CH. 11: The Show Must Go On

[TristenC]

I suppose that makes it our best chance, if not our only. There might be some people waiting on me downstairs about another matter connected to the Belzorite job I told you about. Let me send them off, and then we can get to a little planning for today. Once Delarn responds, "Gobax" pops downstairs to find the others. He waits for the barmaid to finish with them before approaching. Something's come up, I won't be free to go with you today like i'd hoped. Let me know how it goes later tonight. Afterwards he heads back up to Delarn's room. Once inside he stops, I just remembered, I forgot to pay for my room this morning. Shaking his head he mutters, I don't know where my mind's at lately. Alright. So if you need to see the place, maybe we could work it from some alley nearby. Summon the creature just out of view and have it stroll right up behind the whole bunch while they're facing the stage.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Masked Dragon Inn, Common Room)
As Haahqae speaks, the snobbish man reacts rather unpleasantly.

"A juggler?" he repeats. "How very pedestrian."

"I'm sorry, did you say the Steel Tankard? That urine-soaked dive? Disgusting!"

Things don't seem to be going well, but when Haahqae mentions paying and offers a steel coin, the man seems to change his tune. Snatching the coin up, he bites it to make sure it isn't a wooden nickel painted to look steel. Confirming it is real, he says, "Well, I suppose adding a little color to today's shows couldn't hurt. Vincent! Take five!" he calls to the minstrel.

The minstrel abruptly stops in the middle of his performance, a bit baffled. Unsure of what is happening, he starts to descend from the stage, then quickly remembers to bow to the audience, then resumes climbing down.

"Make it quick," the snobbish man tells Haahqae.

(Haahqae spends 1 steel piece.)

Kendra Synclair (Prefect's Mansion)
After making breakfast for Sadron and herself, and eating it, she gets ready, puts on her armor and swords, and heads to the noble district.

Once she arrives at the prefect's mansion, she is escorted to the dining hall where the prefect is eating breakfast. It's a rather massive feast for only a single man. A quartet of musicians play soft music while he dines. "Ah, Kendra. I did not expect you so early," Tethys admits. "Feel free to join me, if you have not already eaten."

Tulbas Erogund (Mageware shop)
Magnus observes Tulbas very carefully, his eyes scanning for any sign, any hint of defiance or sarcasm. When he can't find any, he seems a bit surprised. "Very well," he says, calming down. He sits again. "Perhaps if we finish early, there will be time for you to pursue other...activities."

Magnus gestures for Tulbas to sit, as well. "Now then, your Test will begin in five days. It is tradition for the Test to always begin on the Night of the Eye, as that is when magic is at its strongest, when all three moons align. I cannot give you exact details of what to expect--every Test is different, crafted to suit the individual taking it. I can, however, prepare you in more general terms. The two most important things to remember are that failure means death and your soul will be forged within the fires of magic, meaning that when it is over, you will never be the same again."

Grubnick (Haven Arms, Delharn's Room)
When Grubnick returns from speaking to the mercenaries, Delharn slaps him on the back. "Thataboy! Here I was starting to get worried you might be going soft on me. Now then, I like the idea of having the beastie come up behind them while they aren't looking. Maybe we should scout out the market beforehand, get a feel of the land before they show up."

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Haven Arms Inn, Common Room)
"Sorry, dwarf, but we don't have baths here. You might try the Ivy, Masked Dragon, or the Seven Centaurs. There's a nice bathhouse in the noble district, too, but good luck trying to get in there," the barmaid says.

She moves on to bring the baaz more ale, and Gobax descends from upstairs and approaches the three. "Something's come up, I won't be free to go with you today like I'd hoped. Let me know how it goes later tonight," he says, before returning upstairs.

[BishGada]

For a moment Tulbas considers asking 'What your soul will be forged within the fires of magic' means, but maybe its something one must feel to understand. Maybe Magnus will return to it during their practice. For now it seems it will accomplish nothing to ask it. Eager to continue their practice, Tulbas nods in understanding and waits for the conversation to continue.

[HorizonsDream]

"I've all ready had breakfast, but thank you," Kendra says. "But, I didn't have musicians playing while I ate breakfast," she admits. She seems a little in awe at the fact that there are actual musicians, that were most likely hired, sitting here playing for Tethys, while he eats.

[Chris1234]

"Thanks, lady," Shima says to the retreating barmaid's back.

He continues, "Ok guys, if we've finished our business here. I'd like to go and see if there's any news of Gregeddin. Or my weapons."

[TristenC]

I think that's a good idea. We need to get the most out of this, with the least collateral damage. After all, if we can get the people of Haven fighting back too we'll have more success in the long haul. That might be hard to do if we end up hurting any of them with this. I need to hurry back and pay for my room, I'll meet you at the market after and we can check it out together ok? Grubnick heads back to the inn to pay, then to pray silently in his room. Sirrion, guide our hands today with your gift. Please let the fire bring down only the dragon queen's servants and spare the people of Haven that they might see your power and be encouraged to fight back against her oppression. Amen.

[Ooc: it seems Grubnick also forgot to pray this morning. Let's go with a second hold person.]

[djhyland]

"It'll be in Arulia considers for a moment: Fourth Watch, when Cassilda needs to be at Una's, was still a few watches away. Even if no more rooms opened, the two who went first could certainly bathe in time for the other two to use their rooms afterwards and still finish in time for Fourth Watch. And if Cassilda bathed first, she could leave for work as soon as she finished. On the other hand, it isn't like she and her sisters are strangers...they've shared a bedroom their whole lives, after all. But with their excitement at bathing, she decides to make this a treat.

"If no others open up, the other two of use can use the rooms that the first two use when they finish, right?" Arulia asks. "Then we'll take the individual rooms, please. Camilla, Cassilda, you go and bathe first, and Niniva and I will wait." She gives two silver pieces to the innkeeper. "And make sure you're done in time for work, Cassilda!"

[JadedDM]

Kendra Synclair (Prefect's Mansion)
"Oh, do you like them?" asks Tethys. "I picked them up in...Gateway." He shrugs. "I like to have music while I eat. Keeps my mind occupied in what is otherwise a mundane task. Although good company can substitute for that. Tell me, my dear, how does this day find you so far?"

Tulbas Erogund (Mageware shop)
As Tulbas has no questions, Magnus continues. "Now, the Test always has a set of specific parts. Every Test presents at least there challenges that examine a student's knowledge and use of the Art. It is customary that during these challenges, one employs every spell he or she knows. Furthermore, a Test always includes three perils or tasks that cannot be solved through magic alone. You must always face a confrontation with a known ally, and each Test requires solo combat against a much more powerful enemy," he explains. "Of course, another aspect of the Test is to determine which Order of High Sorcery you are best suited to join, should you pass. Any questions so far?"

Arulia Seroth (Seven Centaurs, Common Room)
"Very well," the innkeeper replies. "That'll be six copper for the first two." After Arulia has paid, the innkeeper has a servant escort Camilla and Cassilda upstairs.

"Well, no need to wait standing," Niniva says. "Let's find a place to sit down."

While they are looking, Arulia spots none other than William descend from the stairs and have a seat at a table by himself. He waves over a server to give his order to.

Grubnick (High Hand Inn, Room 16)
Grubnick departs from the Haven Arms and makes his way back to the High Hand. Once there, he pays for his room by giving Green Tears 8 silver pieces. At least now he won't have to worry about it later.

He then heads up to his room and prays for Hold Person.

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Haven Arms Inn, Common Room)
Gobax descends back into the common room and promptly leaves the inn, nodding toward the three as he passes.

"Where would we start looking for something like that?" Felran asks the dwarf.

[Chris1234]

"Either the steel tankard, see if Haaque knows anything, or try and get a bath first," replies the dwarf to Felran.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looks out one of the windows of the dining hall, and places her hands behind her back as she looks out into the city. "Okay, I think," she finally answers. "I don't think I'm much of a morning person, especially during the winter."

[Haahque]

It's not until Haahqae's gotten permission to make the performance that he thinks about the possible problems he was going to run into with this performance. This one is a little more challenging for Haahqae to come up with then the ones he was presenting in earlier days. Those were simple. Baaz like being told that they’re the best thing since sliced bread, thus they would want to show up to and pay for a performance where he told a bunch of those jokes. Juggling was less important in those performances because the average baaz doesn’t have an idea how impressive good juggling looks like, so they’d be impressed by just a few basic tricks that Haahqae could nearly do in his sleep, freeing up his mind for analyzing the quality of his jokes and the reaction from the audience while he was performing. This performance is different. Ismene is here, she’s a gnome that means she’s from Nevermind. Nevermind is a long way away from here, so she must have traveled a lot. If she’s traveled a lot, that means she’s likely to have seen a good juggler before. If she just sees him do some basic tricks, he would make a bad first impression, she would think his juggling carrier is as much a failure as his adventuring carrier. She doesn't know about his amazing successes from trip after journey all over the world and here! Ever since Ismene joined Haahqae's adventuring carrier seems to have taken a step downturn. Not her fault of course, it was the other dolts that Haahqae brought along.

But now he has to think about this performance. One thing's for sure, this performance will have to be more technically challenging so that he can impress Ismene. But what about what he should say? If he's going to build up and glorify Baaz like he usually does, then Ismene might think he's an occupation sympathizer, and lots of people don't like the occupation so that might make her never talk to him again. But if he doesn't favor the baaz like he usually does and instead invites Ismene personally to the concert in public like this, she might be embarrassed, or think that's being far to forward, or just be not interested in him at all and brush him off. But maybe she is interested in him at all and is wanting him to do something like this and profess his feelings towards her. But then the Baaz might have heard of his performances before and be disappointed if he doesn't suck up to them as much as he usually does, they could bash his face in. And if they like his performance they could go to the concert and that would be two more steel pieces that he could use to make amends to Ismene later... the choices...

In the end Haahqae decides to split the difference, with a short speach at the beginning declaring his intentions of giving a performance dedicated to the brave soldiers who defend the city, then focuses on doing an impressive (but quick) juggling performance, finishing with the announcement that soldiers get into the concert at half price, and gnomes get in free.

(Haahqae will want to make a performance check on this advertisement to make it an exceptional performance).

[chese780]

(OOC: online class started. should be here most of the time now.)

"Maybe the bath, but that might cost money depending," Felran just kid of looks over at the Minotaur before back to Shima, "I'd rather not get too much debt."

[djhyland]

Arulia nudges Niniva and nods towards William. "I should go and talk to him," she explains. "I'll be right back, but come and get me if you need to."

Arulia waits until William finishes ordering before approaching him. She stops at his table but doesn't sit down, not without an invitation to do so. "Good morning, William," she says in greeting. "May I join you for a few moments?"

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Masked Dragon Inn, Common Room)
The room goes quiet as Haahqae climbs up onto the stage and begins his short speech. When he makes mention of 'brave soldiers' who 'protect the city,' the draconians pay closer attention. But he gets a lot of dark looks from the other patrons (although nobody dares speak ill of the army, especially with some of them currently in the room). He notices that among the dark looks, one of them is Miriam. However, Ismene looks more...puzzled, than anything else.

He then begins his juggling act. It goes swimmingly, with no slip-ups or mistakes. The crowd gives polite applause, although the baaz are a bit more exuberant and offer some cheers, as well.

(Haahqae makes a Juggling check [TN 16] (1d20): 11, pass.)

Kendra Synclair (Prefect's Mansion)
"Ah, yes," Tethys says, finishing his meal. He gestures for some nearby servants to start cleaning up and dismisses the minstrels with another gesture. "I suppose your marital bed is colder these last few mornings. I am sorry about that, but hopefully this can all be squared away soon." He dabs his mouth with a cloth napkin and stands. "In fact, perhaps that is the subject we can begin with today. The status of the prisoners."

Arulia Seroth (Seven Centaurs, Common Room)
"Oh, Arulia," William says with some surprise, quickly getting to his feet. "I wasn't expecting you. Please, have a seat," he offers. He only sits once she has. "I had thought you'd be busy with your father's forge, and didn't want to disturb you until I had something important enough to warrant bothering you."

Felran, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Steel Tankard Inn, Common Room)
Ne-Chanz nods in agreement with Felran. All three of them were fairly dirty and odorous by this point, and it seemed a waste to take a bath when they were planning to return to the sewers soon anyway. "Let's head to the Tankard then, see what we can find out," the minotaur suggests.

They brave the cold once again and head to the Steel Tankard and enter the common area. The usual innkeeper is not present, but rather the head waitress seems to be running things instead at the moment. It's still early yet, so there aren't many people around yet. It's mostly a handful of residents; some humans and a dwarf. They don't see Haahqae here, though.

[Haahque]

Even with Haahqae having decided he wasn’t going to focus on helping those in need, because he was in more need right now. It still hurts him to see all the grim faces of the patrons, including one that he’s shared an adventure with (who hadn’t betrayed him!) It is, however a necessary evil and Haahqae’s had days of deflecting such gazes for purpose of earning the trust of the troops. Haahqae’s pretty sure it’s just his imagination when he sees steel coins in the eyes of the baaz present. Ismene, it appears is undecided, which is probably the best that Haahqae can hope for at this point.

With his performance done, Haahqae’s gotten his critical message delivered to Ismene. Now it would be nice if he could talk to her a bit after he’s done his bath, but at least it’s not a disaster if she’s gone by then. So, he turns back towards the innkeeper.

“As I’m sure you heard, I’m planning on performing today. However the Tankard is rather lacking in a few respects, one important one is a bath. Given that I would like to give my art the respect it deserves during my performance, I would like to freshen up a bit in your bathhouse here. What’s the fee for a bath here?”