It is Midwinter evening in the Year of Three Ships Sailing. It is snowing heavily outside a packed tavern. Not just any tavern, but the Yawning Portal, the most famous tavern in Waterdeep. In addition to the ale and beer, which are high quality and of an acceptable price, it is famous in part for its unorthodox design: it was built around a wide and deep well leading into the Undermountain, the massive dungeon below Waterdeep.
Midwinter is a day to make new alliances, or renew old ones, and what better place to do so than the Yawning Portal? You sit around a sturdy wooden table lit by a brightly burning candle and littered with plates cleared of food and half-drained tankards. With a raucous countdown, the grand clock in the taproom strikes Midnight; after the cheering and laughter dies down, a tradition: each reveler at the table is to give a short introduction in turn, whether everyone else at the table already knows them or not.
Hugo looks anxious to start, he slicks back his hair and lays his gloved hands on the table as he stands up, ready to speak. The shield on his back clanks against his chainmail.
"Cheers new friends! Let me be the first to introduce myself. My name is Hugo Smith, son of Roland. I am fully trained in the art of melee combat and smithing. My father taught me all I know when it comes to forging combat ready equipment, in fact this Morningstar I have here was crafted in that very forge!" (Hugo raises his weapon up to show the table.)
"I am very interested to learn about you all, I love meeting new people and look forward to forging a great bond with you all."
Sitting at far end of table with a book is a studious looking human male that looks to be in his very late teens to perhaps early twenties. He has close cut light brown hair with a goatee that looks to have just fully grown in. He wears robes that are a cobalt blue with silver trim, ending in a bit of white fur around the collar and sleeves. It is clear he dressed for the cold weather outside.
Nowles looks up at the sound of cheering, looking rather out of place in the celebrations as he had been nose deep in a book for the better part of the last two or three hours. As others begin to talk and give introductions he looks as though he is about to go back to his book, obviously not used to the feeling of being around so many strangers.
"Nowles Harpell of Longsaddle. I am sure you have heard of my family and our many wizardly exploits. Well I came here to learn from a powerful wizard but they refused to even give me the time of day, so alas I am here until my coin runs out or until I find a new lead on exciting magic."
"Cheers!" comes in a soft but cocky voice from across the sturdy wooden table. In the light from the brightly burning candle you see a stunning platinum blonde half-elf, eyes blue as the Sea of swords, wearing a rather worn cloak of the deepest blue, a tentacle shaped wand tucked under her belt, a pack and a crossbow by her side. She swiftly empties her tankard and continues. "I´m Sephyre, Sephyre Deepwave, Waterdhavian born and bred. Didn´t learn much from my fisherman of a father I´m afraid, but I´ve found other venues of getting by in this city. Always looking for opportunities, and partners in crime, if you catch my drift folks."She leans back, looking to the others for introductions.
D’labos shuffles a deck of cards and sends a card to each sitting at the table. Glancing at the ace dealt in front of the Drow, he smiles.
“Look at that, I seem to have the high card. I suppose that means I’ll go next. I am D’labos of House Helviate of Baldur’s Gate. You all know me as your lovable card shark with a golden smile and a silver tongue. Some might even say I could sell ice to a frost giant. I’m as handy with my blade as I am smooth with my cards and I’m always at the ready for the next adventure.”
The door to the tavern opens and D’labos’s smooth smile breaks for the slightest of moments as he identifies the newcomers, then glances at the back exit.
"Hiya folks!" A small rock gnome stands up on her chair at her place at the table. She wears rather light clothing despite the cold weather outside. "Botanist Aster here, just Aster. Traveling and causing disaster, if ya know what I mean," she jokes lightly, looking excitedly around at the others.
"So, new in Waterdeep then..." Sephyre studies the others appreciatively "...allow me to be your guide then, should we get any business on our hands. Why don´t you deal me some more cards there D´labos while we wait for that adventure." She says smirking at the dashing drow.
Nowles nods to the others as he vaguely listens to their introductions, seeming to have a hard time not simply going back to his reading. "Nice to meet all of you... Blast I lost my spot..." He muttered quickly running his eyes across the page of the book.
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Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
"My great uncle's research into the work of another relative by the name of Bidderdoo. He was studying lycanthropy and in doing so inflicted himself with it. Let us just say through tomfoolery on his part it became a problem that still haunts the rest of the Harpell family." Nowles explained, moving to mark his page before returning his attention to Sephyre.
"Lycanthropy huh, nasty stuff that is, hope you didn´t catch it Nowles. Heard rumors of wererats here in the city but never met one, as far as I know." She adds smirking again. "So which powerful wizard are you speaking of, the Blackstaff?" She says waiting for her cards.
"Well one of my cousins suggested to learn from the Open Lord since she is a chosen of Mystra. It did not go well but there are others to learn from." Nowles said, not commenting on the lycanthrope joke.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Hugo leans forward, intrigued by the word Lycanthropy, eyebrows raised intently listening in on this conversation. "I've never had a run-in with a werewolf, that could be just the adventure we are looking for!" Hugo exclaims.
"Maybe we could help him in his situation, or if he is so inclined, end his suffering." Hugo suggests with a small smirk. "You know, I have been commissioned a few times to craft weapons of silver" He adds.
Hugo turns to D’labos, "Deal me in as well, what's the game of choice?"
"Lady Silverhand, well she would be busy ruling I suppose. Don´t despair Nowles, I´ll help you find another tutor once I´ve won my bar tab. I know some people who know some people." Sephyre says trying to cheer the young wizard up.
"Bidderdoo is long dead by at least a century and a half if not two century by now. Besides this was merely something to read to pass the time." Nowles tells Hugo with a shrug, being careful to place the books in his pack.
"I thank you for the offer but if I return home I can study well enough. I merely left in order to find another perspective of arcane study. My family tend to experiment regularly but there are still others that learn things in a different way so I thought it wise to learn from them as well."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
"Well I hope Waterdeep will give you a new perspective then. The opportunities here for gold and magic are abundant, although some risks will probably be involved. You would learn a lot from your books but there´s no substitute for experience, right?" Sephyre says smiling at Nowles.
"It´s a mighty fine weapon you have there Hugo, your father must be proud of your craftmanship." Sephyre says smiling to the smith across the table. "How does he feel about you leaving the safety of the smithy?"
"Ah thanks Sephyre, father is very proud of all my exploits. I was a city guard for some time so he I've been out of the smithy for some time now." Hugo explained. "It's my mother that worries about me but she will live." Hugo cocked a smile.
"Werewolves are pretty interesting, too bad he's gone." Aster clicks her tongue. "Not sure if I've ever had an encounter with a werewolf before either, but there was a hairy guy who seemed to very much dislike my wolfsbane flowers."
She smiles at Nowles. "If you want to pass the time, why not play a game with us here?" She grabs the card dealt to her by D’labos, then raises an eyebrow. "A Joker's in the deck? Fitting."
It is Midwinter evening in the Year of Three Ships Sailing. It is snowing heavily outside a packed tavern. Not just any tavern, but the Yawning Portal, the most famous tavern in Waterdeep. In addition to the ale and beer, which are high quality and of an acceptable price, it is famous in part for its unorthodox design: it was built around a wide and deep well leading into the Undermountain, the massive dungeon below Waterdeep.
Midwinter is a day to make new alliances, or renew old ones, and what better place to do so than the Yawning Portal? You sit around a sturdy wooden table lit by a brightly burning candle and littered with plates cleared of food and half-drained tankards. With a raucous countdown, the grand clock in the taproom strikes Midnight; after the cheering and laughter dies down, a tradition: each reveler at the table is to give a short introduction in turn, whether everyone else at the table already knows them or not.
Don't be shy; introduce yourself!
Hugo looks anxious to start, he slicks back his hair and lays his gloved hands on the table as he stands up, ready to speak. The shield on his back clanks against his chainmail.
"Cheers new friends! Let me be the first to introduce myself. My name is Hugo Smith, son of Roland. I am fully trained in the art of melee combat and smithing. My father taught me all I know when it comes to forging combat ready equipment, in fact this Morningstar I have here was crafted in that very forge!" (Hugo raises his weapon up to show the table.)
"I am very interested to learn about you all, I love meeting new people and look forward to forging a great bond with you all."
Hugo sits back down for the next one to speak.
Hugo Smith - Mark of the Sentinel Human Warrior
Sitting at far end of table with a book is a studious looking human male that looks to be in his very late teens to perhaps early twenties. He has close cut light brown hair with a goatee that looks to have just fully grown in. He wears robes that are a cobalt blue with silver trim, ending in a bit of white fur around the collar and sleeves. It is clear he dressed for the cold weather outside.
Nowles looks up at the sound of cheering, looking rather out of place in the celebrations as he had been nose deep in a book for the better part of the last two or three hours. As others begin to talk and give introductions he looks as though he is about to go back to his book, obviously not used to the feeling of being around so many strangers.
"Nowles Harpell of Longsaddle. I am sure you have heard of my family and our many wizardly exploits. Well I came here to learn from a powerful wizard but they refused to even give me the time of day, so alas I am here until my coin runs out or until I find a new lead on exciting magic."
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
"Cheers!" comes in a soft but cocky voice from across the sturdy wooden table. In the light from the brightly burning candle you see a stunning platinum blonde half-elf, eyes blue as the Sea of swords, wearing a rather worn cloak of the deepest blue, a tentacle shaped wand tucked under her belt, a pack and a crossbow by her side. She swiftly empties her tankard and continues. "I´m Sephyre, Sephyre Deepwave, Waterdhavian born and bred. Didn´t learn much from my fisherman of a father I´m afraid, but I´ve found other venues of getting by in this city. Always looking for opportunities, and partners in crime, if you catch my drift folks." She leans back, looking to the others for introductions.
D’labos shuffles a deck of cards and sends a card to each sitting at the table. Glancing at the ace dealt in front of the Drow, he smiles.
“Look at that, I seem to have the high card. I suppose that means I’ll go next. I am D’labos of House Helviate of Baldur’s Gate. You all know me as your lovable card shark with a golden smile and a silver tongue. Some might even say I could sell ice to a frost giant. I’m as handy with my blade as I am smooth with my cards and I’m always at the ready for the next adventure.”
The door to the tavern opens and D’labos’s smooth smile breaks for the slightest of moments as he identifies the newcomers, then glances at the back exit.
"Hiya folks!" A small rock gnome stands up on her chair at her place at the table. She wears rather light clothing despite the cold weather outside. "Botanist Aster here, just Aster. Traveling and causing disaster, if ya know what I mean," she jokes lightly, looking excitedly around at the others.
"So, new in Waterdeep then..." Sephyre studies the others appreciatively "...allow me to be your guide then, should we get any business on our hands.
Why don´t you deal me some more cards there D´labos while we wait for that adventure." She says smirking at the dashing drow.
Nowles nods to the others as he vaguely listens to their introductions, seeming to have a hard time not simply going back to his reading. "Nice to meet all of you... Blast I lost my spot..." He muttered quickly running his eyes across the page of the book.
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
"What are you reading there Nowles?" Sephyre says, curious about that tome being more interesting than a game of cards.
"My great uncle's research into the work of another relative by the name of Bidderdoo. He was studying lycanthropy and in doing so inflicted himself with it. Let us just say through tomfoolery on his part it became a problem that still haunts the rest of the Harpell family." Nowles explained, moving to mark his page before returning his attention to Sephyre.
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
"Lycanthropy huh, nasty stuff that is, hope you didn´t catch it Nowles. Heard rumors of wererats here in the city but never met one, as far as I know." She adds smirking again.
"So which powerful wizard are you speaking of, the Blackstaff?" She says waiting for her cards.
"Well one of my cousins suggested to learn from the Open Lord since she is a chosen of Mystra. It did not go well but there are others to learn from." Nowles said, not commenting on the lycanthrope joke.
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
Hugo leans forward, intrigued by the word Lycanthropy, eyebrows raised intently listening in on this conversation. "I've never had a run-in with a werewolf, that could be just the adventure we are looking for!" Hugo exclaims.
"Maybe we could help him in his situation, or if he is so inclined, end his suffering." Hugo suggests with a small smirk. "You know, I have been commissioned a few times to craft weapons of silver" He adds.
Hugo turns to D’labos, "Deal me in as well, what's the game of choice?"
Hugo Smith - Mark of the Sentinel Human Warrior
"Lady Silverhand, well she would be busy ruling I suppose. Don´t despair Nowles, I´ll help you find another tutor once I´ve won my bar tab. I know some people who know some people." Sephyre says trying to cheer the young wizard up.
"Bidderdoo is long dead by at least a century and a half if not two century by now. Besides this was merely something to read to pass the time." Nowles tells Hugo with a shrug, being careful to place the books in his pack.
"I thank you for the offer but if I return home I can study well enough. I merely left in order to find another perspective of arcane study. My family tend to experiment regularly but there are still others that learn things in a different way so I thought it wise to learn from them as well."
Rekuberk Onc Level 8 | Half Orc | Barbarian (The Tales of the Fellowship of the White Cloaks)
Kayassa Level 3 | Satyr | Warlock (Cleath13's LMoP)
Bertolt Silentlash Level 3 | Variant Human | Bard (Our Little Lives Kept in Equipoise: Death House)
Daerthe Narcion Level 4 | Drow | Rogue (Karmoli's Great Upheaval)
"Ah, that is unfortunate for him." Hugo folds his arms and leans back onto his chair looking off to the distance for a bar wench and seeming defeated.
He raises his hand up to catch her attention. "Another Pint here please."
Hugo Smith - Mark of the Sentinel Human Warrior
"Well I hope Waterdeep will give you a new perspective then. The opportunities here for gold and magic are abundant, although some risks will probably be involved. You would learn a lot from your books but there´s no substitute for experience, right?" Sephyre says smiling at Nowles.
"It´s a mighty fine weapon you have there Hugo, your father must be proud of your craftmanship." Sephyre says smiling to the smith across the table. "How does he feel about you leaving the safety of the smithy?"
"Ah thanks Sephyre, father is very proud of all my exploits. I was a city guard for some time so he I've been out of the smithy for some time now." Hugo explained. "It's my mother that worries about me but she will live." Hugo cocked a smile.
Hugo Smith - Mark of the Sentinel Human Warrior
Bonnie quickly drops off a pint with Hugo and anyone else in need of drink, before heading to the next table, busy as ever.
"Werewolves are pretty interesting, too bad he's gone." Aster clicks her tongue. "Not sure if I've ever had an encounter with a werewolf before either, but there was a hairy guy who seemed to very much dislike my wolfsbane flowers."
She smiles at Nowles. "If you want to pass the time, why not play a game with us here?" She grabs the card dealt to her by D’labos, then raises an eyebrow. "A Joker's in the deck? Fitting."