9. City Streets

Stella stops to smell the admire and smell the flowers in the garden, in a considerably better mood than the day before. She's reminded of her sister, Lily, then Lily's flower she had drawn in Stella's tome, which reminded her of the studies of her star charts and the sky the night before. She had been afraid to but spending time with Aldous helped. She hadn't seen anything particularly stunning in them, but she was fairly certain that the way the clouds had framed Lavarandar's Lantern meant fairly favorable outcomes today.

"Oh! 'Tis Lavarandar's Lantern!'" Stella exclaimed, grabbing Aldous's arm and pointing. It was surrounded by a swirl of clouds, like a whirlpool. After dinner, the two of them found a balcony to stargaze from. "Legend tells of a king, Lavarandar, who had four daughters that contracted lycanthropy. He constructed a silver cage to keep them captured while he sought a cure. The king's jealous nephew tossed the cage of princesses into the ocean, but the sea goddess—Umberlee, I think—was so furious at the intrusion that she hurled the cage out, hard enough to send it into the sky," she pauses. "I never figured out why they call it a Lavarandar's Lantern, though, instead of Lavarandar's Cage. I suppose that might sound like he was in the cage...Maybe he chose to see it as a beacon, a memory of his daughters. Or perhaps he regretted imprisoning them despite the danger they posed? Or maybe it's related to Lathandar somehow. I'm...not sure."

The legend of Umberlee reminded Stella of the probably-aasimar girl they found and brought to the Ilmatari in the Temple District. Perhaps it was a sign of where to seek first...On the other hand, that particular connection could just be coincidence. Her thoughts seemed to be skipping from one thing to another, after all, and Duke Lila Jannath was much closer. The more time they took, the more time the Iron Throne would have to compromise one or both of them.

She shakes her head before her thoughts can wander further.

"I say we go to Duke Liia Jannath first, since she's so close." she suggests.

"Time is valuable. Let's go!"

While Dieter's dealing with the dogs and handlers, Skie comes out the mansion's front door. She waves at the party and quickly catches up. "As you know, Aldous thought it best to stay home today and sort things out with Papa. But he wanted to make sure you've got someone representing the Silvershields today when you meet with the other Grand Dukes, so here I am!" She spreads her hands as though presenting herself and giggles. "You don't mind, do you?"

Aiwë smiles. "Of course not, especially if the Duke sent you." As she talks she looks Skie over subtly to assess any arms or armour. It's possible it could get ugly...

"my babies! You’re learning!" Dieter almost screams with joy at the blink hounds skill refinement. "When did you learn to blink accurately" he gushes then gets serious "Remus and Romulus, Heel." when they obey he rewards them with some dried meat ration that’s grown too hard for human consumption.

"I’ll take them from here, could you ask the master of stables about protective harnesses for the dogs when you return?"

Skie's wearing a slim, fashionable dress, and carries a rather large satchel that doesn't match her style at all. It's possible she has a small weapon such as a dagger stowed away somewhere, but nothing in plain sight.

"Lovely! I take it you're going to see Duke Jannath first, as she's closer? She's a wonderful lady. Her home's just this way!" Humming that same bawdy tune as last night, Skie turns to lead the party.

Dieter keeps a firm hand on their leashes. Particularly Romulus, he’s still a puppy and KNOWS his weight. Dieter doesn’t know how he feels about Skie, she seems like a female version of Aldous…which she is …in a way.

"Alright babies we’re working now. Stay close "

Dieter uses a luck point

Stella beams and waves at Skie. "We'd love the help!" Stella says, admiring her hair and outfit.

She looks down at her own blue city skirt and runs a hand through her own hair. She already knew Aldous liked her, but she felt...out-of-place, here in Balder's Gate. She was used to forests, towns, and villages, not cities with nobles and their grand manors. All the better for Skie to join them, then, she figured.

Hearing Skie humming the tune from last night, though, she grins. It seemed both of them were feeling upbeat from their dates.

When Skie turns to led the party, Stella frowns again. What was the deal with that satchel?

Stella jogs up beside sky as they walk. "What do you have there?" she asks, gesturing to the bag.

Skie hefts the bag with some effort. "Oh, this? You know, a lady's got to have her... things." Her face reddens a bit, but her grin seems genuine. "It's just some extra clothes, really. You never know when you're going to spill some wine or splash some mud, right?" She brushes some strands of red hair from her face. "Or other things. From what I've gathered, you all seem to bleed rather often. A change of clothes seems like a good idea, doesn't it?"

Nearby, Dieter seems to be wrestling with his dogs. It's hard to say if it's just play, or if he's actually having trouble managing them. "See, Dieter's already filthy!" She reaches into her big bag and feels around for a moment, then pulls out a handkerchief.

(Perception: From what can be seen in the brief time the bag is open, it does indeed seem to be mainly clothes.)

"Come on, Dieter! Get cleaned up. We've places to be, and Grand Dukes to meet!" She drops the handkerchief on Dieter's sweaty head, then carries on toward Duke Jannath's place.

"As you wish my lady" Dieter replies instinctually as he almost goes for a suplex having taken Romulus‘ back but decides against it while Remus blinks between knawing on Dieter’s ankle and licking his ear.

Duke Jannath is a middle-aged woman, tall and stately. Whereas Duke Silvershield seemed intent on forcing others to acknowledge his status and control, this woman commands respect simply by existing. Confidence and authority radiate about her, tempered by great intellect and wisdom.

She smiles warmly at Skie and exchanges polite greetings, but her attention never wavers far from the newcomers. "Welcome to my home, travelers. Call me Liia. I believe I already know your names, but that doesn't mean I know you yet. Please, tell me about yourselves."

"I am Dieter, son of Tulfgar son of Tulfgyr. This is Remus and Romulus, Remus is part Blink dog. Romulus can be a gentle giant."

Dieter says deflecting the attention from himself to the puppies.

"Stella Melerelel of Kuldahar," Stella says with a curtsy and a smile, tome hanging at her hip. "Scholar, healer, archer, and druid of the stars."

She hated giving away their identities, but if she already knew, then it wouldn't matter, would it? Unless it was a trick...but Dieter had already stated his name—plus, they needed to foster trust if this woman really is the noble she claims to be.

"The human son of a dwarvish line," Duke Jannath notes. "Sometimes the ties that bind us to our loved ones are stronger than blood." She doesn't seem to mind the dogs, eyes peering closely at Dieter.

Then she raises an eyebrow at Stella. "That's a fair few positions to occupy. I wonder which pleases you the most. And which you bear out of obligation."

Lastly the duke turns toward Aiwe. "You've strong shoulders for a bard." She nods, almost to herself. "You'd need to, for all there is to carry."

She taps her lips with a finger. "In some places it's customary to exchange riddles when you meet someone new. I won't bore you with a linguistic puzzle of no consequence, but all the same I'd like to mark this occasion with a short series of questions, some of which may have more than one answer."

Duke Jannath waves her hand and the image of a tall tower appears in the air before the party. "The great wizard Ramazith approaches your group and offers rich payment to procure an item of worth from a rival wizard, Ragefast. Assuming you accept this quest, how do you approach Ragefast and his formidable tower?"

"Aiwe Shelur Blacksheaf of the Cagebreaker tribe," Aiwë introduces herself. At the Duchess' comment she replies simply, "It runs in the family," failing to specify whether she means the shoulders, or the load.

"Forgive me, my lady, but we come with a great concern regarding identities, and whether they can be trusted. Names are one thing, but I don't want to give you more information about us until we know you're you. Will you read and act on Duke Silvershield's missive first, and then I would be pleased to answer any riddles you please. I am a bard, after all."

"Trust doesn't come easily, and it must come from both sides." Duke Jannath gestures to the room. "Here you are in my home, armed and outnumbering me. And I assure you, I do do not hide behind illusions; I am here in-person. One could say I've already put great trust in you."

She blinks patiently.