DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3E - Lunchtime in Yartar

DM

It is almost noon and all the members of the team met again at the Pearl Handled Pipe. Lunchtime is the least busy meal here as it is not included in the priced of the rooms at the inn. As with every other meal, the spread laid out for people to enjoy is lavish, there's just less of it and less of a choice. Two staffers stand by the entrance to the buffet spread, collecting the two silver pieces that it costs to eat lunch here.

The first small group to arrive grabbed a table. Soon, all were here to exchange information, make plans for the afternoon and for after.

OOC: As for now, you have a number of leads to discuss and, if I didn't forget anything (very easy to forget these days), here's a list of some stuff your had on your to-do list:

• It seems like there's some reason to visit the Grand Dame and the Golden Goose casino on it. What you are looking to accomplish there is not yet decided but signs point there.
• If you are going to go there, you'll need to decide how you go. Are you going as customers? Are you sneaking aboard? Guns ablazing? (not recommended).
• You've heard that there's a dress/style code (think Studio 54). You may need to buy some clothes?
• There's that abandoned house that you heard about that Arus and Zhu wanted to check out.
• There are other places of business to explore if you want to take that route.
• Arus hasn't been able to connect with Scimitar Sally but he can do that this afternoon.

If I forgot something, sorry. I think those are the obvious things anyway.

Let me continue with an apology, in advance, for my disappearance for the coming week. I am in the midst of preparing for my annual fantasy baseball draft. That means that I'm crunching statistics like a madman. Just imagine preparing to run a 20th level boss encounter which has some three hundred combatants. That effort is like tic-tac-toe compared to my prep work which is like playing 3-dimensional chess against Mr. Spock. On that subject, I also want to thank Zeim in advance for being our auctioneer. It's an all-day affair and I am sure he'll sleep well after the draft. By the way, that's next Saturday. I should be back, physicall, if not mentally, by next Sunday.

Jaliera

She is wide-eyed at the sumptuous buffet laid out for lunch. It is the best spread she has ever seen. However she is most surprised that it is only 2 silver to eat here. She might be back again. She agrees a table with Davroar and stakes their claim with her pack, before heading to the buffet and spending more time using her eyes than she does selecting.

Sindar

He paid his two silvers and wandered past the sumptuous layout. He took two trips eyeing his choices before starting on a plate. He had eaten better and more in the last day or so than he had in years. Yet that didn't stop him. He would get his money's worth.

Kriv

The Dragonborn had a substantial appetite, but was almost austere in the sating of it, given the 'quality' of the young human nobles in this town, at least those they were being paid to investigate. On that matter, once everyone had their initial plateful and was assembled,

"I have secured an additional contract for the task we are already engaged in, half up front. Our leads point to the Golden Goose, popular with young nobles of the type that seem to be going missing. Jakkob Dawnflower and Timothy Rossolio among their number, if anyone caught wind of either name. Though I have no particular desire to indulge, I must admit that I fit the profile, at least were I human and thoroughly dissolute. Thus, I intend to play it straight and seek admittance with my credentials, suitably attired."

Davroar

Sampling and sniffing his way through the buffet after paying his two silvers, he drops into a chair beside Jaliera with his plate overflowing its edges with food. As the others arrive, he smiles a greeting to each and silently wonders who are Jakkob Dawnflower and Timothy Rossolio. For the moment he will continue to stuff his belly with a surprisingly tasty fried breaded fish, and figures Jaliera or someone else will fill him in with their progress.

Jaliera

She says 'hi' to the others as they assemble. She listens to Kriv, memorising the names for future reference.

"Davroar and I didn't find out much information but we have secured some healing potions, spell components and also found a sage in a shop full of maps. Davroar asked if he knew of giant sites in the area hoping to find out any history of Triboar that might give us an idea what the giants took from there. Unfortunately he wanted hundreds of gold to do the research. So we left."

<Bern>

He made his 'donation' and took a turn around the table, checking out the spread. On the one hand, he normally enjoyed simpler fare. But there were times when something like this extravagant layout was something to be appreciated. Once his initial assessment was done, he picked up a plate and began to add small bits from the various offerings.

When he had a decent sampling on his plate, he joined his friends.

He smiled and nodded at Kriv's news, then sighed at Jaliera's report on the sage. "Do you think your 'sage' might be a bit more helpful if more people for another visit", he asked.

Zhu

She pays her 2 silver, although she isn't terribly hungry. Browsing the buffet she selects a few bites of cheese and fruit and takes a slice of whole grain bread. Adding a glass of wine she sits with the others and listens as Kriv tells of their meeting with the Waterbaron.

Her ears perk up at the mention of purchasing potions and she asks for the location of the vendor as she'd like to see what else he might have.

She nods at Kriv's comment about visiting the Golden Goose. "In addition we still have interest in looking at that abandoned house. Shall we try to do both, or should we stick together?"

<Bern>

"If it is just to gather information", he said, "I think it is safe enough here to cover the ground more quickly by splitting up."

Jaliera

She answers Bern.

"Well possibly but I am fairly sure that his price will not change, so unless we can stump up 400 gp I think it might be a waste of time. On a serious note, do we have anything previously found that we might sell to generate the cash if folks thinks this might be a worthwhile use of the money?"

She sounds doubtful.

"Of course Zhu. He was a gnome with his stall quite close to the Coster's business. I would bargain though. He started off pricey. And I'd like to look at the abandoned house. I like mysteries."

Arus

"I'll catch up with Scimitar Sally before her shift at the Lionshield starts. That gives me all afternoon free." Arus says.

This is good because they have a busy afternoon ahead it seems.

With that in mind, he quaffs a slice of ham, chasing it up with a handful of dried apricots and a cup of Bitteroot beer. That's lunch.

"I suggest we visit this abandoned house, then shop for evening wear. Tonight, go to the casino and find out what its involvement is with these disappearances.

"What say all of you?"

<Bern>

He was =not= looking forward to the 'casino' part of the plan. He was not a fan of all that 'dress up'/'poser' stuff. But, he admitted with a sigh. if that was what the job required ... that was what had to be done.

He nodded.

[ooc: You really have less to do this afternoon than you think. You should get you guys together after Arus meets SAlly and you look at the old, abandoned house to discuss the possibilities for the evening. And if you're going to the casino, a couple of you will need better clothing or come up with a plan that doesn't involve clean clothes.]

Jaliera

"Casino? How does that fit into the picture? Doesn't sound like my sort of place."

And as she looks younger than her 16 years, that might be a problem. Perhaps she can find a better way to contribute to their endeavours.

Zhu

She turns and looks Jaliera over carefully. "You are a very pretty girl, under all of that tomboy. I have a little makeup and something that should fit you, or we have a little time this afternoon to go dress shopping. I can come along, if you want?" She offers.

<Bern>

"I am thinking that I would hang around outside and keep watch. I really don't have anything ... 'appropriate' to wear and would rather not waste the coin buying something."

Kriv

"There is wisdom in external surveillance, particularly for any of those strange casings such as we found that noble in."

Arus

"Bern might just be the ace up our sleeve." Arus says, looking around at the party as he speaks, "Whoever runs the casino. Whoever runs its criminal enterprise. They might mistake Bern for his doppelganger and that could get us places."

When it comes to fashion, Arus is a man with opinion but what Bern needs is a man with taste.

"Kriv, if thou takest Bern and Davroar along the high street and see them suited and booted, Zhu could take Jaliera. Sindar and I will speak to Scimitar Sally."

"But first, let us all to this abandoned house."

<Bern>

He sighed at the idea that he would have to 'dress up', but the 'rationale' was reasonable.

He was glad at the idea of 'casing the house'. If nothing else, it would delay the inevitable.

"Ready when you are", he said with a grin.

Sindar

"Sounds like a plan," he agrees.

Davroar

"I'd rather be someone's pet cat, than dress up in a fancy's clothes", he says with obvious distaste for going to the casino. He is not kidding about the idea. He has been getting better at holding his wildshape for a longer period of time, but if it comes down to needing everyone at the casino he will reluctantly go along.

Zhu

"Hmmm. I wonder if they might let in a pet? Or even better, can you change into a very small creature, like a mouse? Jaliera or I could conceal you in a pocket or pouch and then, if needed, we could drop you off somewhere to let you poke about."

She shrugs. "Just a thought."

DM
The group seems to have formed some sort of plan. It's still several hours before dark. They haven't even seen the Grand Dame yet. Posing as rich gamblers is the only plan being discussed, but are there other ways to get onto the ship? Going through the front door as guests is unlikely how they would want to do things, but so far that is the only way being discussed. And also, what are the heroes looking for when they get there? To what end? Perhaps the next few hours will help them solidify a plan. Several of the group are uncomfortable getting dressed up in fine clothing.

Several of those sitting at the table know that while the Waterbaron is eager to get an answer about the disappearances, she also said very plainly that if they get into trouble there that she will disavow any association with them and that they would face the consequences of their actions.

But first things first, a rumor about an abandoned house is out there. The entire rumor was "talk about a dilapidated villa in the northwest part of town. People tend to stay away from it for all kinds of reasons." Where this villa was, what was strange about it and where it was were never stated, so finding it might be a task in itself.

It will be interesting to see what will happen when they start asking about it. "Excuse me sir, do you know of a dilapidated villa that people stay away from?"

Jaliera

She blushes at Zhu's compliments and shyly responds "I'd like that."

But the next idea fills her with a lot more enthusiasm.

"A pet mouse! Yes!" She chuckles. "And I will instruct Whisper not to eat you."

"And speaking of Whisper, she can always scout for us or stay on overwatch outside."

Davroar

"A mouse? Smallest I've gone is as a ferret, but probably could." Whisper is thankfully controllable through Jaliera, but he is not overly confident being so small of a creature. Still if it means not having to dress up, he quickly adds, "I'll do it then, if you want."