Gameplay - The Dragon Who Asked Too Much

These are indeed trying times. I would like to hear more after dinner.

Garth pauses to eat a little more soup.

As you say, you have been here in Blackwater for a long time. I was wondering if you knew an elf that we have a message for. His name is da'Norto Illianstar.

He starts. "What? Illianstar? No, no, that's not at all good. Now what would you be involved with the likes of him?" His rheumy eyes are suspicious.

Hehsh remains silent. He is very suspicous of this old man who claims to have witnessed the rise of this city.

I wouldn't say we were involved with him, just that we were hired to deliver a message. Surely you wouldn't want us to get a bad reputation for not completing jobs.

Hehsh doesn't really see any behavior or tells that confirms his suspicions.

To Garth, he replies, his rheumy eyes trying to find him. "Forgive my outburst, young man. da'Norto Illianstar has a reputation, one he takes pride in for reasons that only he would understand. He is a scoundrel, a seducer, and a honorless cur. You can be sure to find him either at the most decadent parties of high society, or in whatever den of debauchery that hasn't the muscle to keep him out. He has torn apart a number of families, seducing one partner then slaughtering the other when challenged for honor. Few will fight him now, and still he remains."

Okay, maybe not a vampire. But I wonder...

"That doesn't sound like a good person at all." Ruby offers some of her valuable wisdom. She takes the smallest sip of her soup, letting the taste settle. "Oh Mont, what is in this if I may ask?"

Hehsh sets down his food. "Do you know where he will be next?" Hehsh's reptilian face is impossibly still and expressionless, cold and appraising.

He shakes his head. "I don't. However, there is a party scheduled for the governor's birthday in two nights. It is invitation only, and he would not at all be welcome, so it's likely he would try to be there."

Would there be any way we could get invitations?

Mavis tucks into her soup. She appears to regard it with interest, but that's because she doesn't want to appear to interested in the conversation.

At Garth's question she looks up through her fringe, especially eager to hear the answer.

The old man sips his soup once more before pushing it away. Mint retrieves the bowl and then collects yours, taking them out of the room. He returns in a few moments with a trolley. He places a lidded plate in front of each of you, then lifts the lid from his master's. "Dinner is shark fillet in a wild mushroom butter sauce, served with a crisp kelp salad and autumn tubers."

He then removes your own lids.

The old man, having taken the time to collect his thoughts, says, "There is a way. I would require a favour. If you accomplish this, I will give you my invitation which will serve to get all of you into the party, as my retainers."

And the favor?

Hasan continues to eat the food as quietly as possible intently listening to the unfolding plot.

"Ooo. How splendid." Ruby claps softly as Mont brings out such an exquisite looking dish. It almost seems as though she isn't listening to the conversation. She is.

Kolvoya Daverov looks at Hehsh, his eyes seeming to clear momentarily, and they burn through you. "My life is nearly over. To secure my legacy for my heir, I need a particular rare ingredient. It is somewhat distasteful, so I beg you to try and see my as charitably as you can."

He means back, eyes closing. His shoulders slump in resignation. "I need a... I can't even say it."

Mont leans forward. "Master, please, you must. It's your last chance."

He shakes his head, eyes closed tight.

Mont says, "Very well, I'll ask. We need the ashes of a vampire."

Ruby gags on her food, eyes going wide as she somehow swallows a piece while coughing. "I knew it! Wait, why do you need them?"

Garth puts on a pained expression.

I am sorry to be indelicate, but I think my years of eating army rations has made my stomach sensitive to such sumptuous food. If I could be excused for a moment.

Garth leaves to go to the bathroom/outhouse and on the way back casts a detect evil spell and concentrates on it until he takes his seat and scans everyone.

"Huh." Hehsh is surprised enough that he stops thinking about his father for a moment. "I have many questions which I will now ask in no particular order. First, allow me to second Ruby's question. Next question, how do you expect us to get you vampire ashes? Do you happen to know where one is? If so, do you just keep track of powerful beings of magic like dragons and vampires? Is there anything else we should know about, say a genie or a pit fiend? I ask now because something tells me such information will surely be relevant soon. Also, how did you know my fa-da'Norto Illianstar was a dragon if he is in disguise?"