Nym shrugged and teleported into the shop to unlock the door and light a few lanterns. She then unlocked the stable and helped Nesme settle in before re-locking the stable and returning to the shop interior.

Nym sat down behind the counter and counted her earnings for the day. "176 gold. Not bad," she said to herself, putting it in a small sack on her belt. Pipper was smelling all the unique smells of the shop, and Nym was quickly becoming bored alone in the shop. For a bit, she wandered around the shop looking at the various odds and ends before she noticed Violet's pile of papers from their meeting aboard the ship the night before. A plan slowly began to form in her head and she sifted through the pile looking for the parchment with the information about Baroness deHaville's missing husband and child. When she found it, she read it thoroughly, and whistled in happiness at her plan. "Now I just have to wait for the others to get back to see if they know where I can get a copy of a sending ritual," she murmured, wiggling with impatience. She pulled out her ritual book and turned to the blank pages. "Hopefully one I can copy and use repeatedly!" she added, slamming the book shut and standing up triumphantly.

Alas, Nym was still alone, so she sat back down and tapped her finger on the nearby display case impatiently.

What does the Baroness deHaville's request say? How much is the reward and is she in Baldur's Gate?

Making Money the Honest Way

Nym wandered out of the city hall and into the streets uncertain what she should do next. "I'm going to make some money," she said to herself with determination. She sat down on the side of the road, pulled out some parchment, and began making herself a sign:

Rituals, Letter Reading or Translation
& High Forest Herbal Remedies

Rituals

50 gp, Gentle Repose: Ensure your loved ones do not return as undead

50 gp, Purify Water: Know your water is safe for drinking

100 gp, Bloom: Have a black thumb? Need produce now? Let's fix it! Healthy crops produce food to feed five people for a week!

250 gp, Speak with Nature: Learn what your beloved pet wants or needs in their own words

5 gp, Letter Reading or Translation

Common

Elven

Chondathan

Draconic

Dwarven

Primordial

Supernal

10 gp, Have a prayer translated into the language of the gods!

25 gp, Thayan

2 gp, Herbal Remedies

Pain Relief (Muscle, arthritis, headache & more)

Wound Care

Cough Suppressant

Contraceptives

Lycanthropy Cure

Blemish Care (Warts, acne & more)

Fever Reduction
Various Disease Treatments

Seasonings

Animal musks

Not listed? Ask!

Available for musical entertainment & magical storytelling as well!
10 gp per hour

~ Tips appreciated ~

When Nym finished, she shrugged, pulled out her lute, and headed to the marketplace to set up shop. 

"We just need twelve people who really love their pets to stop by," she said, giggling, as she propped her sign up by the fountain in the market. She put out a bag for musical tips and began playing a variety of songs for passersby. 

The Awkward Adventures of Nym and Darvin

Nym sat silently at the table starting at the doors Beranhond had exited through. "I'm dead and this is hell," she thought, a grimace crossing her face.

It was rare she found herself without words, but Nym wasn't sure what to say as she turned back to Darvin. After staring at him awkwardly for what seemed like an unacceptably awkward amount of time, she said in Elvish, raising her glass, <"To Baldur's Keep, my least favorite place on all the planes..."> She thought for a moment, and corrected herself, <"Make that second least favorite,"> and she downed her third shot.

Feeling a buzz from her drinks, Nym stood up and started walking toward the door, beckoning Darvin to follow. She had no idea where she was going other than 'not here' and 'away'. "You know, I have no idea if you speak Elvish or not. I hope that wasn't too rude," Nym said pushing open the main door. She snorted and giggled, adding, "After you, Lord Pirate of Daughters." She bowed deeply before skipping out the door onto the street. Pipper hopped out after her, and Nym whistled for Nesme to follow.

As Darvin caught up to her, Nym began, "Speaking of daughters, my grandmother's sister's daughter's daughter just had a daughter last Midsummer. They live in Silverymoon, and Eva is precious. I don't think I've ever seen a cuter half elf child in my life! She has a sister who just turned six a few weeks back, and she's going to be going to the Lady's College in Silverymoon in just a year. Her parents are both on the city council in Silverymoon, which I've always found friendlier than Baldur's Gate. Of course, maybe that's since they're my cousins. Well, second cousins. Third cousins? I'm not really sure, but I've always just called them my cousins. You see my grandmother and her sister are twins, so they're very close, and..."

Having no real direction, Nym wandered back toward the ship with Darvin in tow as she talked.

Lazy day's aboard the Lady Narath

"Well, this is fun." Evelaen said staring off into the city. "This city is rather... ugly." She said to no one in particular. She let out a sigh and gazed across the squat gray buildings and ruined structures.
She turned around and paced back to the table where they had met last night. Spread across the table were a series of scrolls, sheets, and books. She brushed her a strand of her brown hair out of her face while looking for a particular scroll, before finally selecting a thick scroll that she had been composing for most of her journey out to the Baldur's Gate.
"Still enjoying that mediating?" She asked Talathel.

A Lien, Mean Syndicate Machine

The next morning when Johan arrived at Odin's Fine Provisions and Sporting Goods, Odin was already pacing back and forth and making Violet nervous as they tried to think about what to do to pay off the lien on the Lady Narath. Violet was sitting at a table with a small stack of paper and a piece of charcoal taking notes and trying to use the paper to help her think.

"So what do we have? Well, this shop is just about breaking even, so that's out," Odin said. "And I'm not willing to give up everything I have for a group of people I just met yesterday, even if they are your friends. No offense. I just have a lot invested in this place."

"I know, dear. It wouldn't be enough to pay off the lien, anyway," Violet replied, "The loans you had to take out to get your materials would take out most of the value that you could get from a sale like that."

"Well, I suppose there is more than one way to harvest a Boola Blossom." Odin said as he continued pacing. "Option 1 could be to try to pay off the lien straight out. Option 2, get it fixed up and take off before they can stop us?"

Violet snorted, "I think they'd see through that. There's no way we could get it seaworthy without them trying to repossess the ship early when they realize what our plan is. Plus, I'm not sure we could get it all done in a week."

Odin shook his head, and said, without turning, "Johan, do you have any ideas?" causing Violet to start and look up from the paper she was staring at, "I suppose we could try to strongarm them or something, but I don't know any leverage that would make them feel threatened by a small group of adventurers that includes at least one half-elf with a reputation for drunken slovenly behavior."

City Council Meeting

The sky was a gorgeous blue and the sun a warm yellow as Beranhond, Darvin, and Nym headed off to the city council meeting. The city was bustling about them as the incoming merchant ships hurriedly unloaded parcels and barrels and other goods.
"This weather doesn't at all fit the trepidation of today." Beranhond commented, mostly to break up the silence that hovered around them. Nym nodded staring off north toward Silverymoon. Beranhond smiled, suspecting that he knew what was drawing her attention away this morning. Darvin just grunted, looking down as he marched alongside Beranhond.
"Everyone seems to be in a stupor today." Tigrisclawu commented as he trotted along next to them.
"Yes, that's bound to happen on such momentous days." Beranhond said sighing. "I thought you'd stay with Evelaen on the ship."
"Oh, no, that's going to be boring. He isn't her type at all, so there won't even be any teasing."
"Yeah, that's true. I do enjoy the newfound gravitas he has."
"You mean boring. He used to be so fun when he'd bury his head in an ale barrel."
"Stop it."

The city council had moved out of its now ruined city hall into one of the merchant houses that had been claimed my eminent domain. It was once the largest private dwelling in the city and now housed offices for the council, the protectorate, and the defense coalition. A wrought iron gate barred their way and Beranhond politely negotiated for their entrance. After a moment they were greeted and quickly rushed through the paperwork before being led downstairs to the meeting room that was once a concert hall. The guards guided them to the bottom step before the podium. The council took a moment to finish its paperwork, deliberately ignoring them before finally turning their attention to the front.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Kilink, back from the dead." The lead elder, Ashaesa, said. "I'm impressed that Darvin decided to show his face in public. Our reports said that he only showed his face at night in the slums and whorehouses."
Beranhond glared upward at them before clearing his throat. "Personal attacks aside, we have come to discuss the agreement we made several years ago regarding the vessel named 'The Lady Narath'. We request a dismissal of the lien and a new license to combat the piracy so prevalent on the seas."
Beranhond paused for a moment, waiting for some kind of reaction.
"That's all? You all scatter to the wind, take up moorage in the harbor, destroy the vessel, and don't even really help the city at all and you just request a new license?"

A brief parting

Hi all,

This has been going great! One thing that both (which apparently I pronounce like bulth instead of bohth) does anyone else do that - Erin, what's your midwestern accent make it sound like?) Dan and I are aiming to do is to keep the plot a bit more grounded and personal. So, be prepared for lots of fun stuff to come and confront you personally! Dun, dun, dun!


There are a couple things I don't really want to worry about doing in roleplay.

First, the name. Several names have been put forward. I'd like us to decide, via vote, in the comments.

The Thojdolf Society
The Lady Narath Company
The Syndicate of Emancipated Acquisitions
The Syndicate of Everlasting Awesome
Typhoon in a BottleDawn Bringers
  
Second, the next phase will involve two separate parties dealing with either the syndicate or the city council. Could you split yourselves up in the comment section? Thanks! 

Restless Ghosts

Alternate narrated song

Johan threaded his way through closed market stalls and the occasional late-night merchant before finding himself in front of a tavern. Despite himself, he smiled as he stepped through the threshold under the wood sign that read Elfsong Tavern.

He had heard the stories of the tavern, and suspected the echoes of those stories had taken advantage of his distracted mind to guide his feet towards the establishment. The lilting sound of the unseen ghost wafted through the air, like an intoxicating perfume; It was unexpectedly empty inside, with just a handful of patrons at tables that could seat twoscore more. Apparently the songs of the dead that provided the tavern's namesake were offputting to actually hear.

Johan smiled, unconsciously rubbing the scar that encircled one finger, and listened for a while.

The candles had burned far lower when he stood again, although the witching hour was still some ways off. He strode to the bar, catching the attention of the half-elf bartender. She strode over, and racking his mind Johan finally said "Lady...Elana?"

She smiled, and with a little chuckle shook her head. "Elandara. What will it be, traveler?"

Johan scanned the menu carved into the bar, before one item caught his eye. A plan that had been formulating in drips and drabs in his mind suddenly came into sharp focus. "I'd like to rent one of the rooms upstairs, for, eh, four candles," eyeing the engraved message on the bartop that read

 Meeting Room - 1 candle for 1 gold
Loiterers after the last candle has burnt down will be thrown out.
Candles good for about an hour.

She nodded, pulling a quartet of thin beeswax taper candles from a wooden box below the counter, and lighting one from the torch sconce on the wall. She passed him a thin silver key, and nodded towards the upstairs room as he passed her the coins in payment.

"Room is the one on the left at the end of the corridor. Will there be anything else?"

He nodded as something his father had mentioned once floated to the surface. "Are you carrying any coin for House Riopel of Thay?" he muttered. She nodded with a little smile, but he just nodded and returned the smile despite himself.

The ghostsong must be getting to my mind too. He shook his head as he made his way to the meeting room. He lit the lantern on the small room's equally-small table; His darkvision meant it was a waste of good lamp oil, but he'd rather someone saw the light and didn't barge in before his hours were up.

I have to find that bastard earlier; He knew me, recognized me, and if word gets back to the rest of house Riopel, father will send every damn vryloka hunter coin can buy to bring my head back in a sack.

He clicked open the tiny window, careful to oil it with  a drip from the lantern so it merely whispered open. Catching sight of the thin sliver of moon overhead, Johan grinned, no humor in this sharp-toothed smile.

Gods be damned, wherever they are: It's about time for a hunt.

He slid through the window and onto the roof, before making his way to an adjacent alley, and melting into the city to find his quarry.

OOC: Alright, Johan's going to try and track down the little smarmy guy from earlier. Going to do a Streetwise and Perception, but let me know if there's a different check that would be appropriate to find the debt collector guy:

Streetwise (+17):  Rolled 17, so 34.

Perception (+11): Rolled a 3, so 14.

Stealth while doing so (+12):  Rolled an 11, so 23.

Doubt and Demons

Nym rode slowly through the city to a quiet inn where she’d stayed years before: The Blushing Mermaid. She paid for a small room and stabling for Nesme, brushed and stabled the horse, and then, exhausted, made her way to her room with Pipper. For some time, she stood at the window staring out to sea, watching the stars appear as the sky darkened. Finally, Nym made her way to the bath the inn maid had drawn for her. The water was lukewarm, but she didn’t mind. After washing, Nym sat in the bath staring into space until the water grew too cold to stand. She pulled on her nightgown and made her way to the bed where Pipper had curled up and fallen asleep already.

Nym pulled the two speaking stones out of her pants pocket, turning them over in her hand. She gently placed the stone matching her father’s stone back into the pocket. Nym held the other stone up to her lips, and whispered, “Illuvaen?”

After a few moments, she heard him reply, “Good evening, Nym! Have you made it to Baldur’s Gate yet?”

“Yes, but… they’re here.” she answered, her voice cracking slightly.

“Kilink? Your friends? I thought you had hoped to see them again. Has something happened?”

“They… they want to go treasure hunting.”

Illuvaen was silent on his end of the speaking stones, waiting for her to continue. 

“And… and fight the rising Darkness,” Nym continued after several moments.

“Nym, you shouldn’t do anything that will be damaging to you, but I think this is a good opportunity,” Illuvaen replied, sounding supportive but concerned.

“I can’t…” she replied, choking up. She tried to hold back her tears, but they began flowing freely down her face. “I-I… no, I can’t… I’m not a hero! Every time I’ve tried to make the world a better place, I’ve just made it worse.” Nym sobbed openly, whispering between sobs, “The druids… I’m a monster… Their children too… and the Influence… and I killed Thjodolf and… I’m a murderer… and Darvin… it’s my fault… I can’t! Nonononono…” Nyms sobs shook her small body, and she gasped, unable to say more.

“Nym, you’re not a monster! You’ve made mistakes like we all have. Please, listen to me.”

Nym’s sobbing slowed, and she whimpered, wishing she had allowed Illuvaen to come with her to Baldur’s Gate. She felt so very alone.

“Nym, this is your chance to make things right… and you can’t stand by while your world is destroyed.” Illuvaen’s voice sounded pained at his last statement. Nym quieted herself, still shaking, her face streaked with tears. “I can’t stand by while your world is destroyed,” Illuvaen added quietly.

They were both silent for a moment before Illuvaen added with resolve, “Where can I meet you? I won’t leave you to take on this burden alone.”

Nym let out a long, slow breath, and replied, defeated, “Daggerford.”

“I will leave immediately,” Illuvaen said. Nym could hear him shuffling about before he added, “Don’t lose heart, my love. You cannot change the past, but you can shape this world’s future. And I will be there by your side.”

Nym was quiet, her thoughts still troubled. After a brief silence, she replied, “I love you,” closing her eyes and holding the stone up to her lips.

“I love you too, like the forest loves the rain,” Illuvaen replied, “I will see you in Daggerford, my little bird.”

Nym sat still for a long while, exhausted. Finally, she slipped the speaking stone back into her pocket, and whispered to herself, “I’ve hurt so many people… but maybe… maybe I can yet make things right.” 

Illuvaen’s words ran through her head as she laid down in her bed. She didn’t understand how he could love her after all she’d done, but yet he did. And she loved him. “Perhaps I dreamed him to life,” she thought, smiling wistfully as she laid down to sleep, “He is from a dream plane after all.” Pipper curled up against Nym’s back, and she wondered if perhaps she and Illuvaen had always been destined to meet one another or if she could just be this lucky.

Nym fell into a fitful sleep and dreamt of the druids and the orc camp in the Shaar has she had every night for the past three years.

Ruffians in the Dark!

"Oh, Darvin are you planning on leaving Baldur's Gate tomorrow?" Came an oily voice from the gangplank. "If so, we'd love if you'd remove all the garbage and refuse from our ship before you go." He said stepping onto the deck of the Lady Narath. The man scowled at the group assembled before him. "Well, what a freakshow..." He said stepping toward the table around at the assembled crew. "Is this the going away party you're hosting, Captain, before you finally remove yourself from our ship?" The man grinned and showed a set of stained and yellowed teeth.

"Hmmm..." Beranhond said standing and glaring down at the man. "Please explain yourself."
The man looked Beranhond up and down. Beranhond easily towered a foot over the man and the silvery armor under his cloak glinted in the lantern light. He changed his tone quickly as his eyes adjusted and noticed that none of the women at the table seemed remotely perturbed by his presence. Like most bullies they are quick to change their tone when confronted.

"Don't get all pissy with me." He said quickly. "I'm here for legitimate reasons on behalf of the Waldorf Syndicate - we have purchased the lien on the Lady Narath and are technically owners of the vessel. I was sent here to remind Darvin that he only has a short amount of time to repay the lien to use before we reclaim the vessel in the name of city of Baldur's Gate." He dropped a scroll on the table quickly before slinking back. Beranhond glared at him once more as he picked up the scroll and opened it up. The man cowered a bit before continuing, "You can argue it all you want, but the syndicate is short tempered with you!" He turned his head and caught a look at Johan and gave a very slight grin, before returning to his soured expression.

"So, if you're leaving town you might as well clear out, or you can visit the syndicate tomorrow with the cash." The man took a look over Nym, Violet, and Evelaen and realized that none of them seemed at all perturbed. Realizing that his usual ability to crudely intimidate people was wasted here he scampered back and across the gangplank into the darkness Beranhond watched the man run away and then handed the document to Evelaen who quickly poured over it.

"Alright, it looks like a standard legal document. It just states the dates of which The Lady Narath was passed into our company, which dates it returned, the bounty, and the syndicate which purchased the contract." She said reading over it quickly.

Beranhond sighed and rubbed his temple. "It looks like we might have to meet with them, or the city, or both, before we go off seeking treasure. Otherwise we might not have a ship at all when we return." He turned to Darvin. "What do you know about this syndicate?"

This will probably be a brief party split time, so use the comment section here to figure out the plan and then let us know who is going where and we'll handle the next part.

Skills to use:
Streetwise or history about the Waldorf Syndicate. Only Darvin, Johan, Violet, and Odin will really have anything to add here as Nym, Talathel, Evelaen, and BH are out of the loop.
Nature, while wonderful, isn't useful inside the city. Streetwise is the way to go.
Diplomacy works within conversations and for gathering info. Otherwise just RP the situation.

Dan, would you mind handling the syndicate?

Dinner Party - Evelaen's Story

All of stories are occurring at the same time, so feel free to continue to message/comment on the previous posts.

Evelaen took a drink of water and then smiled around the room. "I know we only met each other today, but I feel like I know all about you. Beranhond's stories about you were quiet in depth and detail. After all, we had a long time to talk on the journey back here from Saerloon. She took another sip.
"I was born to a wealthy family in Saerloon. My father served as a legal adviser to the merchant and mining councils. I naturally was heavily involved in the upper crust of the city. It might surprise you, as Saerloon is known for its thievery and dark underbelly, but the upper crust of the city, though not that different in many ways, loved their over the top festivities. At the age of thirteen my family put together my cotillion where I was shown off of to the noble classes and my family prepared for my marriage."
She caught the surprised look in Nym's eyes.
"I was married by fourteen to a wealthy family in the city. My husband is nice enough, but honestly, an arranged marriage to a man who is mostly concerned with making moe money and having more stuff isn't exactly what I was looking for in my life."
She shifted slightly, starting to draw vertical lines on the piece of paper she had kept in front of her for notekeeping.
"Needless to say, my marriage was a bit of a sham, partially because I was keeping a second, much more private life, as a sorceress. I took to haunting the streets at night after my husband fell asleep fighting with the local brigands and crime elements. It was late one of those nights that I met Etheldred, though, at the time he was going by the name 'Iacobes' which really didn't seem to fit."
She bit her lip, drawing the liens a bit nervously.
"Well, to tell that part of the story quickly, he was trying to provide medical aid to a fallen comrade, and I helped him to fight off the local brigands. On the way to my home we got to talking and telling stories... to make a long story short I left my husband at our house a week later and took to ship with him."
"Beranhond still has some nervous moments about the fact that I'm married, but I try to tell him that my husband probably doesn't even notice that I'm gone. Besides, I know that if I wasn't around he'd probably wind up going back to being a farmer."