With only limited time in Waterdeep, Drusk is getting confused by the name dropping. "Is this Durnan fellow the village idiot? Needing to be pulled out of wells every time he goes to get a drink of water? Trouble remembering can be a sign of brain problems, especially if he needs a board around his neck to write down things he needs to know."

Jorin looks surprised at Drusk and says, "Have you not heard of Durnan and The Yawning Portal?  So named after an enormous well  in center of the room -- I heard tale it swallows adventurers and spits out bones!  It is the most famous tavern in town, and Durnan runs it.  I had been meaning to go in and check it out myself but, " He shrugs, and spreads his arms wide, "I feel in with you fine lot and the quest for sah-key."  

Drusk thanks Jorin for the clarification.

"By the way, do you know what the Waterdeep people call 3 holes in the ground?"

Hildigrim watches Drusk, a bit slack-jawed at his confusion over Durnan and the Yawning Portal. Finally, the connection clicks, and the halfling almost spits his food across the table as he guffaws. Hildi nods as Jorin explains. "It sounds like we need to visit the old Portal. Semmy's probably right," he says, "Durnan probably doesn't remember me. It's not like he banned me. Well, not that I gave him the chance; I fled before there could be repercussions." Watching Semmy rub his feet melodramatically, Hildigrim chuckles again. "Hinting at something, Rat?"

Semmy smiles innocently. "I just heard summat you might be interested in, Hildi. Jus' havin' a hard time rememberin' it..."

Drusk puts a silver coin on the table in front of Semmy, spins it, and leans back (leaving the coin there).

"Maybe a shiny coin will help your memory. If not..." (Drusk pats the top of his mace) "...there are other ways to jar your memory."

The coin is gone before it stops spinning.

”I heard that Volo guy what writes those books is at the Yawning Portal tonight. He’s just back from some place what had... uh, dino... uh dinosirs...? Sumthing like that. Picture had lots o’ teeth and looked like a lizard.”

Now that he’s profited from his news, Semmy is on to something else, looking around the room. 

The camera slowly pans to Pascal and zooms in. He blinks.

Quote from JcAndD >>

The camera slowly pans to Pascal and zooms in. He blinks.

((Welcome... to Pascal Park! ~Jurrasic Park Theme Plays in French~))

Hildigrim stops grinning and stares off into space for a few seconds. "Volo is at the Yawning Portal? Tonight?!" He looks at Jorin and Drusk, then Pascal as almost an afterthought. "Can we go?!"

((Ow...))

Pascal looks around, “I’m fine with whatever y’all want. I’ve heard a little about this Volo, who knows, maybe he even has some recipes.”

OOC > I keep wanting to give Quasimodal Inspiration! Not how it works, unfortunately.

Quote from JcAndD >>

The camera slowly pans to Pascal and zooms in. He blinks.

Quote from Quasimodal >>

Quote from JcAndD >>

The camera slowly pans to Pascal and zooms in. He blinks.

 

OoC - I literally think of this gif every time Pascal's actions are narrated, lol!! 

"Well Hildi, if anyone could soothe the wounds caused by your lost books, it would be Volo.  First, let us finish our meal here so that our plates are empty for a meal there." Jorin says, and chomps down the rest of his food and drink.

OOC > Going to assume everyone is done with Semmy.

The meal is finished, it's evening, and Hildi is bouncing in his seat with eagerness to get going. Semmy says he's going to stay the night with a friend in Undercliff (the sort of town outside the walls to the east of the city).

You step out into the cold night, and head to the North Gate. This time of night, there aren't many people on the road, and the City Guards let you through with a few cursory questions about your business (once they hear you are residents, they wave you through without the usual warnings to mind yourself in the Field Ward). You pass through the North Gate proper, magical light illuminating the snow strewn ground beneath the battlements. You come out into the Field Ward, specifically into the open area of the Northyard. It's late, and there aren't too many people about, but being the Field Ward, there's always someone down on their luck looking to improve their situation. (The Field Ward is not exactly the city proper, the Watch does not patrol there, it's lawless, stinky, muddy, etc., the most dangerous part of Waterdeep.)

Still, you're a barbarian with two battle-axes, a red-scaled lizard man, and a strangely joyous half-orc, so nobody bothers the halfling, either.

You pass south to the second set of walls (the Field Ward is the only part of Waterdeep with two sets of walls), and the gate there. This time, it is manned by a troop of the City Watch, and a magister in black robes. They question you a little more thoroughly.

The watchman who addresses you is a human, dressed in the typical livery (green and gold on the doublet) with the classic conical steel helm.

"What're your names, where do you reside, and what is your business?"

"Hildigrim Goodbody," the halfling says almost before the question has been fully asked. "Until very recently, my residence was the Fiddly Pig, but we've just learned tonight it has been lost in a fire. We were north helping a friend when the incident took place. Previously, I lived with my family in the Dock Ward. Cod Lane, to be exact. My present business," he says, brightening, "is to visit the Yawning Portal. I hear Volo is there, and I'm very excited to make his acquaintance!"

Pascal waves as the guard approaches, “Bonjour, my friend. My name’s Pascal LaRoux, member of the Baker’s Guild. Currently live with them too. I’m on the same business as my friend, Hildigrim, here. There been problems ‘round here, lately, watchman?”

"The Fiddly Pig, you say?" He turns to the others, "Magister Sandis! You might want to meet this one."

The black robe comes over, a middle aged human woman, and the guard hands her his sheaf of papers.

"Resident of the Fiddly Pig, eh? Until last night, I'd warrant." She flips through the papers. "Here it is, and... yes, Hildigrim Goodbody, of the Fiddly Pig, departed three nights ago, north. Glad you've a place to stay despite the tragedy." She takes out a set of papers of her own, and makes a few marks.

"The Open Lord has made resources available to any residents of the buildings burned. You can collect at the Palace."

"What of the rest of you?"

OOC > D'oh, posts crossed in the stream...

The watchman notes Pascal's introduction, too, but is calling the magister over. She says her bit above, then to Pascal, looking through the papers, "Here it is, Pascal LaRoux, and you say you are not a resident...sorry, former resident of the Fiddly Pig. Left two nights prior, heading north. So, not with these others. Met on the road, did you?"