Camp outside the walls
The party set up camp at the outside campground near the hustle and bustle of Greyhaven. Tall buildings and lights visible inside; the contrast with the low-quality life of the slums outside is stark. Merchant ships off the weirs were also trying to grab good spots to ensure an early audience tomorrow.
Planning the bluff
The party discussed how to get in.
- Cisco asked what excuse they were going to use.
- Ruasar was a bit confused — wondering if the party actually had business in the city.
- Cisco said sure, but not enough to get in.
- Lorien asked Ruasar his business.
Turns out Ruasar is here to learn under someone and procure documentation from his old master Kevin — the same kind of paperwork Cisco was earlier trying to forge.
Cisco tried to mooch off Ruasar’s pass; Ruasar showed a section on his doc saying it might not be allowed.
“Does no one have official business?” — Ruasar
“What is more official than the divine?” — Cisco
Ruasar was happy to vouch but couldn’t promise anything.
Cisco started copying the document as a forgery — with all the party’s names on it.
- Ruasar was worried about offending the academy. Cisco reassured him.
- Cisco wrote the rest of the party in as guards / companions on the forgery.
- Ruasar made some edits and said he could vouch for this.
- Destination: Collegium of Ordered Aether.
- Cisco recommended using Alric’s seal for the companions. Ruasar would claim them under his employ.
- Ruasar insisted on Fernie’s name appearing in the companion list.
Names on the doc:
- Francisco Laporte
- Lorien Painbearer
- Elijah Lucas
- Infernoxus Lucas (Fernie — formalized as part of Elijah’s family on the doc)
As things wound down, Elijah asked what the plan was. Cisco explained it. The party headed to bed; Elijah prayed; Cisco started watch.
Day 1 — at the gate
In the morning, the party got in line. About a 50/50 split of who got in — usually affluent people in, rougher people out.
Cisco cast Prestidigitation to clean everyone up. Clean, but worn and well traveled.
The clerk was flanked by city guards. The party was waved up next.
- Ruasar stepped up with the docs and explained he was here for training and had found companions on the way.
- The clerk checked off some info, asked purpose after looking at the docs.
- Ruasar kinda goes over it again.
- Clerk ran through the rest of the info — business or pleasure?
- “Both…!” — studying the arcane is obviously both.
- Looked at the forgery addendum.
- Suspicious of the Alric endorsement.
- Cisco explained that the lord doesn’t have a maester and likes looking upon smaller matters in his smaller town.
- The party gave their names and got temporary papers — keep with them in case stopped.
We made it in.
Inside Greyhaven
The party entered the gates and saw the mass amount of people inside:
- Hit by the color and scents of a city filled with life.
- Merchants, citizens, entertainers.
- A canal that enters from the east, splitting into many diverging paths with gondolas.
- Winding paths.
The plan was to split off — Ruasar leading to the Collegium while everyone else went to Marbel Kest — but the party decided to stick together.
The ledger office
Inside the ledger office (Administrative Building #14, very busy):
- Someone greeted them and asked their purpose.
- Cisco said their purpose; they were given a waiting ticket.
- The party waited an hour. Lorien was taught dragonchess by Elijah.
- They got to meet Marbel Kest. Cisco gave her the password.
- “Not a name she has heard in a long time.” She inquired what Lyle has been up to these days.
- Retcon — it was Old Briar, not Lyle (out-of-character correction).
- Cisco explained Old Briar and the Brackenford situation, and that more may journey since the party cleared the path.
- Marbel said the party might be able to get work to extend their 3-day stay.
- Ruasar handed over the docs.
- Ruasar was fine — but the others needed extensions.
- Cisco explained the party’s skills and Marbel’s visage went smooth.
- Cisco asked for work. She might have something but got distracted, so the party left.
- Ruasar asked about the Collegium as they left — got directions: north, to the tallest tower.
- Ruasar said goodbye and said to say hi sometime.
The Gilded Ledger
The party (now four) headed to one of the nicer taverns: a merchant area filled with opulence.
The Gilded Ledger — doorman stationed there stopped them.
- Asked if they were aware of the expensive reputation.
- Demanded a semi-required donation of 10 gold.
- Cisco flashed his wad of cash and the doorman’s demeanor changed.
- Cisco couldn’t remember his name → Dorian.
- Cisco thanked him while purposefully mispronouncing his name.
Inside:
- Smells of spiced wine and waxed floors.
- Every empty table is perfect; every napkin and utensil perfect.
- All patrons engaged in business deals or otherwise politely relaxing.
- Bar in the middle with many casks on the wall and a chalkboard with the daily menu.
- No dice games or drunken brawls.
The party walked in with only a few turned heads, mostly toward Fernie.
Cisco led to the bar. The barkeep offered to open an account — a deposit for refreshments and lodging. (Cisco missed his name too.) Barkeep also asked about weapons and said no riff-raff or skullduggery.
The party headed to a booth and started planning their next move.
Adrik
While they talked, a dwarf approached — Cisco was startled.
- The nameless dwarf noticed the party were new to the area, especially Elijah and Fernie — fish out of water.
- Elijah said he was uncomfortable, worried he’d break the fragile furniture or delicate silk linens.
- Turns out Adrik built this furniture. Oops, Elijah uncomfortable.
Cisco asked him about work:
- Adrik looked to Elijah and mentioned work with the smithys. Elijah accepted — but mentioned he wants repairs and maintenance as much as money. Adrik agreed to find a smith.
- Adrik looked to Lorien and offered him a job at his shop — he says he needs someone trustworthy. Lorien agreed.
- Adrik offered the party a place to stay for the night since Lorien would be working with him.
The party finished their ales — Elijah opening his maw and dumping it down in one gulp.
The doorman opened the door and bid them farewell as they all left together. Cisco glared at the doorman as they left.
The beggar, again
The party walked through town, passing into a workman area with smithys, bowyers, etc.
A small altercation with city guards dealing with a distressed individual — it’s the beggar from the Three Weirs in Session 29.
- The beggar wanted to stay; the guards wanted him to move on.
- Adrik waved the party on and walked over to talk to the guards.
- Asked them to make sure they weren’t dealing more forcefully than they needed to.
- Guards said they were being gentle but the beggar needs to leave.
- Adrik inquired to make sure the beggar would go to a specific help location.
- “It would behoove them to help the beggar, since the world can turn on him faster than he would think.”
- Adrik gave the beggar a silver and sent him to a specific guard captain, saying Adrik sent the beggar.
- The guards nodded to Adrik and moved the beggar along, presumably to an alms house.
- Adrik coughed when the guards shoved the beggar — disapproval.
- Adrik left, satisfied that the guards would bring the beggar to an almshouse.
It seems Adrik is a dwarf of some import. He brought the party to his place — the Greywood Carpenters Brotherhood.