Zeratto Moonblood

"I'd like to not go back to Orst empty handed," Zina mused aloud. She drug her feet a little as they began to walk down the street. "Kanon, since this is 'your city' and all, do you know of any dwarven bars where we could pick up a cask of something?"

"Lady Aurayaun at the Blade and Stars has hosted merchant dwarves for years. I'll bet she could at least tell us where to find some rare vintage of Dwarven Ale."

Kanon stops and calls out to Zina, "Aren't you taking your pony?" He pats the beast on its head.

"He doesn't like me," Zina glared at the pony. She rolled up a sleeve, pointing at a suspiciously hoof shaped bruise on her arm. "Do you see this? You'd have to pay me to get back on him."

Kanon unties the lead from the rail and guides the pony after them, "Very well... I'll take it with us. It can be our lil pack pony." Kanon smiles at the pony, who doesn't seem to care about the affection.

"The Blade and Stars is just up this way," he says, leading them a few miles closer to the gates.

Portia follows along bringing her horse and Pettilaen's pony that he left in her care. She likes the idea of getting Orst a good drink. She had done that back in Beregost despite the fact the one drink had cost her two gold. She takes in the city around her as they walk to the bar Kanon mentioned.

Halfway to the Blade and Stars, Kanon stops. This causes Zina's pony to huff in annoyance, but he pays it no mind. "I have a better idea!" He says, "The Three Kegs of Olde, I think it's called. I remember Lady Aurayaun sent me there for some high-end mead once. I think it's..." He points, "This way!" He leads the group down another street, hoping he can recall the correct direction to that inn.

Nestled in the rear of a quiet cul-de-sac bordering a large green space, and lacking an identifying shingle, it takes some time to locate the tavern, but Kanon eventually remembers the way.

You see a modest, three-story establishment in a chalet style, painted in white and browns, typical of older buildings in Baldur's Gate:

The tavern is quiet for the hour (just after 5 PM), but that's relatively typical for the establishment, known to be a low-key and luxurious option for older patrons.

The front door opens into a small, wood-paneled room staffed by armed and armored security staff. Behind them, painted on the wall in large gold letters:

"No weapons or ruckus in the Three Old Kegs. No compensation given to those removed for foolery."

The security staff are securing weapons in an adjacent room and giving each patron a writ with a description of their equipment and a signature of prove authenticity.

Kanon grins as they approach, "This is it! It's one of the upper tier establishments here in the Gate, so mind your manners while in there." He says the last part as he turns to Zina.

He ties Zina's pony on the rail outside next to the water trough and makes his way to the door. 

"I resent the assumption that I would be the one to cause problems," Zina sniffed her nose a bit, stepping into the "fine establishment."

She marched right up to the bar top and cleared her throat loudly. "Hello, whatever your name is," she announced her presence loudly. "I would like a cask of your finest."

 An older gentleman, bald with white chops and beard and dressed as a valet, turns slowly to acknowledge Zina.

"Good evening, madam," he says, his voice low and drawling. "I would be happy to serve you, but if you are seeking a product of luxury, I am afraid you have come to the wrong keg. You see, this is only just the first keg, the youngest of the three so that strangers and travelers do not disturb our more distinguished guests. Did you mean to say you would like to speak to an administrator regarding entry to the second keg?"

He smiles, kind but condescending.

"I won't be staying, so you don't need to worry about me disturbing any of your more distinguished guests,"  Zina smiled sweetly. "I was just looking for a cask of fine dwarven stuff for the road. I just got back from meeting with McDonald, and I thought this would be the perfect gift for one of his friends."

He gives a single nod.

"I shall call an administrator to assist you."

Portia takes longer to follow them since she has a pony and a horse to tie up. They've been in the city for a bit so she figured they could use a treat. She dug into a saddlebag on her horse and pulled out what looked like greenish-brown biscuits. Her horse immediately tries to pull around to get at one.

"Easy there." She chuckles at the horse eagerly takes it when she finally offers it and does so quite gently.

Pettilaen's pony is very gentle as it takes the offering out of her palm. Zina's pony on the other hand gets a hold of her glove too. "Now, now. I am so glad I had gloves on, but you are not to eat them with the treat." She manages to pull away as the poney starts working on chewing the hard biscuit.

She examines the glove thankful not to find a hole in it, but teeth marks had gouged the soft leather some. She let out a sigh. "You just wait until I get a little training on how to handle you and we'll see about this biting and kicking people deal." The pony totally ignored her.

She notes the trough was ready with water for the nightly guests so she heads in.

Zina looked back at Kanon, smiling widely and giving a double thumbs up. 'It worked!' She mouthed, more than a little shocked that she had been able to succeed at a social situation. She would have to brag to Petti later on.

Kanon nods to Zina with a grin on his face, impressed by the gnome's move. But in his experience it's the higher-ups (or the administration) that you have to impress. As long as she sticks to the details she knows and keeps the story going, she'll be good! 

A younger gentleman, handsome if a bit foppish, in white velvet trimmed with blue, emerges from an interior door, through which you briefly see a cozy sitting room full of fine leather chairs and bookcases. He approaches Zina with a smooth and practiced gait, then bends at the knees and performs a low bow.

"I am told," he says, his voice smooth and practiced as well, "that you seek a gift worthy of the very best. May I ask, so that I may direct you most appropriately, with whose coin you are shopping?"

Portia walks in to see this finely clad gent bowing to Zina and asking about whose coin she was shopping with. She stops by Kanon and waits to see what will happen.

"Mine," Zina bit back, crossing her arms across her chest. It was in that moment that she remembered that she didn't actually have the gold necessary to buy fancy liquor, as she had never received her fair share. She attempted to keep a straight face, but failed absolutely miserably. ((OOC: 0 on Charisma check.)) The gnome looked back at Portia and Kanon, panicking more than a little. Help, she mouthed back at her two friends.

"Lady Strifelaughter," Kanon said, his voice changing just enough to almost mimic the man's, "You must remain poised when speaking. Look him in the eye as Lord McDonald taught you and produce a couple coins for his trouble." Kanon made it a point to allow his hand to roll around in his pouch, causing the coins to jingle audibly. His fingers felt the difference between his silver, gold, and the two platinum he had just recently been given. He pulls the two platinum from his purse and hands them to Zina, "Now lets tell this..." Kanon winks at the proprietor with a smile, "man what it is you have been asked to retrieve and thank him for escorting you to the next keg."