# Session S34 > [!overview] > [campaign:: [[60 Games/62 Campaigns/2022-09 Hoard of the Dragon Queen/Hoard of the Dragon Queen|Hoard of the Dragon Queen]]] > [session:: S34] (prev:: [[2023-11-26_S33|←]]) (next:: [[2024-01-28_S35|→]]) > [session date:: 2024-01-14] > [campaign date:: ] > [pc:: [[Lenore Sigyn]], [[Astrid Dawngaze]], [[Faust Huxley]], [[Gomash]], [[Ryk]]] > [npc_active:: ] > [npc_discussed:: [[Thalamra Vanthampur]]] > [location-active:: ] > [location-discussed :: ] > > --- > > (tldr:: Summary.) %% ### Starting notes: %% ## Notes - Kassandra asks [[Langdedrosa Cyanwrath]] where he'd recommend we stay while in [[Baldur's Gate]]. - [[Shrine of the Suffering]] for free, where [[Langdedrosa Cyanwrath]] is staying, but cramped and basic. - [[Blushing Mermaid]] is less expensive, still in the Lower City but closer to the Upper City wall and [[Heap Gate]]. - The [[Elfsong Tavern]] is expensive, for merchants typically. - [[Langdedrosa Cyanwrath]] warns that it's best to speak quietly and assume you're always being listened to. - Secrets are cheap in the city, except for under the city. - Lots of cats in [[Baldur's Gate]]. - [[Elfsong Tavern]] - Things written in [[Elvish]]. - A harp on a sign? - Two sheaved swords on the wall, finely made. - While Ryk has a smith background, they have no cultural exposure to [[60 Games/61 Tabletop/Dungeons & Dragons 5e/Details/Races/Elf|elves]]. - Stage with musical instruments. - A harp appears to be playing itself. - Top shelf liquor. - No bartender visible. - Guards drink here at night, because they like that it's posh. - [[Treya Oakhallow]] is there drinking. - [[Faust Huxley]] goes and sits with her to talk. She's drinking milk. - Guards are corrupt here, ask you to pay a non-standard toll for entry. - A lord died in the Upper City recently; her death is being investigated. - [[Thalamra Vanthampur]] - She was really muscular - Her family controlled underneath the city. - Discussion of what was happening down south, including before they had arrived. - [[Treya Oakhallow]] met with [[60 Games/62 Campaigns/2022-09 Hoard of the Dragon Queen/05 NPCs/Freya|Freya]]. - Has been messing with "hedge mage" wizards lately. - They are rogue/mercenary wizards, unafiliated with typical groups. - [[Langdedrosa Cyanwrath]] asks if there is anything up with the local merchants - There was a fancy carriage enter the city not long after we arrived. All of the windows were tinted so couldn't see who was inside. - It ended towards the Upper City. - Treya knows a way to get under the city (it's the sewers). Otherwise, knowing the thieves guilds helps. - Kassandra asks how to find a merchant - There's a merchant's trade one may be able to ask. But Treya doesn't know where they are. - But the people who own [[Elfsong Tavern]] may know; Treya has known them for a couple years. - A blue-eyed elf with brown suit and bow-tie enters. [[Castan]] - The trade group is in The Steeps, neat the Counting House by the docks. - Kassandra asks for research places. - The Hissing Stones more entertainment based. - The Upper City has nobles with libraries, but takes work to get in… - The Harborside Hospital as a record of what's happened - Inside Park - House of Mastery - Kassandra asks if there is any present-day cult anything - Fiends and cultishs in around… - Cultists of the dead three? - She name drops the Cult of the Dragon from their activities to the south - A few decades back, used to keep to themselves. - Now they're active (raids, dragons) - Wouldn't be surprised if they'd be interested in Baldur's Gate - Has heard the Cult is interested in the wealthy… - The harps are linked to the music from his home. - They decide to head to the [[Blushing Mermaid]]. - Topless mermaid on the sign… makes me think of the original Starbucks logo with the siren. - Busy, even though it's only midday. - More rough on the interior. - A halfling is managing the bar. [[Old Jimmy]] - Frizzy black hair and sideburns. Green eyes. - [[Langdedrosa Cyanwrath]] isn't sure how many rooms would be left… busy caravan season? - [[Treya Oakhallow]], [[Faust Huxley]], [[Astrid Dawngaze]], and [[Ryk]] go to talk with [[Old Jimmy]]. - Have 8 rooms available at the moment, single beds. - Astrid rents five rooms (two copper per night…). - An increase in caravans coming through. - An increase in new faces. - They seem to be dwelling and sticking around more than usual compared to other years. - The merchants they came with all had things to sell… jewelry, food, wine, clothing. - A black dragonborn-esque person was around recently… (i.e. [[Odonth Darkwrath]]) They were apparently acting slightly shady. - Will keep his ear to the ground. The barkeep who saw them isn't working tonight. - [[Old Jimmy]] will try to find out more for tomorrow. - [[Kassandra]] goes and sits closer to the merchant table to people watch. [[Gomash]] goes and stands with her. - Gomash would consider the guards here to be weaklings compared to where they grew up. - A number of the guards seem new and unweathered. Some of the older guards even look unweathered. - Kassandra notices similar things for different reasons. Some people look the bit, but aren't authentic fighters. They look like actors. (About 25% of the guards.) - The merchants seem displeased about something. Body langauge seems off, like they are angry, but not with people present. - Langdedrosa originally made people nervous, but now they seem to be getting along. - Kassandra goes over to the merchants to talk. - The merchants - [[Jamna Gleamsilver]], a [[Gnome|gnomish]] woman - [[Seraphine Blackslide]], a [[Half-Elf]] woman in a nice white dress. - [[Jeram]], a human male wearing a very warm leather jacket. He looks tired. - [[Jamna Gleamsilver]] gives Kassandra an appraising look. - Seraphone and Jeram were having a private conversation. - Kassandra asks if there was a convention in town. Nope. - Jeram starts talking with her. Guards were on the cheaper side for the trip. - Kassandra calls herself a writer, not a figher. - Seraphone snickers at this, but Jeram whacks her with a small stick. - She introduces herself as Lenore Sigyn, and gets all of their names. - [[Langdedrosa Cyanwrath]] goes to talk with a large boisterous group. - We walk and talk on our way over to the [[Merchant's League]]. - The fighters are green. - Astrid carries Treya. - Gomash wants to randomly kill witches. Again. Sigh. - We get to the [[Merchant's League]]. - Building is beautiful but practical. - The receptionist is a human female named [[Ledger]]. - Kass is looking for information [[Yimmon Tsari]]. - Owns a smaller property towards the south (in ~~Brampton~~ [[Bloomridge]]); a buyer of goods, selling to other sellers. Things people want to do: - Go shopping - Looking for a 300 gp diamond, for instance… - Meet up with [[60 Games/62 Campaigns/2022-09 Hoard of the Dragon Queen/05 NPCs/Freya|Freya]] - [[Gomash]] wants information on werewolves. - [[Ryk]] wants to investgate the fake guards. - [[Kassandra]] wants to meet [[Yimmon Tsari]]. - To then find her siblings.