After leaving Winston's Dimma parts ways with Gibson to prepare herself for the party. She heads back to the guildhall where she unloads her adventuring equipment, drawing a quick bath, and donning a fresh set of modest clothes. She braids her hair into long strands and coils them, setting them to the sides of her head like two large rolls. After they've been introduced, Dimma eyes the assembled guests before making her way to the buffet table. She arranges a few of the local delicacies onto a small saucer before wading into the crowd to mingle. Her eyes settle on Manistrad Copperlocks, standing infront of the lordly portrait and she approaches her.

"Copperlocks, if we keep running into each other like this people might start to talk," Dimma says, chuckling to herself, "Don't know how good it'll be for your reputation to be seen talking with a member of... Gibson's... Gallivanting.... Guardians of All That is Good. Though I don't suspect you're here just for pleasure... if you don't mind me prying, do you have business with Lord Primewater?" She picks up a dressed oyster from her plate and swallows it down, looking up at the portrait, "What sort of man is he?"

Hugh barges past the halfling in a drunken stumble before stopping for a second to look at all the people and lights. “Where’s the booze?” he growls, turning around to ask the halfling. 

Tul stands for a moment, unsure of how one is supposed to behave in a setting like this. Fancy parties were not part of her childhood, nor part of her time at sea before she began her studies. But when she sees Hugh stumble drunkenly forward demanding more alcohol, she relaxes.

She moves closer to the pianoforte by the sweeping staircase, listening for a moment and watching the young girl playing. 

"You play very well," Tul says to the girl. "Was it very hard to learn? I play the dulcimer, not well, but enough to both calm and entertain myself."

She then looks up at the high ceilings and the expensive decorations.

"Do you ever worry about breaking things, living here?"

"Regan, dahhhhling." Gibson stoops and kisses her hand. "Normally I'd say the pleasure is all mine. But seeing as how you're talking to the namesake of Saltmarsh's hottest new adventuring party, well..." he trails off with a haughty smirk and a cocked eyebrow. Looking and gesturing around the grand room, he starts back in. "I love what you've done with the place! Why, I remember when this place was just a simple shack, roof caving in and rotted boards falling off the walls. That must've been back while you were still just a glimmer in your lovely mother's eye. I'm so glad someone took the initiative to rehabilitate such a worthy plot of real estate. Waterfront property values are at an all-time high!"

"But enough about this dump! Let's talk about how I can help the illustrious Prizewater clan! I trust that you won't hesitate to let me know if there's ever anything I can do for you or, more appropriately, to you..." He adjusts his illusory visage to look like a red, horned, version of Lady Primewater's face, but with makeup done in what he imagines to be the latest high fashion. His interpretation is not accurate. Like, at all.

Returning to his previous look, he seems quite pleased with himself as he says, "As you can see, I have quite a range of capabilities! Like I always say, 'If you can imagine it, ol' Gib can get it done!' But speaking of getting things done, where is that svelte husband of yours? I have a feeling we'll have some things to talk about this evening!"

Hugh Intimidate: 13

The halfling attendant pales immediately as he seems to recognize Hugh from the fighting pits at the Empty Net. "Oh Gods. Right----right away, sire." He snaps his fingers and motions over to an elderly human attendant who walks over to Hugh and offers him a choice of a glass of fine wine, champagne, and some sort of brown liquor. As soon as the elderly human has engaged Hugh, the halfling attendant sighs. Tul and Dimma -- you see him motion for some of the guards in the room to keep their eyes on Hugh. A few others in the room, notably Captain Fireborn also seem to notice it.

Arvastan peels away from the rest of you as soon as Gib makes his announcement,  grabbing Eda Oweland and moving to a quiet corner, where the two engage in an animated conversation.

Dimma, as you approach, Manistrad grins broadly and winks at you. "Let 'em talk. You and the other...." she pauses, fully reluctant to even attempt one of Gib's rather florid turns of phrases. "...adventurers are the only bits of excitement this town has seen lately. I like how you all are stirring everything up." She turns away from the portrait, looking at you and brushing the hair back from her face casually. "Aye, you're not wrong about not being here for fun. Primewater is one of the few merchants big enough to ship what we're finding in the mines back to the capital. We haven't exactly gotten off on the best foot and Lord Anders told me I need to play nice with these people." Her emphasis suggests she would rather use a different word. "As far as what I think of him, well...he's smarter than he seems. I think this whole 'bored dandy' thing he's doing is an act. Watch him when he thinks no one is looking. He's a sharpie that one." She takes a big drink of wine and looks at you. "So, why are you here? Is the old man trying to add you to his collection? He always liked the best money could buy."

As Tul wanders over, the girl moves from the lively jig she was playing to a more restrained somber song in a minor key as she speaks to Tul without even looking at the monk. "Thank you. I should play well. Mum an' Dad have made me take lessons for nearly as long as I've been alive. I used to not like it, but now I actually like to play. It's the only thing that livens up these dreadful parties." She moves now into a song that Tul, Hugh, and Arvastan all recognize as a particularly obscene sea shanty that details the misadventures of a group of sailors who visit a port and the carnal fates that befell them. As she sees your reaction to the song, she grins mischievously.

"I don't particularly care about breaking things here. Mum will nag Father incessantly, he will grumble and buy it, then disappear for days with one of his mistresses. It's the way this family works." She finishes the song and then picks up the glass of wine on the piano and sips it daintily. "What are you? Some sort of smuggler whom Dad is trying to impress? He told us to be on our best behavior tonight, and Mum isn't even drunk yet, so you MUST be important."

Gibson, Lady Regan's face goes from amusement at your greeting to puzzled at your description of her home, to pained, and finally to utterly horrified. "I...am....quite...honored by your presence at our little gathering, Mr. Lemonyellow. My husband has told me much of how you and your Gallivanting Guardians of Good challenged those vicious pirates. I must say, its refreshing. Those scofflaws make a mockery of good honest businessmen like my Gellie. I do believe the real people who believe in Saltmarsh's traditions will have use of intrepid heroes such as yourself." She glares conspicuously at Manistrad then turns back to Gibson with a gritted teeth smile. "I do believe Gellie is overseeing a very important delivery. I believe it is some special lanterns to illuminate town in the evening -- all at the expense of the Primewater Sailing Company Limited."

At that moment, from the top of the Grand Staircase, there is a very loud clearing of a throat. Standing there is a resplendent Gellan Primewater, his skin and hair powdered, and he's dressed in a sky blue tunic with a flowing red cape, his chest adorned with all sorts of official decorations. He poses for a moment and then says in that same dry voice "Hello one and all. I am so pleased you all could join my family and I at our humble abode. I hope you all have brought your appetites for food, drink and spectacle." 

He descends down the stairs, moving very swiftly for a man of his size and comes to a stop next to Tul and the young pianist.

"Ah, I see you've already met my daughter Zola. Zola, dear, did you know you are standing with a genuine hero of our fair town?" 

The girl rolls her eyes and abruptly steps away from the piano. Primewater shrugs theatrically with a wink at you Tul, then turns his full attention to you. "I am so glad you could make it. I am surprised Skerrin did not warn you from accepting my invitation. The man thinks I am 'a bad influence on town.' Tell me, Mistress Shiro, what do YOU think of me?"

Tul smiles at Gellan Primewater and bows slightly. She then pauses for a moment, quickly deciding how to best respond truthfully while not causing offence.

”When we see persons of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see persons of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” Tul says.

Hugh swipes the entire bottle of brown liquor and sips it as he lazily leans against a wall and watches the party around him. 

Gibson leans over slightly and whispers out the side of his mouth to Lady Primewater, "Gellie certainly knows how to make an entrance, doesn't he? That's an inborn talent, not some learned skill..."

Speaking up, wholly out of turn, Gibson asserts, "'Influence' is simply an objective force exerted by an external source, friend. There's no inherent polarity to it. 'Good' and 'bad' are merely subjective terms bandied about by those lacking the perspective to see the bigger picture of progress! It's like my dear old dad used to say, Cumian bless him to the void, 'Good just means things are going your way. Bad means they're going someone else's.'"

Dimma turns her head as Primewater makes his appearance, she watches him for a moment before continuing to keep him in her peripheral, "Your guess is as good as mine. Though I have a feeling I'll know what he wants from us soon," she says as she takes another modest bite from her plate, "Though I hope we haven't rocked the boat - as it were... I've still got business to tend to, you understand."

Manistrad touches a finger to the side of her nose at Dimma's comment about business. "Aye, you're being sensible, lass. As long as you've got business to do in Saltmarsh, you got to stay on the right side o' everybody. Traditionalists, loyalists...it's all bunkum. This whole town runs on gold, silver and copper -- and anything else of value." She grins at you. "And if you're capable of making some of those fine dwarven pies you mentioned the other night, you'll have some steady business from me and the lads at the mine."

Elsewhere, Gellan Primewater chuckles heartily at Tul's diplomatic comment. "Ah, very well said. I won't press you on which you find me, Mistress Shiro" He looks you over. "I didn't quite see it at the council chambers, but you favor your father more than I thought. Even down to clever ways of speaking. I always admired that about him, even at the end." He waggles his eyebrows at Tul (remarkably similar to your tiefling, you note), before Gibs's comment draws the merchant's attention.

"Ah, Gibson Lemonyellow. I've heard about your adventures here in Saltmarsh. All of your adventures."  He grips the tiefling's shoulder and looks into his eyes. "Your presence in this little adventuring party surprised me. Not as much as Hughie's over there, but surprised me none the less." He grins at the barbarian hoisting the bottle of the strong brown liquor. "Oh yes, my boy! I've lost a mint betting against you in the pits over the past few years. Perhaps I was a little too dismissive of you based on your appearance. Clearly you have some sort of...animal instinct that I hadn't counted on. You certainly have survived at least one terrible tragedy. In fact, if I recall, you were the only survivor, yes?"  

He smiles sincerely at Hugh, then turns back to Gib. "You know I am a patron of Procan's temple here in town, but perhaps we should arrange a meeting to discuss your....God. There should always be room in the pantheon for more. If the old Sea God can't stand a little competition, then he ain't much of a God, I say."  He laughs heartily, the grip on Gib's shoulder getting a little tighter for a moment, before he releases it. "Ah, but this is a party. We shouldn't be speaking of religion, and I have other guests to attend to. I shall leave you with the considerable charms of my wife." Lady Regan seems to try and catch Primewater's attention, but he ignores her and moves on to Eda Oweland and Arvastan, seemingly trying to engage each of you for at least a little bit.

Lady Regan looks about desperately for an escape, finally settling on her daughter. "Oh, Zola, dear! Have you met Mr. Lemonyellow? He's the leader of that group of adventurers who just braved Dilpas Manor just this morning." As she brings Gib over to the young girl, she flits away at nearly a run, heading for a wary-looking Captain Fireborn.

The young girl scowls at the retreating figure of her mother and turns to Gib, smiling slightly. "Mum despises you, by the way, so there must be something redeeming about you. What's your angle here? And don't try to feed me that same garbage you fed the room. My Mum is probably the only one who bought it because she's a moron."

You can smell delicious smells coming from the other room, which is clearly the banquet hall and servers begin opening the doors into the opulent banquet hall, urging you all in.

Tul watches Gellan Primewater move away across the room, momentarily stunned by his comments. She doesn't remember her father talking about him. And what did he mean by even at the end? Was he there that day? 

She takes a step after Primewater but feels the emotion welling up inside of her and is suddenly not sure if she can trust herself to speak to him right now. What if the answer is yes? What would she do then?

She takes several long slow breaths, and closes her eyes for a few seconds before moving toward the banquet hall. 

As the assembled guests start to walk towards the banquet hall, Gellan sidles up to Dimma and offers her his arm. "Lady Brazzik, I hope I have an opportunity to steal you at some point this evening. My personal chef, Felizia Greencup is dying to meet a member of the Baker's Guild. Something about sharing some professional secrets." He raises his massive hand to quell any protest adding "Now, now, I know that cooking and baking is an art and science both, but trust me, I think you'll like our Felizia."

As you enter the banquet hall, you again are shocked by the sheer opulence of the room. While the first room was decorated in marble and in cool shades, the banquet hall creates a whiplash effect with the decor reflecting the interests of the home's master -- with oddities and luxuries from all over Oerth -- fine rugs, tiled mosaics, animal heads of beasts you've never seen before all over the massive hall. In the center of the room, is an oblong table with a massive amount of food piled on it and a kind-looking middle aged halfling woman in a chef's smock standing beside the table, beaming at all of you.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please meet the reason for my very sizable bulk."  Primewater sails over to the woman and kisses her hand smoothly. "Felizia my darling, what have you prepared for us tonight?"

The halfling woman pats Gellan's hand. "You're so fat because you won't leave the booze alone, Gellan Primewater! And I think you'll all love what I've laid out for yer repast. A stinging nettle salad with pomegranite molasses, herring filets with white pepper, bread crumbs mashed taters and cloudberry jam and then some sweet saffron rolls for dessert. I hope your guests find it as delightful to eat as I did to prepare it for you all. I just wish I had the opportunity to get out into the wilds in pursuit of some other...special ingredients." She bows her head.  "Please enjoy."

Primewater claps his hands with childlike delight and gestures to the table. "We do not stand on ceremony at this house." There is an audible snort from Zola, but Primewater continues.

"Other than myself, and the gorgeous and scintillating Lady Regan at the heads, please sit wherever you wish. I find mixing it up can sometimes lead to much more interesting conversations."

Hugh gives a snort at the words of Gellan Primewater “Hah, bet ye’ haven’t made that mistake again. Betting against ol’ Hughie in the pits,” he grunts. Hugh then seems to either not notice or ignore Gellan’s second comment about his crew. 

Afterwards, Hugh will sit himself down right next to Regan. “Well hullo there,” he says as he slicks back his hair slightly. 

Tul approaches Felizia.

”Thank you for cooking all of this. It looks quite impressive. I can’t imagine what ingredients you could be missing. I grew up in what you might call the wilds. I don’t remember my mother and father making anything that smelled as good as this.”

Tul then decides it is best to confront the uncertainty of what Primewater said directly and immediately. She moves over to the table and selects a chair next to Gellan.

”Please forgive my directness but what did you mean when you referred to my father and how he was even at the end. Were you there when he was killed?” 

Tul, as you mention your father, Primewater's usually sardonic face takes on a more somber, even sorrowful demeanor. "I was not there when he was killed, my dear. The actions of those...vigilantes....were deplorable. I employ many orcs upon my ships. Indeed, the first mate aboard my flagship The Prime Number is an orc." He looks over at Captain FIreborn. "You may want to speak to the Captain for more details about that. I believe he had just been named by the King to take over the guard at the time."

He takes a sip of the brandy in front of him, and gazes off thoughtfully. "I know Ragnar fairly well. I actually made several generous donations to his old order on Firewatch Island. He and I would engage in ethical discussions for hours. We disagreed fairly frequently, but I respected him. Afterwards, I personally led the inquiry into the death. This was before his Highness King Skotti decided we needed a 'Royal Protector', when we were free to lead our own destinies. As you are no doubt aware, there were no perpetrators were personally identified but I have my suspicions." He sighs. "We were able to piece together his last hours, pleading for peace and calm...for understanding before those blackguards had murdered him. A good man. Which in this town, is far too rare." He smiles once more, his manner returning to his natural state. "Is that what brought you back here, Mistress Shirro? Vengeance for your father? Or is it something else?" 

Tul listens carefully as Primewater talks, mixed emotions flowing under the surface.

”I am not as wise and calm as my father but I hope to be some day. But even I can see the wisdom in the idea that anyone who sets out on a path of vengeance should first dig two graves. There are parts of me that would cherish revenge but what would that bring?” She says then pauses, gathering her thoughts again. “But I fear my motives are still just as selfish. I thought if I could prove my use to the town, it would be easier for them to accept my mother. She has lost much and deserves a community again.”

Embarrassed at revealing so much, she bows her head slightly.

”Thank you for the kind words about my father.”

Gibson gives the young Zola a devious smile and leans in to whisper, "Your mother's a proper dilettante and is entitled to her opinions. But your father and I have much to discuss and I've quickly grown fond of your... Refreshingly insightful perspectives. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's to come this evening." He straightens back up and offers her his arm, saying at a normal volume, "Would you do me the honor of dining at my side, Lady Zola?" He walks to the seat next to Lord Primewater, opposite Tul, and pulls out the next chair down for Zola.

Lady Regan flushes brightly as Hugh sits next to her. "Uh....hello there, good ser. Are you a member of this esteemed company as well? You all have performed a GREAT service for Saltmarsh. My husband is very appreciative of your service and hopes to see that you and your fellows are well rewarded." She smiles and leans in, subtly checking out Hugh's biceps as she speaks.

Zola observes all this with disgust and turns back to Gibson, grinning. "I have been told I am an excellent dinner table companion. As long as I'm far away from Mum, anyway. I do believe we will be fine friends, Mr. Lemonyellow" Her eyes dart to her father then back to Gib as she sits next to him. "Tell me, Mr. Lemonyellow, have you spoken to Lord Anders Solmor recently?" She says quietly. "Did you find him well?"

Arvastan sits next to Hugh on one side, Eda on the other. As the sea elf passes behind Hugh's chair he leans down and whispers "I might have some news. We should gather back at the Goat after the dinner tonight." He then continues the conversation with Eda, the two of them engaged in over twenty years of catching up.

Captain Fireborn gestures to Dimma and Manistrad. "Ladies first," he says in a deep, commanding voice.

Manistrade grimaces. "You're lucky I like ye, ya big daft bastard." She studies the table. "What will it be, Brazzik? The spoiled princess or the Lady of the Manor?"

"I'd rather take my chances with the young lady, I believe," Dimma says, "Let's leave Captain Fireborn to babysit for Hugh tonight." She chuckles and crosses the dining room, taking the other open seat near Zola and Gib. She looks to the two, seemingly deep in conversation and let's them have at it. As she begins to dig into the dishes, Dimma scans the room for the masterful hand behind them - Felizia. As soon as she is able to establish eye contact, Dimma beckons the halfling woman over to her.

"Felizia, was it?" Dimma asks, "I have to say I'm very impressed with the meal that you've created here - that dressing, especially, is simply sublime. You'll have to let me know where you source your ingredients, I may just have to pay them a visit as well." Dimma picks up a glass of watered-down wine and takes a sip to wet her throat before continuing, "Speaking of which, in your presentation you mentioned some "special" ingredients that you hoped to gather. If you don't mind my asking, I'd like to know what you meant by that. Maybe we could work together on some recipes for exotic ingredients."