Violet's Past, Part 1

As the Lady Narath Company left for the ruins of Waterdeep, their trials and struggles slipped from Violet’s mind like the last ray of sunlight on a winter’s day, leaving her alone with her thoughts once more. She would not think of Darvin, Talathel, Beranhond, Tigrisclawu, or Johan again except for the occasional fond memory that graced her face with the quirk of a smile or flickered on her voice like the ghost of a laugh at a joke told at the end of a day long past.

Nym, however, loomed over her thoughts as a dark storm threatening to blot out the sun.

That damned slip of an elf had destroyed her utterly, and left her with the bitter taste of regret and lost dreams where once she had relished the prospect of riches and renown over the course of thrilling years at the pinnacle of her craft. To have that future incinerated by such a pathetic little elf seemed fitting for her now, with her days spent helping Odin and searching for some sense of purpose and meaning. Whenever she ate, the food tasted like ash, regardless of whether she managed to care enough not to burn the meal to a crisp.

The life of an assassin is by nature both dangerous and uncertain.

Thinking about Nym caused her to genuflect, as it so often did now. When she had first joined the Lady Narath Company, she had been at the peak of her abilities. She was a finely honed killing machine, drunk on her own abilities and her knowledge that she held the power of death in every fiber of her being. She was a mage killer. Mages, the most dangerous of prey. Not only were they fully capable of rational thought, but they were also the most eccentric and usually the most intelligent of the sentient beings.

Accepting assassination contracts for mages was what she did for thrills, knowing that it would be dangerous, but that it would be a hell of a ride. She had some misbegotten notion that if she was going to go, she would go out in flame and glory. It would be a hell of a show for whoever was around to see.

She had made quite a name for herself when she took on the contract that ended her career. She had put down a revolt by literally beheading its leader, stopped a notorious sex trafficker, and "convinced" a politician to pursue a life of animal husbandry by brutally dismantling her best friend while she watched. She was proud of her efficiency and her body of work had spoken for itself, leading to increasingly lucrative and complicated contracts.

Then she had taken on a very unique and intriguing contract. She was to sever the connection between the Dark God and his forces on this plane. Her sources informed her that if she was able to strike during the transformation, when the high priest transformed into a terrible avatar of the Dark God's power, that he would be severely weakened, and would take decades to recover, if that was even possible. Of course, this might kill the priest, but her contract didn't have any stipulations about her fate.

There was a certain beauty in the irony that the moment when the awesome power was released from Nym as she transformed into the avatar of the Dark God was also her moment of greatest weakness, and could be her undoing. Violet found herself smiling in the midst of remembering all of this, the power of the memory bringing back the emotion of eager anticipation for the challenge ahead of her. She was to strike as the transformation began, first with a blade she had been given, to freeze the transformation in place, and then with a spell scroll she could read to destroy the Dark God and send him back to another plane.

Such a convenient contract. Take this knife. Take this spell. Go kill a god. In fact, the priest is only a few miles away from where she had accepted it, and she was told she would have her first chance to accomplish the task within a day or two. The contract was not detailed in its description of the Dark God, not even giving a name or a gender, but she had considered that mystery part of the excitement of the contract. She had practically drooled over the prospect of killing a god, and had fantasized about the act, picturing the god as a large, imposing man with an oiled beard, a ravishing come-hither smile, and an aura that pulsed of dark promises, desires unfulfilled. She had spent most of the day she took the contract absently stroking the dagger and picturing herself using it to slice this vulgar deity from groin to throat.

The evening of the day she'd received the contract, the dark god had erupted within the Orc Camp in the Shaar. Violet witnessed much of the devastation, but had not been in place to be able to accomplish her task and save the encampment. She learned what she could about her target, and realized that she would have to find a way to join the Lady Narath Company if she was to remain close to Nym.

For reference:

• Here's the post where Nym transforms
• Here's the post where everyone else notices that the Dark God has appeared
• Here's the post where Violet leaves a note for Nym and Darvin while they're having sex

I think that will be it for this post. Next time: What happened at the Druid Temple!

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?

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."

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."

Dinner Party - Violet's Story

As Beranhond finished his story, Violet began to fidget a lot, obviously not sure exactly how to tell her story. Odin patted her knee and stood up, nearly banging his head on a beam before sitting back down again and beginning to talk.

"I was in my armorsmithing apprenticeship on Llewellyn when the druid temple was destroyed. In fact, I was working the forge that day when Master Aerilon, my mentor, started hearing the destruction and rushed in to tell us that we needed to flee. I quickly and efficiently banked the fires and put all of my tools in order before grabbing the small bundle of things that was my belongings. I expected that whatever was happening would soon be over, and I hoped to return and help rebuild as soon as possible."

He gave a chagrined smile to the group, "Of course, my decision to spend time packing up meant that I was one of the last to leave the village. As I walked through the door and started toward the water, I heard cries of anguish coming from the direction of the druids' meeting hall, and saw what looked like a small bundle of dark purple cloth until it moved. It was Violet, dragging herself across the ground out of the tunnel. One of her legs was not working correctly, and was causing her extreme amounts of pain."

He put his large hand back on Violet's knee, "I picked her up as gently as I could and carried her out of the town and into the jungle to a small cabin where she could recuperate and heal from her wounds."

Violet added in a haunted voice, "That was the most frightening and painful day of my life. My leg was badly infected, and I was forced to use my magic to remove my leg and cauterize the wound so that the infection wouldn't spread and kill me." She shuddered and withdrew into herself.

After another squeeze of her knee in support, Odin continued, "Once she was stabilized, I crept back back out to check on the village, but didn't get far before I saw the smoke billowing above the jungle canopy. Realizing there was nothing I could do for Llewellyn, I foraged for foodstuffs and firewood, and took care of Violet for a week before she was able to travel. I had studied medicine in Evermeet several years, and I was able to put some of that training to good use."

"We traveled slowly overland to Caer Calidyrr, where we were able to find passage back to Baldur's Gate. I was able to set up this shop and start anew with my tools and inventory after losing everything at Llewellyn. And I have been here ever since," Odin finished.

He looked at Violet questioningly, "Violet, I'm sure your friends would be interested in your story, as well." 

Violet responded to his prodding by laying her much smaller hand over his hand and giving it a small squeeze. She gathered her courage, and went on from where he left off, "With Odin's help, I was able to get an first artificial leg made and begin my rehabilitation. Of course, after my failure to stop the high priest of the Dark God, word began to spread that I'd lost my touch as an assassin, and work began to dry up. It didn't help that I walked with the help of a crutch and had to rely heavily on magic to see the job done, where before I'd been able to count on a quick stab if everything else fell through."

Violet sighed, "I took a series of small jobs, and though I was successful in them, it was obvious that I would not be able to return to my former renown. I began looking for alternative sources of income. I eventually settled on treasure hunting, as it uses a large cross section of the skills needed in my former profession, and have been happily building my new life here with Odin ever since."

Violet continued, "I kept an eye on the events here as I could, and sent what information I found to Beranhond in an attempt to give the party a chance to reconvene, but mostly, I've just tried to get the edge back in my skills and be prepared for whatever comes."

Dinner Party! (On the Lady Narath)

Darvin's suggestion that they retire to the Lady Narath was met with some amount of support and/or enthusiasm from Nym and Johan, (who had not seen the ship recently) and some reticence from Beranhond, Talathel, Evelaen, Violet, and Odin (who knew that the ship was somewhat in disrepair). Eventually, Darvin's pulling and prodding was able to get everyone to the ship, and as they ate the native food of Thindol, which was a fish stew with carrots and a thick broth served with crackers and bread.

Violet and Odin arrived shortly after the rest of the group, having spent several minutes gathering up a bundle of maps and other materials to help show what they were after. Once they were all ensconced below decks and eating, Violet began by laying out a very old wanted poster.

"You may remember stories of the Pirate Queen Jennah the Bold?" Violet looked around the room, seeing some nods. "Well, as you may remember, she's been dead for about 70 years, and all of her various treasures have been found, so it's not her treasure we're seeking."

Violet continued, as if this were all very necessary information, "She had a long list of associates that supported her, hence her title Pirate Queen, as you all know. I have learned that one of Queen Jennah's wealthiest supporters, known as the Earl of Lush, was sold out by one of her crew mates, named Eelskin Jack. Eelskin Jack thought he was extremely clever to hide out in the cliffsides near Secomber, but was found and killed for his treachery. Of course, as soon as he was sold out, the Earl of Lush moved his vast fortunes elsewhere, so Eelskin Jack was also a dead end. It's too bad, too, because I was really excited to head up to Secomber and dig around in his old hidey hole before I found that out."

Violet shook her head and took a bite of soup before continuing, "No, the Earl of Lush was able to die a wealthy man and pass along his considerable fortune to his illegitimate son, Conner. Conner had been raised to be extremely careful with money, but never knew how to handle it, so soon after he was gifted the money he disappeared with it. Rumor has it that he fled with the treasure to a remote island far to the west, but before he escaped, he said goodbye for the last time to his childhood sweetheart, Amelie, who lived in Daggerford."

Another gulp of soup went down the hatch before Violet continued, "Of course, as soon as he sailed away, a group of brigands tortured and accidentally killed Amelie, trying to get the location that Conner had sailed to. It couldn't have been easy tracking this stupid treasure down, could it?"

At this point, Violet tore half of her slice of bread off and doused it thoroughly in stew before gesturing very seriously at the rest of the crew, "I have learned that before he left, Conner gave Amelie a keepsake to remember him by. If we can get that keepsake, I have a way to use it as a locating beacon and it will lead us to Conner, and therefore to the treasure."

Violet stood and swallowed the hunk of bread in one bite, "So all we have to do is go up to Daggerford and dig up a poor girl that's been dead for 30 years and hope that the small carved turtle carved from shell that Conner gave her is buried with her or at least nearby."

Odin's Fine Provisions and Sporting Goods

You are a jerk for naming it Odin's Fine Provisions and Sporting Goods, but I'll roll with it. ;)

Beranhond was the first in the door, and he was immediately taken aback by the amount of items that packed the room. he could barely get past the door before having to step to the right to get around what looked to be a large orange tent. Beyond that, he spotted a large variety of ropes and cords, and beyond that an assortment of balls of all shapes, sizes, and colors. He saw several that he had no idea what they were for. He kept on looking around the room and saw an array of sticks in different lengths and thicknesses, and beyond that...

His inspection of the room was interrupted when his gaze alit upon a very large man with grayish skin and black hair. He was sitting at a small table about 5 feet away wearing a pair of goggles and squinting at a very small woven ball that he appeared to be stitching. The sight was rather comical, as his long arms and broad shoulders seemed to wrap around his table to bring the small object up to about 6 inches from his face. He was wearing a rather nondescript craftsman's tunic and trousers except that the crest from the sign outside was proudly embroidered on the left breast. He was concentrating very closely on the ball, and his tongue was sticking out as he moved his gargantuan hands in a very delicate stitch.

As Beranhond eyed the man, the others entered the room. The man sewed two more stitches, exhaled heavily, retrieved his tongue, and set the ball down. He wiped his brow on his long sleeve, and brought the goggles up to rest on his forehead. It was obvious from the rings around his eyes he'd been working on the stitching for some time.

Standing up to his full height, he made eye contact with Beranhond and bowed, somewhat too formally, "Hello my fine lady and gentlemen. What can I help you with today? Are you interested in a bit of sport? Perhaps you would like to requisition a custom May Pole? Or are you in of some other bit of provisions? Whatever you're looking for, I'm sure you've come to the right place."