Dinner Party - Darvin's Story

Darvin had listened to everyone else's stories and felt a slight pang of guilt. He had not gone off and bettered himself, in fact, he had probably made himself much worse. He began to speak,

"Beranhond, Johan and I went to Candlekeep. We ended up in a battle with six guards. I have no idea what happened. There was a flash of light...and then nothing. I woke up back on the Lady Narath. I don't know how I got here. I decided the best thing for me to do was wait for the rest of you. So, I've spent three very long years waiting for you."

"I've had my ups and downs, mostly downs during that time. I've spent most of my nights in the various establishments of Baldur's Gate most of you would not be caught dead in. One night at the 'Brick and Mortar' I did meet a girl named Gwenna. She was quite lovely with dark hair and a light brown complexion. We had a whirlwind romance. I was so desperate to belong to something again I ignored all the warning signs. How she always batted her eyes at other men. She had been so impressed with the Lady Narath that I didn't worry about it. We decided to get married. Guybrush told me it was a bad idea but I did it anyway. Two days after we wed, there was a lien placed upon the ship. The next day she ran off with an obnoxious bard named Murray. People told me they were headed east. That's the last I've heard of her."

"Since then I have been consumed by loss. The loss of her. The loss of my friends."

Darvin looked around at the group. He became misty eyed but maintained his composure.

"I thought you all were dead. I have consumed more alcohol than I care to know. Whored so many times I lost count. Since that day I woke up here, I've been trying to find where I fit in this world. Nothing was fulfilling."

"I am very grateful that you are all here again. Had you not arrived soon, I believe I would have hung myself from the yardarm."

Darvin looked around at the group. Silence had set over them. He had not meant to drop his harsh reality on them, but it had just flowed forth. Guybrush patted him on the shoulder.

"Tis a very tragic tale, Captain."

Dinner Party - Talathel's Story

Talathel cleared his throat and began. "There is not much to tell, for I don't believe I have been adventuring. When our group disbanded those years ago, I did not know what to do. So, I set off in search of Kalael. Of course, I had no leads, no ideas. So, I wandered. I would stop at monasteries of the Old Order, but many have been slow on getting information since Kalael has gone missing. In some places, I fear the Old Order may become absent all together.

"I found myself without a purpose, and so I sought one. I traveled throughout Faerun, doing the occasional good deed.  I tried to join with other companies, but apparently elven monks are not in high demand. Eventually, it was probably around the Bloodstone Pass that I realized that I was a purpose in and of myself. My purpose was to connect to Faerun. And so, I continued to wander. I lived off the land. In Mulptan, I sold what I could. I found my pleasure not in a wine cup, not in riches, not even in the helping of others. I found pleasure in simply being.

"This is not to say that I neglected my fellow beings. I would stop in villages and help the needy. In Skuld, I helped in the search for a missing child, for instance. But, I did not want to stay in one place long. Doing so would seem to deny me the pleasure of existing in this realm. There is much to experience.

"I continued along until I reached the coast. To be honest, I was not sure what to do. I could continue along the same path as before. I could try and find passage to the Moonshae Isles. I may have been leaning that way. I had seen Faerun, and maybe could return to my home and live out my days content. But then, I spied The Lady Narath. I am so grateful to see all of you again. And grateful for this stew! Hot meals have been few and far between for me. But, like Nym, I have found myself content, even if not comfortable.

From the edge of dreams

Talathel awoke, not with a jolt that he somewhat expected when he jumped through the Dream gate, but very slowly. The light that came down upon him was warming. He allowed his eyes to adjust to the new world. For a few moments he did not move, unsure of if he was back.

"Did it work?" he asked, not knowing who else was in the room.

"Did what work?" the soft, gentle voice of Lailsan replied. She was calm, collected. Talathel was unsure of how long the group had spent in the Dream world. They were there for awhile, but he didn't know if time had moved at the same pace as it did there as it did here. Regardless of his questions, Talathel smiled at her voice.

"It did...it worked." Talathel slowly sat up. Lailsan looked as radiant as ever. "How have you been? Have I been out long?"

"Long enough," she replied. "We were worried about you all, but now that you're back things can return to normal. Whatever that is anymore." She gave Talathel a reassuring smile, the gesture for herself as much as it was for him.

Talathel reached out his hand and the two touched. He closed his eyes, knowing he was back in his world.

"I suppose you want rum?" she asked.

"You know me to well..." Lailsan handed him a flask.

"One of our passengers did not follow Beranhond's rules regarding alcohol. I managed to talk him out of throwing it overboard. Thought you could use it when you got back."

Talathel held the flask in his hand. "I do need a drink...but perhaps something to eat. What have you got prepared?"

Lailsan smiled. 'The galley is open...lets see what I can do."

The two elves made their way to the kitchen, Talathel giving quick hellos to his crewmates who were surprised to see him up and about.

Miss Stake and mistakes

Come on, you knew that vid was coming.

Not wanting to wait for Nym much longer, Talathel explained to Darvin what he had learned from the professor. He then tried unsuccessfully to get Darvin to come with him.

"You could use a good night! We won't do anything to extreme!" The half-elf though would have nothing to do with it.

"Bah. For an adventurer, you don't adventure all that much."

Before Darvin could respond, Talathel looked at Druuv.

"You in? You want to go hit the town and unwind?"

Thakalakan nodded. Talathel was grateful that he didn't say anything that rhymed.

The elf and arctic goblin descended down the stairs. Miss Stake was not at her usual spot, but the current bartender, a burly half-orc handed him a note.

"Talathel, I hope you and your friends can join me this evening. I am with some of my friends at the Royal Empress' Mezzanine. Its a strange name for a pub, but we're a unique town."

"I know where to go!" exclaimed Thakalaken, who had been reading over Talathel's shoulder. "Its just down the street and round the bend, and they say that once their the fun never ends!"

"You're not from any of my good dreams." Talathel said under his breath, as he followed Thakalakan out of the inn.

As annoying as the goblin's directions were, they were accurate. In no time, they found themselves inside that pub. It was a smaller place, with just a few tables. Talathel caught the unmistakable scent of perfume with lustful intentions and soon found Miss Stake's table.

"Talathel! I'm so glad you could make it!" Miss Stake looked radiant. Her long hair draped gracefully off her shoulders, her ears sticking out playfully, her green eyes shone like the brightest emerald the elf could have imagined.

"These are my friends, Esther Baskette, Rose Maeblum, and Ann Shovie," she said, pointing at an elf, a dwarfm and a human.

"Pleasure to meet you," Talathel said, still lost in Miss Stake's gaze.

"Shall we drink?"

"I think...that we shall."

Wait, did he just...?

"So, Thjodolf, you said you did well at the gambling halls?" Talathel said, making conversation with the half-orc. Talathel was more than a little disappointed that he didn't get to hear more about Thjodolf's cousin being turned into an emu and he figured that with a little downtime, he could maybe pry some details from him. He hardly noticed Darvin get up and approach the stage.

"Very good. And no headache...haha."

"As an experienced rum drinker, I have no..." Talathel rubbed his temples. "Damn this sun, making me a liar." More laughter from Thjodolf.

"Ah, while you had your luck with the dice, I had mine with people. Yours is a gift of luck and I am finding that when it comes to rum, mine is a gift of persuasion. And, as adventurers, one musn't turn down a free drink."

There was no answer from Thjodolf. He seemed to be transfixed on the stage. Talathel looked. The sun was bright, even for the morning, so at first the elf didn't believe what he saw.

"Do you think confessing his love in front of a whole crowd at a resurrection ceremony is maybe a little melodramatic?" he heard Beranhond ask.

"Perhaps a bit, but somehow this timing seems to fit well with Darvin."

Thjodolf grunted his bemusement and agreement with Talathel's assesment.

Darvin & Nym

Darvin had ridden many miles to be where he was right now. He had not planned the journey particularly well, his companions were humoring him by coming along and everyone knew why they had made the journey. Well, everyone but Nym. It seemed like a month had passed since Darvin last saw her, she looked older, more mature, like the responsibility she had carried had eroded away the young girl and replaced her with a young woman. Darvin had left the ship and the crew for this moment and he wasn't going to let it pass him by.

"Nym," Darvin said as he stood up. She turned around and looked at him, she had been pre-occupied with being reunited with Wayrn to have even realized that her friends were in attendance. Darvin could see the emotion on her face. There were streaks where some tears had flown. 

"Before you ask what I...we...are doing here," He gestured to the group behind him as he slowly made his way towards her, "I need to tell you something. I came all this way because of you. When you left the ship I panicked. I didn't know what to do and called an emergency meeting onboard, I felt like I had to come after you. I thought I was being irrational and ridiculous but I still came. For the first time in my life I care more about someone other than myself. I ache when you are gone. I long to dance with you again. And most importantly I...I...I am in love with you."

By this time Darvin was standing directly in front of her. The tears had welled up in her eyes again and as he said this they burst forth and again streaked her cheeks. Darvin reached out and pulled Nym close to him and he kissed her. He kissed her in a way that he had never kissed anyone before. He meant it. He meant every nanosecond of it. Time seemed to slow down. The room full of people disappeared. At this moment in time Darvin and Nym were the only two people on the planet. 

Off to school we go

Talathel found himself awake during the pre-dawn hours. Since he meditated, he required much less sleep than his traveling companions. He went out to the stables and checked on the horses. He figured they would have the day off more or less.

He hoped that Nym was in the city, or at least not far from it. He was somewhat eager to get back to the ship, for very much the same reasons why Darvin had dragged him on a three day adventure.

Seeing that the horses were fed, watered, and resting comfortably, Talathel pulled out some bread and fruit from his pack and had himself a sunrise breakfast. He occasionally gave some food to Arandur.

With the meal completed he headed back to the room. Since we didn't specify, I'm going to say we shared a room. He sat in a chair and waited for Darvin and Thjodolf to awaken. Eventually there were signs of life from his two companions.

"If you don't hurry, you'll be late for class today! If you miss school you won't learn your spells and what a dull elf you'll be!"

Thjodolf looked at him strangely.

"My mother used to say that to me before I went to school."

"You no know spells."

"I skipped a few days."

Good to see people

As the three adventurers approached Silverymoon, they noticed a bit of increase in the traffic. There were some merchants and other travelers, indicating that the town was near. Talathel was grateful to see them, if only because it meant that, in theory, the journey was half-way done and he could return to the ship and Lailsan. He didn't like the way the two had parted. It seemed rushed. He hoped she would understand.

Talathel hoped that they could find Nym soon. Depending on how the reunion went, he may think about riding back towards Watersdeep by himself. But, they'd have to find Nym.

"Darvin," Talathel began, almost cautiously. "Have you a plan to locate your fair maiden?"

On the Road Again

Darvin opened the door after Talathel knocked and headed down to the stables. "Good morning you cheeky bastard." He cheerily said to the elf as he walked by. Talathel looked a little stunned to see Darvin up and moving at this hour, but Darvin had an important task at hand. The woman he was smitten with had run off without so much as a goodbye. All she had left was a hastily scribbled note and a promise that she would find him eventually.

Eventually wasn't going to work for Darvin. He had been with his fair share of women in the past, he had been quite the ladies man back in Secomber, in fact that very reason is why he was on this adventure at all. But after all the women that Darvin had been with, he had never felt like this about any of them. There was no time in his past when he would have dropped everything just to make sure she would come back. Darvin had been pondering since they left what he was going to do when he finally found her. He, admittedly, hadn't really thought this adventure through. He would never admit that, of course, but he did know it.

Darvin pounded on Thjodolf's door as he walked by,

"Get up you great oaf! It's time to go." Darvin said good naturedly.

When Darvin got downstairs he saw Thjodolf already standing there waiting for him. 

"Oh. You beat me down here you large beast." Darvin said as he walked by Thjodolf and smacked him on the butt, much like a coach of the Faerun national pastime, futbhel.

Talathel was right about the ride being long, past Yarter there was no town on the map until they reached Everlund. Darvin estimated they would reach Yarter sometime around midday. It looked like they would be camping out in the open that night. He prepared his horse and climbed into the saddle.

"Well friends, let us ride!" Darvin said as he climbed up on the horse and galloped out of town followed by his companions. Silverymoon or Bust...

Let us make haste

After a restless night, Talathel wakes up the next morning to watch the sun rise. Not seeing anyone else awake, he goes out to the stable and prepares his horse for the day.

"You certainly are not as beautiful a creature as Nesme, but you are worthy of a name. How about Arandur?"

He went about his preparations and then headed back into the inn. He knocked on the doors of Darvin and Thjodolf. The half-orc answered the knock.

"We should go soon. Nym is still far ahead of us. Once we get past Yartar, there will be no lodging until Everlund. We must at least get to Yartar this evening, if not further. Ready yourself, as today will be another long day of traveling."

Thjodolf grunted a response. Talathel went back to the stables and waited for his companions to arrive.

Religion and rum

"You see, Thjodolf, it is not solely about the rewards of doing good deeds. More to the point, reward is not the point of doing good deeds. The Old Order believes that it is the duty of each man to lift up those around him."

The lecture which Talathel was currently giving was made after Thjodolf had simply said "why help, short stay." after Darvin had finally decided to get off his horse and slay one of the rats.

"Rewards...no need?"

"Correct, though they do help pay for the essentials." Talathel signaled for a rum from the bartender.

"Don't we have another long day of riding ahead of us?" Darvin asked, not so subtly judging the elf's drinking habits.

"All the more reason to have a bit of a drink. Relax the muscles, let the mind wander, and f course, discuss The Old Order!" Talathel began to sip the rum now placed in front of him when a voice bellowed from across the room.

"The Old Order! I didn't think you were around!" Talathel turned around to see a dwarf staring him down from across the room.

"We are fewer in number, but The Order is strong." Talathel drank some more rum.

"Are you searching for your master?" The dwarf said, mockingly.

"I do not believe that Koldael would want to be found. Besides, I, who is without a brethren, would not be worthy of such an honor."

"Ah...a nomdaic monk. Perhaps you are Koldael?"

"Preposterous." Talathel turned back to the bar, intending to ignore the dwarf for the remainder of the evening. However, the dwarf made his way up to the bar and sat down next to the irritated elf.

"What would you say if I told you that I knew where Koldael is?"

Talathel looked down on the dwarf, a quiet resentment portrayed in his stare. "I have no reason to believe you. Koldael will make his presence felt when he feels it to be right, and until then the likes of you could never find him."

"The likes of me? Am I not worthy of your master? It would seem that you would praise him to keep him to yourself."

The dwarf hopped down off the stool and left giving a bit of a chuckle. Talathel quickly finished him rum and went off to his room for the night. He was upset with himself and at the dwarf for being right.

"My apologies, Koldael. It seems that even in spreading your message, I find ways to divide you from the People of Faerun."

Gnomes can sail ships?

Talathel squinted at the ship drew near them. Adorned with blue and silver flags, it may be somewhat difficult to spot the ship in the open ocean. Talathel gave a quick glance at the red flag that flew atop The Lady Nareth, but did little more than reassure himself that the flag was still red.

As the other ship came closer, Talathel could see the crew. They were gnomes. "Gnomes can sail? How well do gnomes do out on the open ocean when a storm hits? Hell, how will I do on the open ocean when a storm hits?" Talathel felt his stomach churn at the thought, despite the calm waters. He then remembered that he had told Lailsan how brave he had been on his previous trip. "Well, that'll come back and get me, now won't it?"

The elf looked down on the deck and spotted Darvin.

"OY! Darvin! There's a ship full of gnomes. What shall we do?"

"We were seduced by the glamor of it all"

The rattle of chains temporarily filled the room as Talathel entered. His friends turned around, and not being bound themselves, politely asked with their expressions what was going on.

"Hi," said Talathel.

"Were you in the dungeon?" asked Moran. Talathel could sense that Nym would soon be asking a hundred follow up questions, so he answered the first quickly.

"Ah...yes. The guards did not like how I spent my free time."

A raised eyebrow from one of Nym's handlers prompted further discussion.

"Well, I didn't do anything illegal. Its just that, apparently, conjugal visits don't begin until after they sentence you." Colin could only roll is eyes.

'Talathel!" came a voice from behind the imprisoned elf. He turned his head to see, but he already knew who it was.

"Everybody, this is Lailsan." Another raised eyebrow from a guard.

"To answer your question, yes, they had sex." Colin said.

"He's not half bad," said Sabry. An awkward silence came over the crowd. "Well, they did invoke Lastai!"

Talathel's roll

Are we at the sewers? Can we cast a spell to make this shit smell more like waffles? Also, watch till the end of the vid for Sewage Humor.

Stealth

Roll(1d20)+7: 17,+7 Total:24

Perception Roll(1d20)+8: 16,+8 Total:24