The majority of the group seem to feel like pursuit of information about the search for a suspect villa is not worth pursuing. It is not a unanimous sentiment as Bern just doesn't buy it. Time might tell if the one or the many is correct. So the group returns to the center of town before they split up.
OOC: Last we discussed, this was everyone's plans:
Kriv is checking out where the Grand Dame is.
Arus is seeking out Scimitar Sally.
Bern is going to do a walking tour of the city.
Sindar didn't have plans other than to go to the casino, so maybe he's going along with Kriv to check it out?
Zhu and Jaliera are going shopping.
Davroar will head outside the city walls for LA to get some 'fresh air' away from the city crowds.
You should post, in character, what you're doing. You aren't committed to your earlier declaratio, but we're going to resolve the next few hours now. I'm likely to take some things private. I don't anticipate this taking too long in real game time.
You might want to consider reconvening to make plans. There are loads of places to meet. Drinks? Dinner? Let me know.
The city walls are wearing on him, and with no real desire to traipse around the marketplace again he turns to Jaliera and says, "I'm going out to stretch my legs." His actual plan is to shape change into a wolf and have a good run around just to get some exercise. With not knowing exactly where this casino is he asks, "Were can I find you later to meet up before we go to the casino? Perhaps Here? The Lionshield coster, or that fancy inn?" His tone of voice changes when he mentions the inn since it is his least favourite spot he really wants to go back to.
She frowns, and sighs. Glancing at Jaliera she turns back to the others and says, "Clearly you have no idea what it takes to find the right dress. Two hours? We'd barely be done selecting ones to try on in two hours, never mind having made a choice."
She pauses. "You can all meet up in two hours if you're done. However don't be worried if it takes us a few hours longer."
ooc: It'll miraculously take the same amount of time for everyone to do their things
DM (Zhu, Jaliera)
The ladies don't have far to go as they are all just outside of the fish market, as it's called. Zhu and Jaliera make their way over to the stall where the stout gnome with the long white hair that flowed from his horseshoe hairline. This was the potion merchant. He said "Back again? Without your boyfriend, I see," he said with a curious grin. "I see that you've brought me another customer! SO, how may I help you? Friends of hers get discounts!"
(Davroar) To leave the city walls one must go through one of three gates. There's the one that you came in on that is under constant scrutiny to the east that took you past the Shield Tower and town's militia. There's a gate to the west that you saw today. It's heavily used by merchants and outlying farmers and ranchers to bring merchandise and produce into the city. There's also a third gate to the south of the city which you know, from having visited the mansion where Lord Artan Rossilio and his mother live. There is a fourth gate but that leads into the Harbor district and not out of the city. Which way does Davorar go? OOC: Feel free to reach out in your individual PM if you want to do somethings specific.
(Kriv) The dragonborn has little trouble being directed towards harbor district where the Grand Dame is docked. The harbor area looks like a place that is very busy during the daylight hours but there are no homes in this area, it's mostly warehouses. Dockworkers are unloading goods in crates and barrels from ships docked there. The two notable buildings here are the harbormaster's office and a tavern that is starting to get busy. The sign hanging over the door reads, "One Foot In The Boat". Sailors, dockworkers and merchants are sauntering in at a rate that Kriv determines means the place will soon be overcrowded, noisy and likely rowdy. From the descriptions provided by the staff of the Pearl Handled Pipe, he spots a riverboat docked outside the harbormaster's office which fits the description of the Grand Dame. Where does Kriv go to?
(Bern) He had not visited any of the stores or the fishmarket, so there were many options for the Ranger to choose from. ooc: We can do like I did with Jaliera and Davroar and go store to store? Do you have a particular plan? If not, I can start you at the shop next to the map place that Jaliera & Davroar visited just to cover new ground? If you have some other thoughts, hit me up in PM.
(Sindar) The bard was planning his evening out but the late afternoon he was going solo. ooc: OK. Tonight the casino. Are you doing anything in particular now? It's fine to take things into PM too.
"Well, I usually have an ample supply of healing potions but I sold my last ones earlier today. However, I have a potion that helps you climb and do so fast. That one will cost 75 gold. If you are interested in something a little less common, I have one that lets you breath fire like a dragon. That one will cost 350 gold. Another will help you make friends with animals and I can let you have that for 200 gold. My best potions are 500 gold. One makes you as strong as a hill giant and the other lets you breath underwater like a fish. Which would you like?"
(Kriv)
A pair of the town guards, the Shields, were on duty were patrolling the general area in front of the harbormaster's office. It is up a short flight of wooden steps. Through the window, from the outside, Kriv can see that the harbormaster is busy. There are a half dozen men waiting on line, patiently in front of a desk. A seventh man is leaning on the desk with his arms. Behind the desk was the harbormaster. He was a very large middle aged man with a fiery red head of hair and beard to match. Kriv took note that the man was as big as he was. The harbormaster wore a leather cloak that had a fur collar. The harbormaster was asking the man that was leaning o his desk questions and then recording the answers in a large black ledger. It sounded like the man was making arrangements to keep his ship in port and was here to make make payment. The transaction was completing with the man emptying a small coin purse onto a tin plate on the desk. The harbormaster counted the coin and then emptied the contents on the plate into a slit in a steel-bound chest at his feet. He stamps a receipt and hands it to the man who says "Thank you" and leaves. The next man in line steps forward.
He will take the less crowded south gate, walking at a brisk pace for about a half mile to a mile away. When he finally finds himself alone he will shape change into a wolf and let his nose guide him to the northern bank of the Dessarin River, then following the eastern fork for about a hour before heading back along his same track. Coming back in sight of Yartar and with time to spare, he will just find a quiet place to sit sown and commune with nature before ultimately heading back to the south gate before sundown.
She had thought that 2 was excessive. She sighs softly, now thinking that the afternoon might be more of an ordeal than the evening.
She leads the way to the gnome at the potion stall and smiles at him, letting Zhu take the lead whilst she checks her money carefully, watching for thieves. She will need to ask Zhu how much dresses cost.
He agrees to meet at the Lionshield in four hours. For him a bit of wandering, and to find a place for lunch. He isn't going to go to the Pearl Handled Pipe, as he wants something different. If he keeps enjoying their fare for every meal he will have to roll around town.
Hmm. The man was busy, which was all well and good, but indicated he was best left to his duty. So, let's go see if the ship's name was marked accordingly, and if they advertised.
OOC: Sorry that I disappeared for a bit. I actually thought I posted but never clicked post! Life got a bit busy the past couple of days.
DM (Kriv) The burly harbormaster peers up from his paperwork as he notices the dragonborn turn to leave. He calls out, "The office closes soon. If you ain't settling up now, yer gonna pay fines."
The other eyes turn to look at who the harbormaster was talking to.
(Jaliera & Zhu) The gnome goes inside his hut and comes out with a vial that contains a cloudy green fluid. Inside is a translucent bubble floating in it.
"Take a smell" he says as he unstoppers it and holds it close to Zhu's nose. It smells like the sea. "It should last you about an hour, so don't get caught deep when it wears off! It is worth the coin!"
(Sindar) Sindar starts his sojourn through the city. The traveling minstrel takes it all in, learning about the city, it's streets and it's folks. He keeps his eyes open and his ears perked. OOC: Let's take this private.
(Davroar) The druid strolls through the town and exits through the southern gate, the watchful eyes of the Shields took note and waves him through. Their focus, however is to the south and Davroar's intuition tells him that they are looking towards the horizon. Word of the giant attacks, passed on through Kriv, Zhu and Sindar to the Waterbaron has likely raised alert levels. He does not, however, feel that it will be difficult to find a way to transform furtively; he just needs to find the right place and circumstance.
As he starts south he reaches a four-way intersection. The road to his left (west) leads to the town cemetery which is though a wrought iron gate in the fence that lines the perimeter, enclosing the entire area. Through the gate he sees a small group of clerics, strolling through. The caretakers seem to be consecrating the land. To his right the city spills out. No longer able to hold all residents inside the walls, newer homes and businesses had been built. These small farms and stores were clustered together near the banks of the Surbrin river. At the very end of the road is a mill. The streets and fields there are busy.
But Davroar would head south and after about five or ten minutes strolling there were no longer any crowds of people. There was the occasional tree but mostly this was farm land. A man of nature, Davroar knew that it was very fertile land, fed by minerals flowing down from the Dessarin Hills which he could see, from a distance, were ahead of him, across from the Dessarin River which flowed from the hills. He changes into a wolf here and continues on to the northern banks of the river.
Here too he sees that the region is on alert. Two mounted guards were near the bank of the river, they had the horses in a slow walking gait.
(Bern) Bern decides to wander independently through the city, glancing into shops and taverns along the way. OOC: Why don't we take this private.
(Arus) Arus makes his way directly to the Lionshare Coster where he hopes to find an old acquaintance, Sally and he is not disappointed. OOC: We'll take you private too.
DM (Kriv) "Aye. That be her yonder," he said pointing in the direction of the riverboat opposite the harbormaster's office. "Staff'll be boarding 'bout the when I start closin' up 'ere. That would be just before sundown."
She smells the potion and takes a tentative sip ("Proverbial Sip") to ascertain it's potency. Nodding, she hands over the coin and puts the potion into her pouch.
As she does, she asks the Gnome for the location of any dressmaker shops. Turning to Jaliera she says, "To the dressmaker then shall we?"
DM (Kriv) Armed with new information, Kriv stepped out and looked at the riverboat. There was some activity. A wagon was pulling up to it and a member of the crew greets the driver. The pair start carrying sacks and bags which appear to be food, up the gangplank into the boat. From this distance, the boat seemed ostentatiously ornate.
(Jalierra & Zhu) "The two best are Winter Winds and Firelust Fabrics & Tailoring. They have stores there and there," the gnome merchant says, pointing a stubby finger towards them.
ooc: Let's see, there's your Walmarts and your Bloomingdales/Harrods and then you've got the types of shops like the Beverly Hills shop from that Pretty Woman clip posted earlier However, you can use that as a fair baseline.
DM (Jaliera & Zhu) The ladies make their way towards the edge of the Fishmarket towards the shops. Just be happenstance, they come upon Winter Winds first. There are various dresses, ]gowns, robes, cloaks, boots, vests, pants and other clothes to pick from for both men, women. While most of the clothing is appropriate for human sized people, there are smaller items for halflings and gnomes.
The pair look through the window and then walk through the door. A bell over the door rings as the door opens and two men, both with short brown hair, smallish ears and pug noses walk out from a back room. They have the look of siblings, similar but different. Both were dressed very stylishly but their tastes were quite different. One was wearing tight brown leather trousers and a matching vest made of the same material but where trousers met vest, the brown rose like branches from his waist up to wards his arms. Under the vest he wore a pale green blouse and over the entire ensemble he wore a cloak was a forest green with and embroider with various fruit. The outfit made him look like a tree. The other man wore black on white. It was somewhat simpler, just a long, white silk robe tied at the waist by a black and gold rope belt and a black shirt whose sleeves were tight at the wrist but puffy everywhere else.
"Welcome! Welcome to Winter Winds!" said the one that looks like a tree. "My name is Felassal."
"And I am Thuorn," added the one wearing black and white, "How may we help you today?"
(Kriv) Having found the riverboat, what is Kriv doing now?
The dragonborn stays and observes. Food keeps coming, people pass by. As time moves on, he sees people, all dressed similarly, arrive. They walk up the gangplank, mostly alone but a few pairs walk up together, chatting. He determines that this is the help. No patrons approach, which tells him that the business has specific hours of operation.
His study of the ship provides him with a good picture of it. It has three levels he can see. The plank leads to the main deck. There's another deck above it and portals for oars, which have been pulled in, are beneath it and indicate a third deck. There are no windows or portals. Steps from the main deck to the lower deck are fore and aft.
"We are looking for an appropriate dress for my friend, Lady Jaliera here, to wear to the Grand Dame this evening. Thus, it must fit. No time for any major alterations."
She turns to Jaliera. "Do you have any requirements as to color or style?"
He counts the help to get a decent approximation of the ship's complement in casino mode, but with time advancing, it seems best to get back in time to share the details with the others.
She is a little startled to hear herself described as a lady. She hopes it doesn't put the price up. And she has no idea what her preferences might be. In later years when she has had some control over her clothing choices, she has picked functional garments, ones that help her blend in.
"Nothing too.. ostentatious."
That is a good word. She is pleased with that. Then using her eye colour as a guide.
"This lovely lass? How terrific!" the one called Felassal said. "Not a challenge. Not at all! Blue? Wonderful, wonderful!" Thuorn said as the pair descended on Jaliera with unrivaled enthusiam. They gathered rolls of fabrics, robes, tunics, boots, furs, scarves, socks, leggins - all of the finest looking materials that the young girl ever saw. They tossed the furs and strips of cloths over her shoulder, startling Jaliera. But all the time the two argued about everything they tried. "No, no! She's too tall for that", "Eeeeks! That looks horrid on her!", "Just use some of that so-called imagination!", "A light blue she said. Do you call that light?". Even as they argued incessantly, they seemed to know exactly what they were doing.
(Kriv)
An hour before dusk, after observation, Kriv sees all of the staff, now fully uniformed with different matching outfits descend the gangplank and line up, almost like an army unit would, in neat lines, groups separated by uniforms. He counts thirty-two individuals that are the least consistent in their uniforms other than the fact that they all wear thick leather gloves. These he determines are rowers. They wouldn't mingle with guests and so they need not wear fancy outfits but the gloves are needed. There were six individuals all wearing white smocks and a puffy hat that covered their scalps. These Kriv determines are chefs. There were a half dozen individuals all of whom were wearing black pants, and clean, white shirts and white gloves. These he guess are servers. There were also a dozen men wearing black pants with silver trim running down the side of the legs, blue shirts and black vests. These he assumed were the card dealers. There were a dozen women dressed in very tight-fitting and revealing outfits. Kriv has guesses that they had escorts. Finally there were three musicians. One carried a lute, another a fiddle and a third had a flute in his hand.
They all lined up and when a final individual emerged, taking a step onto the gangplank and began walking down, the crowd below all hushed up and stood at attention. The individual, evidently the captain, a Tethyrian, was dressed immaculately in a royal blue outfit with black pants. His tall black boots were lined with gold trim he wore a fur scarf and a fur cloak. He also bore a sharp black goatee and carried a fine looking sabre at his side and a dagger was sheathed in his belt. He strode down the ramp with a commanding aura and made his way to the first group, the rowers. He looked them over briefly, waved a hand and they all moved as one to the ramp and ascended. Kriv watched as that group made it's way around to the aft of the boat where they then went out of view, apparently down to the lower level. The captain was fussier about the next groups, singling out several individuals for things like smudges, wrinkles and unpolished buttons. The individuals singled out all hurry to correct the problems and eventually, the entire staff marches up the gangplank. None of these groups headed to the stern. Kriv had seen others, the crew before they arrived. By his estimation there were nearly 100 individuals that worked on the ship.
She sits quietly and watches. After a time she can see that amidst the chaos these two do seem to know their business.
As Jaliera's expression becomes more and more overwhelmed, she chuckles lightly to herself and stands.
"Alright. Enough. Lady Jaliera preferred the third outfit. The light blue with inlaid silver pattern. Now lets move on to fitting. We do not have all day."
She moves closer to Jaliera once the men acknowledge her instructions. "It is not too ostentatious, nor too revealing. It is only ankle length so it should not trip you up if you need to move fast, has sleeves that can easily conceal a weapon, and the patterning could be used to conceal weapons as well. I will have them cut pocket slits at the hips for even more options."
She looks at Jaliera carefully. "It would pair well with a circlet or choker, if you desire?"
DM (Jaliera & Zhu) "Oh no. Oh no! Wearing the dress alone is like, like, well, owning a quiver and not having a bow," Felassal said. "Accoutrements! Baubbles! Trinkets! You need those."
"What are you talking about?" his brother, Thuorn asked with a great deal of incredulity. "They would take away from her her distinct beauty! What do you want to do? Hide her pretty face? Bury her in so much stuff that she can barely walk?"
The two bickered and argued, disregarding anything that Zhu or Jaliera say as their arguments escalated. Just when the loud debate was becoming unbearable, Flassal sighed, "Alright. You're wrong, I'm right, but no trinkets. No pretty things. Let her look like the girl selling flowers in the Fish Market!" He folded his arms across his chest and had a sour look on his face as he plopped himself down into a fluffy chair and sulked.
"Don't mind Fel. He likes pretty things and he thinks adding pretty things to a pretty thing is a good idea. I think simple lets your prettiness shine, like a twinkling star in the night sky. This look is perfect for you. It is you!" Thourn said.
When Jaliera looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but be shocked. She looked so different. She looked like royalty, at least in her minds eye. The pair had worked extremely hard to put together the outfit. It had taken quite a bit of time and they had settled on matters it was getting late.
"That'll be 25 gold pieces, without any of those gaudy things that Felassal was going to hang off of you", Thourn answered.
Felassal stood up immediately and marched over to his brother "Are you insane? Can't you see that this is her first dress? Are you so quick to chase away new customers?" Felassal asked loudly. Then he turned off his anger, turned to Jaliera and fussed with the sash around her waist and evened out how the dress sat on her shoulders and said, with a sweet, calming voice. "You are pretty, and we do so want you to return for your second dress. This one is yours for 20 gold."
It was more than expected but everything in this town was expensive, well above prices in Neverwinter or Silverymoon. It was a fair price for Yartar.
A sizeable discount? That really seals the deal for her, though paying that for a dress seems extreme. But it is pretty.. and she needs to be out in the fresh air.
"20 gold. I accept."
She counts out the coins carefully and hands them over.
DM Thourn accepted the coin and asked, "Are you wearing it or did you want to, ummm, primp yourself first? We can package it for you if you like."
In a moment when Thourn turns about, Felassal hands a Jaliera a small box and raises a finger up vertically over his lips. "Shhhh!" he whispers as he closes her hand around it. "A little present."
He immediately feels the stress fade away as he finally finds a spot to transform into a wolf that brings a whole new range of smells to him. Not wanting to spook the guards horses by the river bank, he quietly slips away putting his nose to the ground and following any interesting scents along the river banks for a time. At his half-way point he will find a spot to lap up some clean river water and just watch the hills for a bit before breaking off to run back across open fields. Lying down in in the long grass panting heavily, he will reluctantly shift back into his human form and leisurely walk back to pass back through the southern gate as the sun starts dipping below the horizon.
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