The queue at the "merchant's gate", the only entrance to Baldur's Gate big enough for wagons and open to the public, is dozens of wagons long as the guards pore over travelers and mercantile content with increased scrutiny. You hear them asking every traveler their name and origin and, if a traveler is from further away from Cormyr, they're regularly pulled aside and taken indoors for focused questioning.

Eventually, however, you reach the front of the line. When asked for his bill of lading, Orst immediately requests to see the gate supervisor. He's directed inside, where he spends only a few minutes before returning with a serjeant from the city guard at his side.

"Move aside," the serjeant commands to his guards, "this wagon is cleared to pass."

The guards exchange glances, but obey the order, and in moments the wagon is bouncing along the cobbled streets of Baldur's Gate.

Pettilaen keeps low while moving through the gate. It was hard to see if he recognized any of the guards underneath their metal helmets. He whispers to Zina in Gnommish, "A bunch of metal-heads here." He chuckles, adding, "Those helmets are the only things keeping their brains from abandoning ship."

The efficiency with which they moved through the gate surprised him. Seeing that Orst had a connection with one of the higher ups in the Flaming Fist, Pettilaen turned to Orst, "Wow! You sure know the right people."

"That was..." Kanon grins, "Impressive" he says as the cart enters the gate.

His eyes wonder around as the wagon rolls into the city. He's looking and comparing the streets, buildings, and establishments with those he has stored in his memory, "The place has changed a bit since I was last here." He hops out of the cart to take a better look while walking behind it, smiling at those nearby and nodding in greeting. "I've heard they've had a rough time as of late, but it's still the same old city."  

Orst nods.

You notice a change in his demeanor, even his posture and facial expression, ever since you entered the city. He sits up straight and acknowledges fellow merchants as you pass by, but it's formal rather than friendly. He responds if addressed, but with efficiency, using as few words as possible. 

Gone is the Orst the jovial whiskey lover. Here is Orst the man of business.

When you've turned down a quiet street with no ears to overhear, Orst leans toward Pettilaen.

"Best ye know as little as possible about my business," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "Ye've got enough troubles of ye'r own."

Travelling down the street, Kanon makes it a point to point out the various locations in Baldur's Gate that they pass.

He points to a section of the city known as The Wide, "There in The Wide is Minsc's statue. He's holding a hamster named Boo. A wonderful, mystical creature... much like Gaia. He was a bit of a legend around here!" 

"Oh!  There's the Hungry Ogre - It's owned by a half-orc named Tildra Fiddle. She makes the best sweet-cakes! She used to give us some when I was younger. My friend Thildon would tease that she was just trying to fatten us up to eat us." Kanon laughs.

"In that direction," Kanon points, "Is the Rose Portal. The Gate's Shrine to Lathandar. It's an arch of rose colored stone sculpted so that no building is built east of the shrine. This lets the first rays of the sun's light shine through it every morning. You should definitely visit it, Portia!"  

"There's the Blade and Stars," Kanon says, "One of the more popular Inns in Baldur's Gate for travelers. I would pick the brains of those staying there while helping Lady Aurayaun with chores. Look at the signboard," he says as he points, "It is said it's an enchanted shield... see how when the light hits it just so small stars seem to sparkle forth?" As you watch, this does indeed happen. The stars are almost tangible, like you can reach up and touch them.

Kanon is smiling from ear to ear, "It's nice to be home." 

"Can we visit Neiklot now?" Zina asked, practically bouncing in her seat. She had finished copying the scrolls only a few hours ago, and was enjoying not having to squint her eyes perpetually. "Please?" The illusionist glanced at Orst, realizing her mistake. "I mean, after we protect your warehouse and help out there, of course."

"I agree," Kanon nods to the gnome, "Visiting Neiklot is also at the top of my to-do list after our business with Orst is done. Zina and I can do it on our own while the rest of you finish off your business, if needed. We may be staying there for awhile if the code-breaker allows it."  

Kanon takes a deep breath, breathing in the city's smell. The perpetual noise all around him is something he didn't realize he missed. A city that is constantly on the move and always awake. So many adventures could be had in such a place, and growing up here has left an imprint on him that he'll never forget.

Upon arriving at his (surprisingly large) warehouse and offices, Orst contracts several workers and drivers from the pool of laborers waiting in the warehouse district and sends them out with a handful of his foremen to deliver various goods. During that time, the party sees that, while the masonry supplies were a legitimate product with a legitimate customer, they were clearly not Orst's primary cargo.

"Now to clean up the messes," he says to Portia, before riding off with Roe and the last shipment, this one containing the crates of Dead King's Gold. "Look after the warehouse while I'm gone?"

Over the next several hours, the drivers and foremen return with Orst's carts, now empty, delivering the receipt paperwork to the clerks before calling it a day. There's no sign of the cart Orst left in until sometime after sunset when it returns with only the foreman that escorted him. The foreman carries a message from Orst.

"My friends," it says. "I know you've felt remorse for what happened with Rorn, and I apologize that I did not have the strength to speak these words to you personally, but I wanted to let you know that I hold you blameless. My boys have always been braver than reason and it's the only way I'd have them. We always knew that one of them was likely, some day, to get in over his head. My foreman has been directed to give you whatever horses or ponies you would like, a cart of your own, and a letter of introduction to Neiklot. I believe that should settle our bill as the beasts more than account for the promised price."

After Orst's business seal, there's a postscript. "I wish you all well. I am turning my business over to Roe, effective immediately. If you need anything from him, he'll either be at the warehouse or somewhere on the road between here and Amn. Best. Orst."

The wait seemed to never end. A minute felt like an hour, and he waited Orst for several hours, which quickly turned into an eternity. But it was the least Pettilaen owed the dwarf, having been there when his son died and not have been able to do anything. So he sat... and waited. He flew around the warehouse, trying to find hiding places that he could fit into with Gaia. I would be the best thief in the world if I saw Gaia's size. No one would be able to find me!

Eventually, he found himself pouring over his notes and the book he stole so long ago, looking for new spells he could formulate to add to his repertoire. When that bored him, he moved onto practicing swordplay with his rapier, summoning various illusions to act as targets as he practiced his jabbing and thrusting. By the time he'd worn himself out, the cart returned, with the letter and a handful of horses.

Pettilaen was quick on his feet, and snatched the letter from the foreman. Pouring through its contents, he smiled brightly. "We got ponies! I got a pony!" He moved from pony to pony, carefully inspecting each one. After a few seconds, his eyes rested on a beautiful pony, with a long, blond mane and tan hide. They seemed to bond instantly as he stroked the neck and did his best to speak with it [Animal Empathy 20]. He smiled, and led it towards the rest of the group. "I call dibs on this one! She likes me. Now to think of a name..."

Kanon sits near the entrance of the warehouse watching Pettilaen and Gaia. Occasionally he starts whistling a tune as his mind wonders. When the foreman finally comes back and Pettilaen announces the groups reward, he smiles. Kanon walks over to the discarded letter and reads it aloud for everyone else, "Very kind words..." He sighs as he thinks of poor Rorn. But whenever they get a chance, he's going to have to sing Rorn's song. Everyone will know of the dwarf's bravery.

Kanon accepts the letter of introduction from the foreman and turns to Zina, "Pick a pony yet? I'm eager to visit with Neiklot."

Turning to the foreman, "Will it be ok to leave the cart here until we need it? Also... do you know where Neiklot's shop is?"  

The foreman nods and points down the long street leading to the merchant's district. You can see the colorful tents of one of the many scatted bazaars from here.

"Just down that way," he says. "Silver and cherry door across the way from the Merchant's League tower. Orst said something about a writ of coin as well. You should be able to change that at the Counting House on the docks. That's the other way, though, just over there..."

He nods toward a wide cobbled road leading toward the docks, nearly the exact opposite direction of the merchant's district.

"Pick a pony yet? I'm eager to visit with Neiklot," Kanon asked. Zina's eyes had begun to tear up at Orst's not, so she forced herself to blink away any hints of emotion.

"I'll go with this one?" Zina did not know her horses, so she picked the smallest one that was closest to her. The illusionist would describe it as 'brown.' She approached the pony, but something she did must have set it off, as it bucked backwards. But, the gnome was nothing if not determined, so instead of just trying a different one, she continued to attempt to mount the wild beast. It took her almost ten minutes to finally get on the horse, as the first time she had thought that she had made it she had been thrown back to the ground, but Zina was eventually victorious. "Silver and cherry door you say?" she nodded to Kanon, tightening her grip on the reigns. "Let's go."

Kanon decides not to pick a horse, but instead asks to reserve one for future use should the need arrive. He rolls up Orst's letter and places it inside a scroll case along with the letter of introduction. He then patiently waits for Zina to mount her pony.

"Anyone else interested in meeting Neiklot?" He looks over to Bullden, Petti, and Portia.

Once Zina is comfortable on her pony, he waves forward and escorts Zina and her pony to Neiklot's building.

Pettilaen raises his head, eager to meet the mysterious fellow! "Take me away, bard-man! I'm down to meet this man first, and then get our money later."

He mounts the pony, whom he's named Hazelblossom, and makes his way with the group to Neiklot.

"I would like to meet Neiklot. I've heard Malark talk about him enough though I'm not sure the truth of some of the tales, so I think I'll go with what I learn upon meeting him. Only thing I am sure of is that he is quite the scholar."

She laughs quietly as she mounts the horse she has been riding since Beregost having gotten used to the horse despite the mishap in the trees. She sighed thinking of that moment because it might have caused Rorn's death due to the delay. At least, she had tried to get there the best she could without being embroiled in the fight, which could have been a far worse delay.

She ponders Orst's timing of putting Roe in charge of the business, but maybe it would work out in the end. Things had definitely changed for everyone on this trip and there still was much to do.

"Neiklot is the greatest code-breaker in all of the Sword Coast, no, all of Faerun!" Zina said excitedly as the group began to travel. "So please, don't embarrass me in front of him. Petti, no offense, but you tend to ramble on and on and on about inconsequential tangents. It makes you look incredibly dimwitted, and I don't want him to think less of me because of something you said. The same goes for you too, Portia and Kanon."

Kanon smiles as they travel down the road, "I will be sure to let you do all of the talking." Her excitement is contagious and she can be a bit blunt at times, but he's willing to let her try to make a great impression since it seems to mean so much to her. As they near the building, Kanon helps Zina off her pony and tethers it to a nearby rail. He then proceeds to hand Zina the letter of introduction and smiles as he gestures for her to enter.

Pettilaen took great offense to Zina's remark on his manner of speech. "Ramble on and on and on about inconsequential tangents?" he complained. "I'll have you know, that I am one of the least talkative members of my family. Sometimes, you forget what silence sounds like when you're at my house, because there is non-stop chatter for days. My, I can remember when I was a kid, my mother got so furious at her kids, that she grabbed..." he paused as it suddenly dawned on him, "Oh. I think I see what you mean, now."

"Of course I was right, Petti," the illusionist took the letter of introduction from Kanon's hand and took a step toward the door. "I'm always right."

Zina confidently strode up to the front door, took a deep breath, and gave the door three curt knocks. She looked at ease, but the whites of her knuckles as she clutched the letter tightly betrayed her. The gnome was nervous, no matter how hard she pretended not to be.

Portia chuckled a little at the discord between the gnomes. "Sometimes it is good to ramble. Sometimes we need to be focused." She smiled down at Pettilaen. "The great thing is we've learned a lot about each other and we don't always agree, but at least we manage to figure things out in the end. Not always very well, but we do." She looks at the rest of the group as she finishes speaking and waiting for Zina's knock to be answered.

She straightened her clothes some feeling nervous herself. She had heard a lot about Neiklot from Malark and was hoping he had not spun some crazy tales to entertain her as a child. Though if some of them were true she was both in awe and fright at meeting him face-to-face. She did not want to end up on his bad side.