
Chesley "Chez" Saryn |

Chesley is quick to respond to Xarethi's inquiry, "Ah yes, lodging. I had been so caught up in tonight's festivities and recounting the tales of our encounter that I had completely forgotten. I do need to arrange lodging, however if your question was more posed to the ladies of the group, I would certainly understand. I would not want to impose in any way, nor would I want my expression of interest to be misconstrued as something else..." Chez then smirks and winks and says sarcastically " ...unless it was intended that way."

Kowaru |

Kowaru hears Xarethi and Aeron talk about heading out into the streets of Eleder at night. He also notes the leer the bartender gives the two ladies. And people call me the savage, he thinks.
"I would not mind learning the feel of Eleder's streets beneath my feet, if you do not mind an additional companion to the temples, sisters."

The_Demonic_DM |

"I should like to stop at Gozreh's temple as well, Aranel, so I might accompany you a bit." She seems hesitant to speak the next part aloud. "Does anyone need a place to stay tonight?"
All the sailors who are within earshot raise their hands..and soon after erupt into laughter.

Ialda Soumral |

"As late as it has gotten, I suggest we bed down at the Mermaid. Its not the finest of dwellings, but it will keep us warm and dry. To get to a better inn would require much more walking and much more coin once we get there."

Chesley "Chez" Saryn |

"Oh, I thought maybe you had your own accomidations here. I thank you for the offer, but alas I think it would be better if perhaps just the women roomed together."
Chez turns to Kowaru, "Would you be interested in splitting the cost of a room at the Welcoming Mermaid?"

Kowaru |

Kowaru nodded to Chez. "Certainly. I do not have much, so sharing the room will help stretch my meager funds. The Mermaid sounds like our best option for the evening. I must warn you ahead of time - I do snore. If you have a few coppers left, you may wish to purchase some candles to melt for wax. That may help." The half-orc smiles, and its very difficult to tell whether he is joking or not.

Aeronniell Ithilwen |

After a brief walk with the others, Aeronniell looks up at the Welcoming Mermaid and shrugs.
"I've seen worse."
She'll rent the room, but she's still interested in walking the streets tonight, as she's particularly fond of strolls under the stars.
"I'm going to walk some more, it's been an eternity since I've seen Eleder, and I feel much may have changed since I was last here."

Kowaru |

Part of Kowaru is relieved that the Mermaid does not rent its rooms by the hour - although there were some strange knowing looks exchanged between the innkeeper and his wife when Chez mentioned that Kowaru would be rooming with him. Kowaru wasn't sure what the looks were about, but he didn't feel like asking either.
"Aeron, if you do not mind some company on your walk, I would like to see your city." This was true - although Kowaru was still worried about a comely young woman walking Eleder's streets at night by herself.

The_Demonic_DM |

It is indeed a beautiful sky, the wind from the harbor quite refreshing during this warm night. Soon you leave the sights and sounds of sailors drinking and whoring. The street traffic is minimal, as much of the merchants have left for the night, except for the homeless, the prostitutes, and the vagrants, but no one causes any trouble for the ladies, especially with their muscular half-orc bodyguard. You eventually reach Temple Street after a long walk, where you see many impoverished people praying at the various temples, concentrating mainly at the shrines to Abadar and Desna. The smell of incense is strong, no matter which shrine you approach, and there is a bored priest on duty. He welcomes you in and passes a collection plate for an offering to the gods before you enter.
To Aeronniell, while the geography seems the same, the poverty level seems to have increased since her last visit to Eleder, as well as a palpable concern for safety on the faces of people heading home, as their steps are hurried and they grab on dearly to their valuables. A sense of real fear is prevalent in the air or at least it seems that way.

The_Demonic_DM |

Assuming you all stayed at the Mermaid...
In the morning around 8:00 am, as you digest the paltry free meal that came with the room, the innkeeper, a fat smelly man named Gus, says, "Hope ya slept well. Will you be spendin' another nite? My commodations are real good, ain't they? Well, at least, they safe. Can't say that about too many places down round here. Did ya hear? Dem's dragons been at it again...5 more dead last night, found floatin' in the river this morn. Despicable, ain't it?"

Kowaru |

I definitely stayed at the Mermaid. Sorry, Chez. ;)
Kowaru awakens the next morning to the savory breakfast the Mermaid offers. It isn't much, but it's simple, honest food, the sort he prefers. "I'll meet you all at the Vanderboren estate in a few hours. I should like to learn what I can of the city, familiarize myself with its streets and people."
He gives them a short nod, and leaves. He spends the few hours wandering the city streets, staying towards the lower class areas. He's not really looking for anyone or anything just yet - he needs to know this city before he can find the people he's looking for, and that will take time and legwork.
Fortunately, he had both of those.

Ialda Soumral |

Ialda awakes and finds the half Orc at breakfast. "See you in a bit, Kowaru. Don't get in any trouble now," she teases as he departs. She follows not too long after checking some of her old haunts, for anyone needing a guide.

Chesley "Chez" Saryn |

Chez had a late night. He indeed enjoyed sampling many wines into the wee hours of the morning while doing his best to impress his charms upon any ladies within the tavern that were not prostitutes.
He hears the commotion of people heading down for breakfast. He covers his head with his pillow and goes back to sleep, planning to wake in time to make it for his lunch appointment.

Xarethi Kalamnus |

Xarethi also spends the night at the mermaid, though she would have preferred to stay at a nicer inn. She greets the innkeeper after breakfast.
"It's fair enough. What's this about dragons? It's been awhile since I've been in Eleder. Explain it as you would to an ignorant person."

Kowaru |

Before he goes on walkabout, Kowaru listens to the barkeep gossip about the bodies. "I had not heard of these attacks, brother. I take it their name is figurative, or I would have heard cries of a dragon attack in the late watches. Are they a group of muggers and the like?"

The_Demonic_DM |

Gus' face widens in surprise. "Ya folk certainly are new to Eleder. Whole town's talkin' about 'em this morn. Bunch of cutthroats call themselves the Lotus Dragons, showed up about 3 weeks ago. Bodies been showin' up ever since, always in the harbor. Rivals, merchants, you name it, they killed it. Whole city's up in arms, everyone's scared to leave their home at night, thinkin' they may be next."

Aeronniell Ithilwen |

Violence and gangs... in Eleder!
Male voice: It wasn't like that when I was here...
Aeronniell smiles at the comforting sound of Jerrell's voice mixed in with her thoughts.
"Interesting, the surest way to bring the wrath of the authorities, a rival or... more curious sorts is to leave a bunch of bodies lying around."
Aeronniell watches the others to see how they react to the news of violence spreading abroad in Eleder.

Aeronniell Ithilwen |

Aeronniell's frown remains unchanged.
"Well, you can't extort someone who's dead, so the fact they're piling up bodies must mean something's going on... perhaps a rival gang? Do you know anything about the people they're finding?"
I'm certain we're all safe, no reason for them to attack any of us.
Aeronniell's hand strays to the small leather pouch at her side, which she nervously remembers contains naught but a couple silvers.

The_Demonic_DM |

"Dead gang members from a guild of thieves, called the Black Circle, tattoo they wear from what I hear. They've been dying in bunches. That and merchants, maybe they don't pay the tax rumored to be going around, some sort of business tax. Maybe you're right, little lady, they are sending a message."

Kowaru |

The monk listened silently to the barkeep relate the cold hard facts of reality to the group. He had found people are afraid of silence, and will say more than they should to fill it. Eventually, though, he did speak up. "A vulture will attack another vulture for its scavenged prey. As in nature, so in our lives. I am concerned about these merchants, however - the Lotus Dragons are into the protection racket, it sounds. And I am sorry to disappoint, brother, but we have not been brought here by the government." Kowaru stopped there, letting the man draw his own conclusions from his statement.

The_Demonic_DM |

"I understand. Hey, it's not yer problem, right? I'm sure ya each have yer own share of troubles anyways. Sorry to be depressin' yer morn. If ya need a room for da nite, Gus is your man." With that, the innkeeper steps outside and takes a breath of the salty air. "Good to be alive, yes sirreee", he says as he pats his fat belly.

Ialda Soumral |

Ialda had held her tongue, listening to the tale. "Well, if there are no interested parties in exploring for me to pick up, maybe we could inquire around with the city, and see if they'd be interested in freelancers after all," she thinks aloud, wondering if any of the others might be interested in picking up a few gold for nabbing the gang, assuming they could find a benefactor.

Aeronniell Ithilwen |

"Lotus Dragons. Black Circles... I'm not sure if outsiders should be get between rival gangs."
Aeronniell appears concerned, but not necessarily afraid.
"Perhaps we can discuss the matter after visiting this Vanderboren? For all we know she's a wealthy Sargavan patriot and she is seeking such freelanders herself while the city watch has been bribed to look the other way?"
Aeronniell shrugs, clearly saddened by the plight of the city she knew earlier in adolescence.

Xarethi Kalamnus |

Xarethi frowns and shakes her head sadly.
"Throwing dead bodies in the sea attracts sharks, which effect the dolphin population and the fishing lanes. It's destructive and cruel to the sea. I will definitely look into this and find a way to end it if I can."
After a pause,
"Burials at sea are different. At least then the bodies are wrapped in cloth."

Chesley "Chez" Saryn |

Just before noon, Chez will wake up, pen a quick letter to his father and then head down for a sandwich or something quick, while drinking copious amounts of water to help counter the ill effects of drinking a little too much wine the night before.
Letter #1 Posted on Profile.

The_Demonic_DM |

As you go on your trips throughout the city, it is clear that the number one conversation is the Lotus Dragons problem.
In the morning, you make your way to The Sargava Club in Portside, a two-story mud-brick building covered in plain whitewash. It is part tavern, part shop, while the top floor serves as an inn. You enter and see that the bulk of the ground floor is dedicated to a small but well-stocked pawnshop specializing in information and maps. You remember having heard that this was the best place to find or hire on as guides for trips into the Mwangi Expanse. One of the men there after unsuccessfully hitting on you, directs you to Briga, a feisty female half-orc and owner of the place. She is quite brutish and you see the orc blood runs deep in her muscles. When you speak and ask on for work as a guide, she seems thrilled, as apparently not too many people qualify or are willing to brave such a dangerous place. She agrees to meet with you after making you wait an hour. However, to see if you qualify as a guide, she tests your basic knowledge on landmarks contained in the wild interior of the continent. Unfortunately, while you do great on the questions as to survival, you completely fail the parts as to the geography and topography of the region and how you would find your way home were you to get lost (as you have no ranks in Knowledge (geography)). Thus, she is disappointed that she cannot offer you a job as a guide, but says will look out if any jobs come in requiring grunt work (i.e. guard duty). She hands you some pamphlets on the region for you to brush up on. You arrive at the Vanderboren estate a bit disappointed.
You walk around the city, starting in Portside then on to New Haliad,an affluent district, where you feel you have traveled back in time, where the people dress in styles centuries old and the influence of Aroden, a dead god, can be seen quite clearly in the architecture and artwork. You get many dirty looks there from the people there (95% colonials), especially by the doormen at the Adventurer's Club, a snobbish social club for the elite. The Baron's Palace, home to the Grand Custodian and ruler of the city is also in this District. Your journey continues to the south, where you pass the Diomar Wall, a granite defense 15 feet high and 5 feet thick, and its three well-guarded gates to reach Outerwall or as the locals call it the Zenj slums. Here, you see nearly a mile of tightly packed, crude, mud-daub huts and dusty, rat-infested streets. It is obvious that the Colonials wish to separate themselves by means of the wall from the Zenj (dark-skinned) population that inhabits the slums. There are no affluent homes or clubs here, just poor people struggling to survive without the basic necessities. Quite depressed you re-enter the gates and head west and after a long walk, eventually reach Lower Harbor, an ethnically mixed neighborhood of working class people. Tired of walking, you head to the Vanderboren manor located in New Haliad.
You visit Gozreh's temple, which is open to the sky via the opening in the roof and contains a small pool at its center. It is quite simple in fact. The priest, Dargan Wavestrider, given to him upon ordination, blesses you with water as soon as you come in. After prayer, the priest suggests you visit the lighthouse at Northcoast, as he finds it very calming and pleasant to Gozreh. You walk there, along the way passing the enclosed training grounds of the Eleder militia. At the beach, you go swimming, creating quite a stir among the male beach goers, who stop and stare. Eventually, you head to the Vanderboren manor.
Chez spends the morning trying to cure his hangover and writing his letter, per his post. If Aeronniell walks the city, she can read Kowaru's post.

The_Demonic_DM |

Eventually, noon arrives and you meet at the address provided in the letter. Located in the affluent district of New Haliad, the Vanderboren estate's Chelish roots are immediately obvious. A seven-foot-high stone wall surrounds the manor, as is the towering three story house that dominates the grounds within. The rooftop of the house is designed to collect rainwater, while its open courtyards gather cooling drafts. The front gates appear to have been left open and you let yourselves in, walking past beautiful gardens and statues of nymphs, as well as several trees that provide shade.
You reach the manor's front door and knock. After a few moments, a small wizened halfling woman, getting on in age by the looks of the wrinkles under her eyes, opens the door, "Ah yes, the special guests, please come in. I am Nora Whistlegap. Welcome." She stares a little at Ialda but catches herself. "May I take your cloaks or bags?" If you give her any, she takes them. Then she says, pointing to the eastern room, "Please go through those doors, to the atrium, and feel free to enjoy the fruit platters. The Lady of the house will be with you shortly." She then departs to the west, her little feet shuffling against the beautiful Katapesh rugs.
You walk into the atrium and find it very cool and refreshing. As stated, all types of tropical fruit are served on five platters, including pineapple, cantaloupe, and mangoes. Six chairs are arranged around the food. About a minute later, Winnington, the English gentleman who provided you with the letters in the first place, appears garbed in a butler's uniform. "Ah, a pleasure to have you here at the manor, ladies and gentlemen. May I take your drink orders? We have beer, fresh water, wine, rum, and a sweet Zenj liquor, distilled from pineapple and sugarcane, called mupute. My Lady loves it, can't get enough of it. Thankfully, Briga at the Sargava Club sells it to her. Sorry, I am rambling." After taking your orders, Winnington departs, closing the doors behind him.

Xarethi Kalamnus |

I assume you mean Chelish instead of English.
Xarethi lets the woman take her fishing spear and backpack, apologizing for bringing the weapon with her. Her hair is still damp, and the briny scent of seawater still accompanies her, but other than that, Xarethi remains a polite and congenial guest.
To the Chelish gentleman, Xarethi smiles. "I'll try some mupute. It sounds divine. And don't worry about rambling. I do it all the time."

Aeronniell Ithilwen |

I wonder if we brought our weapons to this meeting?
Aeronniell sits eagerly awaiting what fate her goddess has seen fit to guide her to this afternoon, while enjoying the fresh fruit.
Smiling she comments nervously about the situation, "It seems our patron this afternoon knows how to make her guests feel at home?"
I'll be AFK practically all day tomorrow, so don't let Aeron hold anything up...

Chesley "Chez" Saryn |

Chez has worn his immaculate noble's outfit which he inspects for lint or dirt before he takes his seat.
"The Zenj liquor will be satisfactoy then." Chez says rather matter of factly and without even smiling at the help. Clearly Chez appears to be no stranger to dealing with servants.