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?"
Monday, February 8, 2016
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Is Johan here/able to be here, or is he nursing a headache inside someone's jail cell?
ReplyDeleteJohan will be with Violet and Odin's mission to discuss terms, in daylight, with the syndicate. If you don't want to do that you could show up late - Beranhond, Darvin, and Nym thought you were heading on over there with Violet, so they didn't wait for you.
ReplyDeleteNah, that's fine. I just wasn't sure if I was expected to chip in here or later.
ReplyDeleteDan will be posting that up... soon?
ReplyDeleteI'm fairly sure we own the boat, albeit with a smelly lien now. If I'm remembering correctly, the City Council gave it to us because Nym was technically the last crew member of the Sea Star and so inherited it. So we just need to request the lien be removed, not for use of the ship
ReplyDeleteTechnically yes, but the group was given legal reprieve:
ReplyDeleteThese 5 have volunteered to seek out the cause of this foul treachery and destroy it wherever and whatever it is. They will take the 'Sea Star,' heretofore renamed the 'Lady Narath', and will not rest until this evil has been held accountable."
So, I think we'll take that as the need for a new 'license' to grant safe passage in/out of the city and surrounding cities.
Got it! Thanks
ReplyDeleteNym looked down, feeling the painful truth of Councilwoman Ashaesa's words. Quietly, Nym offered, "It is true we have not been successful, but it is not for a lack of trying."
ReplyDeleteShe looked up, her face sad but voice stronger, "We sought aid in the Shaar and answers from Candlekeep and Llewellyn," Nym's eyes unfocused as she added softly, "and lost much."
Nym's face was emotionless as she continued, "And you could not have forgotten the valiant efforts of the Tormish paladins, led by Beranhond, just as the gods fell silent. They fought on even though they could not win with their god's support stripped from them. This was done on Beranhond's pledge to this city."
Finding her stride, Nym added with passion, "Knowing we may have conscribed ourselves to death or worse, we took on this burden for your city. We have not forgotten it. We come now, after experiencing much loss, to continue our task to its completion."
"We do not ask for treasure. We do not ask for your sons and daughters' lives. We do not even ask your aid to fix the ship we have left to disrepair."
"We ask only for the chance to fight the darkness in this world, of which there is much. We may fail, but we ask only the chance to bring the dawn again."
Nym bowed to the council, adding softly, "I know we have not lived up to your expectations. Please allow us one final chance to prove ourselves worthy of your trust."
Diplomacy D20+18
14+18
32
Several of the council members nodded in agreement. Ashaesa however looked nonplussed.
ReplyDelete"Yes, valiant efforts perhaps, but often times misguided!" She lifted up a long sheet. "It appears that you failed to get help from the Shaar, lost half your crew in a mysterious disaster, lost the city of Waterdeep, failed to defend the innocent from the druids... need I go on? Plus, the ship remained in harbor and Darvin, she nodded toward Darvin, sat in the harbor and refused our requests to refit the ship to defend the harbor."
Nym replied, "We do not contest our failures. We only ask for the opportunity to help to the best of our abilities and atone for our sins."
ReplyDeleteNym's voice wavered before continuing, "We now have greater knowledge of the enemy, greater numbers, and greater experience. Now is our last, best chance to stop this."
Diplomacy D20+18
11+18
29
Darvin listened and felt sad as the failures of the group were recounted, but he took great offense to the last assertion by the City Council.
ReplyDelete"Requests? What requests? All that I was ever notified about was that the Council was no longer the registered owners of the ship. The Syndicate took over the contract and then they promptly put the lien on it. And let's not even get into how this notification was nailed the the side of the ship while I was on it! Can't spare the time to talk to a person when you're trying to take their livelihood? What has become evident in the last three years is that this City Council is more concerned with the well-being of a ship than the people on it!"
He took a deep breath before he continued, "Do you even know how many sons and daughters of Baldur's Gate perished in the Shaar? At Waterdeep or Llewellyn? DO YOU EVEN CARE?"
Darvin stared pure fire at Ashaesa.
Diplomacy
Roll(1d20)+8:
11,+8
Total:19
Ashaesa frowned and the temperature in the room cold several degrees.
ReplyDelete"Darvin, my sister was in Waterdeep, my father died trying to help refugees escape during the earthquake. Of course I care. I care so much that I want to raise actual concerns about whether or not you and your group have caused me harm than good and whether you have any right to a license to sail under our banner." She caught Darvin's fiery glare. "If that vessel was actually central to your way of life it would not have served as a trash heap and a place fathers warned their daughters to stay away from!" Her tone rose even higher. "Frankly, you were lucky we didn't arrest you and your crew for back taxes in property and several years of moorage fees!"
First, Nym felt shock as Darvin began speaking and her jaw dropped open. Then, she felt confusion. "Did he want HIS lien pardoned or NOT?!" Lastly, she felt annoyance matched only by Ashaesa's in the room as she dropped her head into her hands and let out an involuntary groan.
ReplyDeleteNym suddenly wished she could shoot daggers out of her eyes as the stared at Darvin while Ashaesa responded to him. As the councilwoman finished, Nym just looked between Ashaesa, Darvin, and Beranhond lacking any idea what to say that would be anywhere near appropriate.
Ashaesa's words ran through Nym's head as she looked around the room: a place fathers warned their daughters to stay away from. Nym hadn't really let herself think about it, but suddenly she wondered if anywhere on the ship was really safe to touch. "Maybe we should just burn it and ride sea turtles to battle the undead..." she thought, trying to remember if anything on the ship had seemed unreasonably sticky the night before.
Good luck finding sea turtles around with all of the druids gone and the undead everywhere. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteBut sea turtles are how all good pirates escape!
ReplyDeleteBeranhond's eyes flashed and he quickly stepped in to the situation.
ReplyDelete"Excuse me Madame Councilwoman, but might we adjourn our meeting for a recess of an hour? I'm sure you have other duties and issues and we'll return with a much more unified message."
Ashaesa glared, but the deputy nodded.
"Agreed, use the antechamber to put your facts in order."
Beranhond quickly led them to what was once the parlor and shut the door. He went over the wet bar and poured three drinks.
"Alright guys, I think we need to chat and get some of our very justifiable emotions out before we go back in."
He set the signs down in front of them and then took a sip of his own.
Nym groaned, crossed her arms on the bar, and hid her head in her arms. Her muffled voice came from her hiding place, a sarcastic tinge to her words, "But we were doing so well"
ReplyDelete"They gave us a recess interest of throwing is out. So, there's still a chance at least to get ourselves a license. Plus, several members on the council seem more... Relaxed." He took a sip of his beverage before continuing.
ReplyDelete"Frankly though, it's true, a lot of people have died under our watch. Though, that's also true for them. This is the same help that failed to rebuild the city. But, that doesn't mean we sounds necessarily attack them that way."
"I would have thrown us out," replied Nym from her arm-based hiding place.
ReplyDeleteRandom question: How old are all our characters? Nym is 24 and Illuvaen is 32 (I decided just cause).
ReplyDelete"I'm sorry but nobody from the city bothered to come onto the ship in the last 3 years. If they were so concerned with the well-being of the ship they could have come and asked." Darvin said indignantly.
ReplyDelete"...And no daughters were harmed on that ship. If anything they experienced wondrous new things."
Darvin sighed. "I am sad and angry. Everything that was good in my life left. Some of it has come back, but I still don't know what happened at the Orc camp in the Shaar. Did either of you find out what attacked the camp?" He looked hopefully at his companions.
Nym chuckled at the "wondrous new things" comment from Darvin, and slowly sat up at his questions about the Orc camp. She let her hair fall messily in her face as she looked at Darvin, her eyes distant and her expression unreadable. "Would it change anything if you knew?" she asked.
ReplyDelete"I don't know if it would change anything. But how would you feel if one of best friends died, you were there but three years later you still have no idea what happened. After all the time I spent on the ship thinking on whether I could have done things differently and maybe Thjdolf, Greg, Scriptus and Codex would all be alive. That was torture. I think I deserve to know."
ReplyDeleteNym flinched at the best friend comment, downed her untouched drink, and murmured, "I do know how that feels. Quite intimately." Nym unconsciously rubbed her Thayan slave brand through her clothes.
ReplyDeleteNym stood up, sighing tiredly, "I need some fresh air. These city buildings do my mind no favors."
As she turned, Nym added, "Knowing how and why didn't help. It just made me angrier..."
Beranhond stayed in his seat, knowing that far from being a cool down place the room could instead burst into tears of anger. He had learned the truth, or as much of it as he cared Tu learn, a few years ago and has decided to forgive and move on. He suspected Darvin might not reasons the same way.
ReplyDeleteDarvin looked at Beranhond,
ReplyDelete"So, she knows then? Do you know? And if so, why won't you tell me? I am not some child. I am the Captain of our ship. I fought alongside you in battle. I deserve to know the truth. Grant me this courtesy I would undoubtedly grant you."
Darvin looked at Beranhond,
ReplyDelete"So, she knows then? Do you know? And if so, why won't you tell me? I am not some child. I am the Captain of our ship. I fought alongside you in battle. I deserve to know the truth. Grant me this courtesy I would undoubtedly grant you."
Nym burst out the front doors of the mansion-become-city hall. She unconsciously walked through the gardens until she couldn't see buildings anymore and sat beneath a small flowering tree. "Cherry blossoms," she murmured, watching the petals fall around her and into her hair. Pipper peeked through the bushes and pushed himself into her lap.
ReplyDelete"You are no child Darvin. You are a warrior, a comrade, and ultimately a friend. I have not told you what came to pass for I knoweth not the full story." Hr paused, before sighing, "and even if I did, it is a truth that I am no longer worthy of telling, for unlike the two of you I have not had to walk a path if redemption. I thus, cannot tell a story so full of shame as to require a forgiveness that is almost too much to ask. I instead learned what I could and offered, unbagged, my absolution, small as it is."
ReplyDeleteTigrisclawu followed behind Nym, and once she collapsed against the tree he moved up and rubbed himself against her purring while catching her eye. Then he meowed softly, lightly, as if both comforting, apologizing, and forgiving.
ReplyDeleteNym stroked Tigrisclawu slowly, starting through the petals. "Meowface, you ought not be here. I really do only make things worse."
ReplyDelete"You are a lovely cat, though," she sighed.
"I think it's time to return home before I ruin Darvin's life any further...
"Or kill anyone," she choked, impatiently wiping tears away from her eyes before giving up and letting them flow freely.
Despite her statement, Nym continued to sit by the tree with the animals, slowly becoming more covered with petals.
Darvin stared at Beranhond for a moment not sure what to say. Ultimately, he decided he had no words. He sat down in a chair and sighed. He watched Nym under the cherry tree with her furry friends.
ReplyDelete"It might make me angry but I still deserve to know." He said to no one in particular.
Six deer, 15 birds, 10 squirrels, and a raccoon all come to Nym and she begins singing about cleaning the house of seven dwarves. Everyone feels weird as a standard action.
ReplyDeleteTigrisclawu shook his head at Nym. These humans were so weird and hard to understand. Beranhond was really mostly cat so understood his emotions and thoughts. Nym, well, she was a lot like a brooding queen, quick to anger at anyone who approached her kittens, yet so loving with the little tykes.
ReplyDeleteHe hopped up into her lap, and with his best attempt, pointed his paw at the door to the council house.
Nym's gaze followed Tigrisclawu's paw. "I guess I should go back?" she said, twisting her face. She impatiently wiped her face and shook off as many petals as she could. "Well, I'm going to be finding petals for weeks," she muttered to herself following the cat back inside.
ReplyDelete"What would Illuvaen say I should do?" thought Nym as she entered the building. She knew exactly what he'd tell her, though. "Damn perfect, honest half elf princes," she grumbled in Elvish as she walked down the hall toward the small bar room.
ReplyDeleteNym peeked in, feeling self conscious. Tigrisclawu walked into the room and hopped up on a chair by Beranhond. Nym slowly wandered back into the room avoiding eye contact with Darvin and Beranhond. "Nice day out there," she offered blandly as she poured herself a shot and downed it with a wince. She poured another drink and swirled it around, watching the liquid splash on the sides of the glass. She felt her cheeks flush from having two drinks in the last few minutes. "I'd rather admit to murder drunk," she thought, sipping her third shot.
"Lovely day." Beranhond said, trying not to roll his eyes. Elves might be wise and long lived, humans might lust for power, but he never knew that combining the two qualities would result in moody melodramatic creatures. Both Darvin and Nym had been behaving... he trailed off. He was only thirty, and Nym wasn't that much younger, but sometimes he felt like a fifty year old around her.
ReplyDelete"Sooooo about that lien... what do we do next?" said Nym, raising her eyebrows.
ReplyDeleteYes, half elves are the drama queens of faerun!
"I'm not talking about the lien until one of you two tells me the truth." Darvin harumphed.
ReplyDelete"I'm not talking about the lien until one of you two tells me the truth." Darvin harumphed.
ReplyDelete“Well, this day is just turning out to be the best,” thought Nym.
ReplyDelete“You’re not going to like it,” Nym murmured, setting down her drink and tapping the glass with her nail absentmindedly. “I think it would be best to take care of the lien first...”
"What is there to talk about with the lien? I couldn't keep my head earlier so now we need to beg more than we did before. I also didn't pay any of the fees so we're guilty too."
ReplyDeleteDarvin shook his head and rubbed his forehead in exasperation.
Nym looked at Beranhond, "Perhaps the miracle healer and human who lead the armies of Torm to battle on behalf of the city is a better spokesperson alone than accompanied by a pair of hot headed half elf vagrants?" She cocked her head to the side and pursed her lips.
ReplyDeleteYou're still a main PC Whittaker! I would love it if BH takes the lead sometimes even if you're DM. It's part of his character. :)
ReplyDeleteI had rehearsal tonight! Walked out from my car to a beep from my phone about numerous emails! Let me get caught up...
ReplyDeleteI meant in general, not tonight specifically. Here is an emoji of time wasting:
ReplyDelete｀、ヽ｀｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀ヽ｀、、ヽ｀ヽ｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀ヽ｀、、ヽ｀ヽ｀、ヽ(ノ；Д；)ノ ｀、、ヽ｀☂｀、ヽ｀｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀ヽ｀、、ヽ｀ヽ｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀ヽ｀、｀、ヽ｀｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀ヽ｀、、ヽ｀ヽ｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀｀、ヽ｀、ヽ｀ヽ｀、、ヽ｀ヽ
Haha
ReplyDeleteBeranhond sighed standing up.
"Yes, I suppose so." He stood up adjusting his cloak and looking between the two of them.
"I'll try to talk some kind of agreement out of them. However..." He looked between the two of them. "When I get back the two of you need finally come to some kind of closure." He rubbed his forehead again. He grabbed Tigrisclawu and threw him up onto his shoulder and strode the door. He opened it, but then turned around and let out a final sigh.
"Not just about the shaar situation, or the death of a few former crewmates, or friends, or lovers, or family. We all have such trauma in our lives - the two of you have your own issues." He said lingering on Nym's eyes before turning to Darvin. "Darvin, I know you were lost, I know we weren't around, but you aren't the only person to have lost someone under mysterious circumstances. There is a wondrous path in moving on, in forgiving, and in realizing that what we thought we once knew, and who we thought we were... isn't what we want to be." That sounded vaguely nonsensical, but he decided it was best to leave it there.
"Nym, I'm glad to have you back, and I'm glad to see any darkness out of you. Still, I forgive you. What happened before is done now, and I'm sure you've punished yourself more than any court, torturer, or I, could ever do." He then stepped outside and, despite the tension, gently shut the door.
Alright, since the two of you are no longer part of the meeting with the city council you can set up your own post! I.e.
ReplyDelete(」ﾟﾛﾟ)｣NOOOooooo!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, call it something like "half elf soap opera"
ReplyDeleteBeranhond left Darvin and Nym behind and returned to wait outside the council room chambers. The guards nodded politely as he waited and then, surprisingly politely, opened the door and escorted him inside.
ReplyDeleteHe took his seat in front of the council and looked up. Ashaesa looked just as grim as before, but the other councilpeople looked rather bemused.
"Where'd the other two go?" One of them, a squat looking dwarf, asked.
"Oh, well, apparently half-elves love drama. Those two had once been lovers and are either going to talk out a whole bunch of issues or perhaps find some place to confess their continuing feelings for one another. Regardless, I hope that whichever one they do choose leads to a bit more calm serenity." Several of the council members laughed. A half elf on the end nodding grimly. "My people... do love their drama."
"Regardless, I suppose it's time we get to the main cusp of the problem. First, there were a number of references made to the cost of moorage fees, back taxes, and all the rest. That is inconsequential, legally, as you have recooped at least a share of the costs by selling of the lien to the Waldorf Syndicate." Several of the members nodded, though Ashaesa still looked rather grim. "Several of my party are handling that side, so I'd rather focus instead on the relationship between the group once known as 'Kilink' and now known as the 'The Lady Narath Company.'"
The guards at the gate seemed surprised to see Nym again so soon, but waved her through without issue. Nym hopped off Nesme, Pipper still in tow, and ran into the building. As she came to the closed city council doors, she asked the guard, "Is Ethelred Beranhond still in with the council? I have urgent news for him." Nym shifted impatiently from one foot to the other.
ReplyDeleteNym added, "You don't happen to have 250 gold and a burning desire to know what a beloved family pet is saying, do you?" "Worth a shot," she thought.
ReplyDeleteThe guard frowned, screwing his face up in confusion. "Um, no..." He said before waving her on through.
ReplyDeleteIn the next chamber Beranhond was leaning against the table talking passionately. As Nym entered they all turned around looking rather surprised.
"Don't tell me..." He said with a sigh. "What's the disaster?"
Nym blushed and hesitated for a moment. "Um... wellll..." she started before deciding she didn't want to share the criminal intent of Johan, Violet, and Odin with the entire city council. She shifted uncomfortably not certain what to do.
ReplyDelete"Beranhond, we have agreed to meet you again due to your reputation and your status. That being said, if you actually wish to come to an agreement with the city we cannot wait. So, if you must leave know that we will unfortunately be unable to come to an agreement with the Lady Narath Company."
ReplyDeleteBeranhond inwardly groaned.
"Is this something that can wait Nym, we've actually made a bit of progress. If it isn't I'll of course come right away."
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe gold is due 6 days from now, not today.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dan. I'll update my last post. :)
ReplyDeleteNym froze, uncertain if it could wait. On the one hand, having the city council's approval was extremely beneficial... on the other hand, the 3000 gold was due in six days, which means the group back at the shop wouldn't be taking their time to plan any criminal undertakings. Nym wondered if she and Darvin would be able to sit on Violet, Odin, and Johan until Beranhond got there. No, probably not.
ReplyDeleteAfter an awkward amount of time in which Nym was clearly thinking about her answer, she squeaked, "It can wait?" She hesitated, looking unsure of herself, before bowing to the council and walking out of the room.