OOC: Erric, you don't recognize the halfling or pick up on any intent, and you didn't get a good look at the book, but you recognize the style of the cover and binding to be one of the guides by the famous author Volothamp Geddarm.
After taking the coins from Anafrey, the dwarf leads the group to a curved staircase leading to the second floor. Maldorn keeps his eyes peeled for any shenanigans. While the place is busy, everyone seems to be upbeat and friendly, not like the clientele at the Mage's Buttcrack. The barmaid greets many she passes with either their name or a "Sweetie" or "Darling". Reaching the second floor, she looks around, then heads for a table almost halfway around the balcony right up against the rail. Looking over the carved wood rail, viewers can see the portal yawning skyward. The walls of the hole are roughly carved stone which sink down, down, down. From the table, the group can see about 10 feet into the pit.
As the four sit, the dwarf holds up Anafrey's coins and says to her, "I'll get yours." Looking around the table she asks, "Anyone else want something to drink or eat?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Erric, looking around the Yawning Portal for anyone he recognizes (perception: 3) but not expecting to, orders a pint of lager, "something light and fresh" and then sits down and pulls out his lute, tuning it amongst the din. He glances at Jambiya every once in a while to make sure she's having a good time and not leaning too far toward the portal. He'll ask Anafrey for a sip of what she's served when he smells it. He's also checking his pack and pockets like Maldorn did.
Eventually, he says, quietly to the group when they are alone, "So have some bad news. I think Eilikaysis might be in love with me. Do you think Ebokk knows?"
Maldorn orders some tea and specifies that he likes it "piping hot, please."
Maldorn places a gold piece in front of Sagitta's mouth and instructs the snake to grab it. He then extends his arm towards the dwarven lady, signaling for her to take payment for the tea from Sagitta directly. He'll add: "In case I'm overpaying, take some of it for yourself and then make sure you bring some finger food for us to bite on. Thank you." (Gp removed from inventory).
Assuming he is already drinking said tea by the time Erric makes his revelation, Maldorn almost chokes on it as he widens his eyes: "Peric, are you sure of what you are saying? If that is true, that would surely be quite a fast example of infatuation... Suspiciously so."
OOC: Sorry it's taken so long to get this posted. The wife and I babysat some friends' kids overnight last night. This happens here, before the stuff below.
Sagitta dutifully picks up the gold piece and holds it in its mouth as it looks at Maldorn, then vaguely in the waitress's direction after the hunter points. The dwarf looks warily at the winged snake. After a pause, she gives a half shrug and reaches for the coin. (Animal handling: 6) Sagitta drops the coin and hisses at the waitress, its wings extending in a threatening way. (Jambiya understands it to say, "Mine!") The dwarf pulls her hand back and looks at the small creature with wide eyes. Maldorn picks up the coin and hands it to her with an apology. The waitress gives Sagitta another look as it calms. "Protective little thing," she says with a small smile. After Jambiya orders, the dwarf raises her eyebrows at the little goblin girl and says with a bit of respect, "I believe we have some down below." She then turns, appearing to not bear any ill will as she walks away. She descends a second curved staircase on the other side of the tavern from the one they ascended, again, greeting other patrons as she does so.
Soon after she leaves, a voice rises above the din, perhaps magically enhanced. "My friends, may I have the courtesy of your attentions." The four Seldomites looks over the rail to see a man standing on the bar below. He looks seasoned, but still physically well-built. He is dressed in handsome leathers and blue linen. Erric recognizes Durnan, and Jambiya assumes that this is the Portal's proprietor, who she's heard about (though she can't remember his name). "The time has come. We have for your enjoyment another brave compliment of adventurers." He extends his arm to his left, where a small cluster of individuals are looking proud of themselves and appear to be psyching each other up for whatever happens next. It looks to be three who are human, elf or half-elf (it's hard to know for sure from the second-floor balcony), and a very large humanoid with maroon, scaly skin and a head like a lizard's — a dragonborn! The dragonborn appears to be the least nervous. "These four, brave souls," Durnan continues, "are prepared to descend into the Undermountain — the dungeon of the Mad Mage, himself — in search of treasure ... and glory!" The crowd, which has been keeping its conversations at a dull roar during Durnan's opening, now erupts in cheers, whistles and applause. After a few moments, he raises his arms and continues: "Four strong warriors. Surely they will survive," he says, his voice beginning to take on the timbre of a carnival barker. "What say you?"
Two men and one women positioned equidistant from each other around the portal immediately begin hollering out odds and taking bets from the patrons surrounding them. Some individuals are hanging over the rails and making their bets known from above. Durnan climbs down from the bar, a broad smile on his face.
The crowd is once again raucous, yet still not dangerous. The four adventurers are ushered to a crane opposite the bar. One by one, they are lowered down into the over-sized well. By the time the last adventurer is being lowered, the dwarf barmaid is back with an impressive number of drinks on a large tray.
OOC: I am using various sources for all these spirits. If anything is way too expensive, we can either change your order, or we can discuss.
She removes a small glass of a honey-colored liquid and places it at Jambiya's place at the table. "One glass of Honey Pine Dew. That'll be five dragons." She then delivers a white tea cup with blue flowers hand-painted on the side. "One Pale Jade Shou Lung. Piping hot," she adds with a little smile. Indeed, quite a cloud of steam is rising from the top of the tea. She places a mug at Erric's place. "One Suzale. Three shards." She then adjusts how she is holding the tray and slides the lip onto the edge of their table. The remaining five mugs of a dark liquid get placed, one-by-one, in front of Anafrey. "Five dwarven ales." She puts the tray under her arm and looks around the table. "Can I get anyone anything else?"
OOC2: If you want to respond you can, otherwise it picks up in the middle of #923.
Erric looks at Maldorn as he nearly chokes. "I know, it's surprising. I was surprised too. She was very nice that first night -- she woke me up and invited me to her room for a glass of wine. She said some nice things about wanting to be my friend, and then, well, her robe just slipped off completely, and I helped her get dressed again. Didn't think anything of it at the time. Right then, I thought, well, if were having a party, we should invite the three of you, but she didn't think that was a good idea, and all of a sudden the party was over. Then as I walked right back out of her room, she kissed me on the mouth. For the rest of the voyage, she was very shy, I barely saw her, and then as she was leaving the ship, she gave me another kiss, and said she hoped to see me again. I really hope Ebokk didn't see -- he speaks very warmly of her so I thought he fancied her and I wouldn't want to get between them. What should I do?"
He drinks down half his pint.
"She's very nice, but she's not my type."
He glances down to the first floor to peoplewatch with Jambiya. His cheeks, already a bit ruddy from his beer, flush. If you didn't know Erric as well as you do by now, you'd guess it's not just the beer, he's also a bit abashed.
"Be wary of such rapid displays of affection, young Qeric." Maldorn advises. "History tells me they can break both your heart and your spirit, if not your purse too." The old man looks pensively at the ceiling for a moment before turning back to Erric: "If you are to see her again, try to read between the lines. If she is trying to take advantage of you somehow, the situation might end up undermining our agreement with Leadbock."
As Erric tells his tale, Jambiya turns around slowly to watch him. Her black-green eyes are very focused on the halfling, but she doesn't say anything, and when he is done, and comes over to the rail, she just turns and rests there companionably with him. Then she leans in and says to him, privately, "I am sorry that happened to you, Erric. You are a loving, lovely, decent man, and you did not deserve that. It sounds like you did the right thing. I hope you know you don't owe her anything." Then she falls silent for a little while.
"Oh my gods, do you see the sword that woman is carrying? Got to be half again her height! I bet she trips on it more than she swings it."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Erric nods seriously at Maldorn's advice, absorbing a surprising amount of it through his furrowed brow. "Well I won't tell Ebook if you won't. I thought I knew people well, but I guess I have some things to learn. Thanks, friend."
After Jambiya's kind words, Erric flushes even more, and hides his face in his pint glass. "Thank you, dear one. I still don't understand what happened, what she did, or why. Maybe she was trying to give me something and I messed it all up. She never really explained at all. Maybe one day we'll figure it out together?"
He takes another sip, looking at the people below next to his friend. "It is a big sword. Bet I could swing it, wouldn't that be a sight!"
(OOC: He is ready to leave for the ship whenever.)
“Was what I paid not enough for some finger food, Miss Dwarven lady?” Maldorn asks, surprised at their absence.
Otherwise, he simply continues talking to Erric (as per posts above) and watching the display below. He also makes a mental note to train Sagitta to release gold coins on command.
OOC: Maldorn is ready to leave when everyone else is.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Erric is just making small talk with Jambiya after working himself up to actually confiding with his friends with the thing he's actually worried about. He's finished his pint and is happy, but ready to leave when his friends are.
Jambiya's observational interjection inspires him. He'll start doing that thing where he subtly points to a duo or trio of people far away but visible to the two of them, and pretend to voice what he thinks their conversation really is in ridiculous intentionally bad voices, inviting Jambiya to impersonate one of the characters if she wants.
*high-pitched voice from burly half-orc talking to large-sworded woman* "Oh my, yes, that is indeed a very large sword!" *gruff voice from besworded woman* "You really think so? I was going to get the next size up, but when I tried to leave the blacksmith's shop it wouldn't fit through the door and as far as I know it's still there. I thought I'd downgraded and have been ashamed of how small this one is." *high-pitched burly half-orc* "That... is amazing. There's a bigger sword than the one you're holding? I'm glad it's stuck in the smithy. Rest assured milady, that is the largest sword I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of swords." *gruff besworded woman* "Aww I bet you say that to all the girls..." *high-pitched burly half-orc* "No! That sword could honestly be huge enough to be Gruumsh's favorite toothpick. It's amazing you're able to hold it in a scabbard without falling to the ground. Want to go a few rounds to try it out on me? Durnan won't mind." *gruff besworded woman* "Aww I bet you say that to all the girls..."
If Jambiya participates in this exchange Erric gets very excited at the happy distraction. If not, he's happy to entertain her (performance: 18) to try to make her forget about the awkwardness of his confession and laugh a bit. If Maldorn'ssmoking, he'll try to figure out which tobacco he's using (Investigation: 13).
He looks back at Anafreyduring quiet moments to make sure the rogue's not finished her ales too quickly, and also that she's at least trying to enjoy herself. If she's distracted, he'll try to purloin one of her mugs and drain it quietly until she notices it, smile plastered to his face the whole time. (Deception: 25)
"This place is expensive!" Maldorn comes to the realization."Another reason not to like big cities like this one."
Maldorn waits until everyone finishes their drinks, including Anafrey and her half-dozen mugs or so, and then proposes: "Shall we go back to the boat? It's getting late."
Jambiya enjoys Erric's puppet-talking, and laughs merrily, but doesn't add to the jests. She'll pay up (gulp, 6 gold removed...) and is ready to go back to the ship with the rest. If she needs to, she'll use her skill at Persuading Drunk People to bring Anafrey along.
On the way, she muses out loud, "I wonder if someone here would know more about this dagger." She's looking at the fine-bladed elven dagger she got from the mansion. "Of course Eilikasys probably knew, but she wouldn't tell when I showed it to her back at Seldom Spring."
But she puts it away as an opportunity missed, and goes back to the boat with no more side trips. She's quite pleased with the excursion.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
The group spends another half an hour to an hour at the Yawning Portal, during which the bets are completed and everyone goes back to having a more orderly good time. Jambiya inquires about how long before the adventurers will return, and Erric tells her it could be right away, or it could be days, depending upon how successful they are. He then has to admit that sometimes, they don't come back. Once Anafrey finishes her last mug, the four leave, heading back south to the dock ward and the Nightshade. The climb the plank at about mid afternoon.
Erric asks, before they return, if they need to pick up some rations for their time ashore. "I don't think we've got our meals covered, do we? If we end up spending some time on this island, we don't want to get hungry. Also, does anyone have any thoughts on what we could use to help us once we're there? I don't think we could ever have imagined we'd end up in a mirror shadow realm when we went to help out Clarice, so I don't pretend to know for certain what we'll need. But it's an island. Do we need camping gear? Rope? A small raft? Some way for us to be able to see any threats before they surprise us? Just thinking out loud. I know you all love my questions."
DM:
Erric comes back to the ship with his friends, and stays on deck for a while, looking back at the city. His mind is much more at ease now that he's actually been able to talk through his concern with people he's starting to actually trust. Eilikasys is someone he definitely wants to know more about, and he might be able to get some answers from his contacts. But every time he starts to move toward the plank to walk to the tavern and begin that process, he looks over at Maldorn, fussing with his new tobacco, or Jambiya, also looking with bright eyes back at Waterdeep, or Anafrey's grumpy but watchful form, and knows he'll never make it without answering questions, and also that he can weather what the gnome has in store for him with his new friends. (He decides to forego the information-seeking mission and instead helps the twins load on the supplies, pulling out his lute and playing a bit if they wave his weak muscles away.)
"I packed well," says Maldorn gesturing to the dried foodstuffs he carries in his bag. "It doesn't hurt to carry some more just in case, if you want to be on the safe side. Assuming the island is not barren, I can always hunt or fish." The group would recall that Maldorn indeed carries fishing tackle with him.
"As for the other equipment you mentioned, Qeric, rest assured I am also well-stocked. Though I must admit I do not carry a raft around..." He then points to a piece of rope and adds: "I also learned this really neat trick with the rope than can help keep us safe overnight."
OOC: Erric, you don't recognize the halfling or pick up on any intent, and you didn't get a good look at the book, but you recognize the style of the cover and binding to be one of the guides by the famous author Volothamp Geddarm.
After taking the coins from Anafrey, the dwarf leads the group to a curved staircase leading to the second floor. Maldorn keeps his eyes peeled for any shenanigans. While the place is busy, everyone seems to be upbeat and friendly, not like the clientele at the Mage's Buttcrack. The barmaid greets many she passes with either their name or a "Sweetie" or "Darling". Reaching the second floor, she looks around, then heads for a table almost halfway around the balcony right up against the rail. Looking over the carved wood rail, viewers can see the portal yawning skyward. The walls of the hole are roughly carved stone which sink down, down, down. From the table, the group can see about 10 feet into the pit.
As the four sit, the dwarf holds up Anafrey's coins and says to her, "I'll get yours." Looking around the table she asks, "Anyone else want something to drink or eat?"
Erric, looking around the Yawning Portal for anyone he recognizes (perception: 3) but not expecting to, orders a pint of lager, "something light and fresh" and then sits down and pulls out his lute, tuning it amongst the din. He glances at Jambiya every once in a while to make sure she's having a good time and not leaning too far toward the portal. He'll ask Anafrey for a sip of what she's served when he smells it. He's also checking his pack and pockets like Maldorn did.
Eventually, he says, quietly to the group when they are alone, "So have some bad news. I think Eilikaysis might be in love with me. Do you think Ebokk knows?"
Maldorn orders some tea and specifies that he likes it "piping hot, please."
Maldorn places a gold piece in front of Sagitta's mouth and instructs the snake to grab it. He then extends his arm towards the dwarven lady, signaling for her to take payment for the tea from Sagitta directly. He'll add: "In case I'm overpaying, take some of it for yourself and then make sure you bring some finger food for us to bite on. Thank you." (Gp removed from inventory).
Assuming he is already drinking said tea by the time Erric makes his revelation, Maldorn almost chokes on it as he widens his eyes: "Peric, are you sure of what you are saying? If that is true, that would surely be quite a fast example of infatuation... Suspiciously so."
Jambiya orders a light mead by name. She did a lot of the stocking back home, then leans up against the railing to watch the people down below.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
OOC: Sorry it's taken so long to get this posted. The wife and I babysat some friends' kids overnight last night. This happens here, before the stuff below.
Sagitta dutifully picks up the gold piece and holds it in its mouth as it looks at Maldorn, then vaguely in the waitress's direction after the hunter points. The dwarf looks warily at the winged snake. After a pause, she gives a half shrug and reaches for the coin. (Animal handling: 6) Sagitta drops the coin and hisses at the waitress, its wings extending in a threatening way. (Jambiya understands it to say, "Mine!") The dwarf pulls her hand back and looks at the small creature with wide eyes. Maldorn picks up the coin and hands it to her with an apology. The waitress gives Sagitta another look as it calms. "Protective little thing," she says with a small smile. After Jambiya orders, the dwarf raises her eyebrows at the little goblin girl and says with a bit of respect, "I believe we have some down below." She then turns, appearing to not bear any ill will as she walks away. She descends a second curved staircase on the other side of the tavern from the one they ascended, again, greeting other patrons as she does so.
Soon after she leaves, a voice rises above the din, perhaps magically enhanced. "My friends, may I have the courtesy of your attentions." The four Seldomites looks over the rail to see a man standing on the bar below. He looks seasoned, but still physically well-built. He is dressed in handsome leathers and blue linen. Erric recognizes Durnan, and Jambiya assumes that this is the Portal's proprietor, who she's heard about (though she can't remember his name). "The time has come. We have for your enjoyment another brave compliment of adventurers." He extends his arm to his left, where a small cluster of individuals are looking proud of themselves and appear to be psyching each other up for whatever happens next. It looks to be three who are human, elf or half-elf (it's hard to know for sure from the second-floor balcony), and a very large humanoid with maroon, scaly skin and a head like a lizard's — a dragonborn! The dragonborn appears to be the least nervous. "These four, brave souls," Durnan continues, "are prepared to descend into the Undermountain — the dungeon of the Mad Mage, himself — in search of treasure ... and glory!" The crowd, which has been keeping its conversations at a dull roar during Durnan's opening, now erupts in cheers, whistles and applause. After a few moments, he raises his arms and continues: "Four strong warriors. Surely they will survive," he says, his voice beginning to take on the timbre of a carnival barker. "What say you?"
Two men and one women positioned equidistant from each other around the portal immediately begin hollering out odds and taking bets from the patrons surrounding them. Some individuals are hanging over the rails and making their bets known from above. Durnan climbs down from the bar, a broad smile on his face.
The crowd is once again raucous, yet still not dangerous. The four adventurers are ushered to a crane opposite the bar. One by one, they are lowered down into the over-sized well. By the time the last adventurer is being lowered, the dwarf barmaid is back with an impressive number of drinks on a large tray.
OOC: I am using various sources for all these spirits. If anything is way too expensive, we can either change your order, or we can discuss.
She removes a small glass of a honey-colored liquid and places it at Jambiya's place at the table. "One glass of Honey Pine Dew. That'll be five dragons." She then delivers a white tea cup with blue flowers hand-painted on the side. "One Pale Jade Shou Lung. Piping hot," she adds with a little smile. Indeed, quite a cloud of steam is rising from the top of the tea. She places a mug at Erric's place. "One Suzale. Three shards." She then adjusts how she is holding the tray and slides the lip onto the edge of their table. The remaining five mugs of a dark liquid get placed, one-by-one, in front of Anafrey. "Five dwarven ales." She puts the tray under her arm and looks around the table. "Can I get anyone anything else?"
OOC2: If you want to respond you can, otherwise it picks up in the middle of #923.
Erric looks at Maldorn as he nearly chokes. "I know, it's surprising. I was surprised too. She was very nice that first night -- she woke me up and invited me to her room for a glass of wine. She said some nice things about wanting to be my friend, and then, well, her robe just slipped off completely, and I helped her get dressed again. Didn't think anything of it at the time. Right then, I thought, well, if were having a party, we should invite the three of you, but she didn't think that was a good idea, and all of a sudden the party was over. Then as I walked right back out of her room, she kissed me on the mouth. For the rest of the voyage, she was very shy, I barely saw her, and then as she was leaving the ship, she gave me another kiss, and said she hoped to see me again. I really hope Ebokk didn't see -- he speaks very warmly of her so I thought he fancied her and I wouldn't want to get between them. What should I do?"
He drinks down half his pint.
"She's very nice, but she's not my type."
He glances down to the first floor to peoplewatch with Jambiya. His cheeks, already a bit ruddy from his beer, flush. If you didn't know Erric as well as you do by now, you'd guess it's not just the beer, he's also a bit abashed.
"Be wary of such rapid displays of affection, young Qeric." Maldorn advises. "History tells me they can break both your heart and your spirit, if not your purse too." The old man looks pensively at the ceiling for a moment before turning back to Erric: "If you are to see her again, try to read between the lines. If she is trying to take advantage of you somehow, the situation might end up undermining our agreement with Leadbock."
He sips on his tea once again.
As Erric tells his tale, Jambiya turns around slowly to watch him. Her black-green eyes are very focused on the halfling, but she doesn't say anything, and when he is done, and comes over to the rail, she just turns and rests there companionably with him. Then she leans in and says to him, privately, "I am sorry that happened to you, Erric. You are a loving, lovely, decent man, and you did not deserve that. It sounds like you did the right thing. I hope you know you don't owe her anything." Then she falls silent for a little while.
"Oh my gods, do you see the sword that woman is carrying? Got to be half again her height! I bet she trips on it more than she swings it."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Erric nods seriously at Maldorn's advice, absorbing a surprising amount of it through his furrowed brow. "Well I won't tell Ebook if you won't. I thought I knew people well, but I guess I have some things to learn. Thanks, friend."
After Jambiya's kind words, Erric flushes even more, and hides his face in his pint glass. "Thank you, dear one. I still don't understand what happened, what she did, or why. Maybe she was trying to give me something and I messed it all up. She never really explained at all. Maybe one day we'll figure it out together?"
He takes another sip, looking at the people below next to his friend. "It is a big sword. Bet I could swing it, wouldn't that be a sight!"
(OOC: He is ready to leave for the ship whenever.)
#925 is finally posted
“Was what I paid not enough for some finger food, Miss Dwarven lady?” Maldorn asks, surprised at their absence.
Otherwise, he simply continues talking to Erric (as per posts above) and watching the display below. He also makes a mental note to train Sagitta to release gold coins on command.
OOC: Maldorn is ready to leave when everyone else is.
Erric is just making small talk with Jambiya after working himself up to actually confiding with his friends with the thing he's actually worried about. He's finished his pint and is happy, but ready to leave when his friends are.
Jambiya's observational interjection inspires him. He'll start doing that thing where he subtly points to a duo or trio of people far away but visible to the two of them, and pretend to voice what he thinks their conversation really is in ridiculous intentionally bad voices, inviting Jambiya to impersonate one of the characters if she wants.
*high-pitched voice from burly half-orc talking to large-sworded woman* "Oh my, yes, that is indeed a very large sword!"
*gruff voice from besworded woman* "You really think so? I was going to get the next size up, but when I tried to leave the blacksmith's shop it wouldn't fit through the door and as far as I know it's still there. I thought I'd downgraded and have been ashamed of how small this one is."
*high-pitched burly half-orc* "That... is amazing. There's a bigger sword than the one you're holding? I'm glad it's stuck in the smithy. Rest assured milady, that is the largest sword I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of swords."
*gruff besworded woman* "Aww I bet you say that to all the girls..."
*high-pitched burly half-orc* "No! That sword could honestly be huge enough to be Gruumsh's favorite toothpick. It's amazing you're able to hold it in a scabbard without falling to the ground. Want to go a few rounds to try it out on me? Durnan won't mind."
*gruff besworded woman* "Aww I bet you say that to all the girls..."
If Jambiya participates in this exchange Erric gets very excited at the happy distraction. If not, he's happy to entertain her (performance: 18) to try to make her forget about the awkwardness of his confession and laugh a bit. If Maldorn's smoking, he'll try to figure out which tobacco he's using (Investigation: 13).
He looks back at Anafrey during quiet moments to make sure the rogue's not finished her ales too quickly, and also that she's at least trying to enjoy herself. If she's distracted, he'll try to purloin one of her mugs and drain it quietly until she notices it, smile plastered to his face the whole time. (Deception: 25)
"'Fraid not," the barmaid responds to Maldorn, no hint of defense in her tone of voice. "That cup's a dragon."
"This place is expensive!" Maldorn comes to the realization. "Another reason not to like big cities like this one."
Maldorn waits until everyone finishes their drinks, including Anafrey and her half-dozen mugs or so, and then proposes: "Shall we go back to the boat? It's getting late."
Jambiya enjoys Erric's puppet-talking, and laughs merrily, but doesn't add to the jests. She'll pay up (gulp, 6 gold removed...) and is ready to go back to the ship with the rest. If she needs to, she'll use her skill at Persuading Drunk People to bring Anafrey along.
On the way, she muses out loud, "I wonder if someone here would know more about this dagger." She's looking at the fine-bladed elven dagger she got from the mansion. "Of course Eilikasys probably knew, but she wouldn't tell when I showed it to her back at Seldom Spring."
But she puts it away as an opportunity missed, and goes back to the boat with no more side trips. She's quite pleased with the excursion.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me
Anafrey glares at Erric as he takes one of her mugs, but makes no move to stop him. She drinks her ale rapidly and is hiccuping but ready to depart.
~♡~
The group spends another half an hour to an hour at the Yawning Portal, during which the bets are completed and everyone goes back to having a more orderly good time. Jambiya inquires about how long before the adventurers will return, and Erric tells her it could be right away, or it could be days, depending upon how successful they are. He then has to admit that sometimes, they don't come back. Once Anafrey finishes her last mug, the four leave, heading back south to the dock ward and the Nightshade. The climb the plank at about mid afternoon.
Erric:
Do you want to head back out?
Erric asks, before they return, if they need to pick up some rations for their time ashore. "I don't think we've got our meals covered, do we? If we end up spending some time on this island, we don't want to get hungry. Also, does anyone have any thoughts on what we could use to help us once we're there? I don't think we could ever have imagined we'd end up in a mirror shadow realm when we went to help out Clarice, so I don't pretend to know for certain what we'll need. But it's an island. Do we need camping gear? Rope? A small raft? Some way for us to be able to see any threats before they surprise us? Just thinking out loud. I know you all love my questions."
DM:
Erric comes back to the ship with his friends, and stays on deck for a while, looking back at the city. His mind is much more at ease now that he's actually been able to talk through his concern with people he's starting to actually trust. Eilikasys is someone he definitely wants to know more about, and he might be able to get some answers from his contacts. But every time he starts to move toward the plank to walk to the tavern and begin that process, he looks over at Maldorn, fussing with his new tobacco, or Jambiya, also looking with bright eyes back at Waterdeep, or Anafrey's grumpy but watchful form, and knows he'll never make it without answering questions, and also that he can weather what the gnome has in store for him with his new friends. (He decides to forego the information-seeking mission and instead helps the twins load on the supplies, pulling out his lute and playing a bit if they wave his weak muscles away.)
"I packed well," says Maldorn gesturing to the dried foodstuffs he carries in his bag. "It doesn't hurt to carry some more just in case, if you want to be on the safe side. Assuming the island is not barren, I can always hunt or fish." The group would recall that Maldorn indeed carries fishing tackle with him.
"As for the other equipment you mentioned, Qeric, rest assured I am also well-stocked. Though I must admit I do not carry a raft around..." He then points to a piece of rope and adds: "I also learned this really neat trick with the rope than can help keep us safe overnight."
"Oh, and I can grow some berries every night that should feed us, though eating berries every day may get old," Jambiya adds.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. Here's my D&D stuff. I love it so.
Campaign links for Game Log access because DDB has abandoned the forum dice roller, apparently.
Radiant Citadel by cbaer8 ~•~ Stormwreck Isle by Rforrest14 ~•~ Wildspace by Rhanloi ~•~ Rise of Tiamat by SteveThaiBinh ~•~ The Long Road currently by me