House Millithor in the City of the Spider Queen

[Endur]

The Illithid Klaxeon turns away from Marckarius' stare and focuses instead on the duergar standing on the stage.

The old, bald Duergar continues speaking at a fast pace. He shouts, "600 from the Illithid Master Klaxeon! Do I hear 650? 600 going once!"

The Duergar continues speaking at a fast pace. He shouts, "600 going twice!" The Duergar stares at the snake-like humanoid and Krisshalk matches his stare without blinking.

The Duergar then shakes his head, almost as if he lost himself in Krisshalk's stare, and announces, "Sold to Master Klaxeon for 600 gold!"

The Illithid's tentacles begin to move and a stream of gold coins fly through the air from one of the grimlocks standing next to the Illithid and land on a desk underneath the platform where the Duergar is standing. A duergar behind the desk swiftly counts the coins while the gleaming steel battleaxe flies through the air and lands in the hands of the grimlock standing next to the Illithid.

A younger Grimlock, removes a weapon from a wagon behind the stage, climbs up on the platform and hands a sword in an elaborate scabbard and a scroll to the Grimlock standing on stage.

The old Duergar continues his auction while reading from the scroll, "Available to you today is one of the finest swords ever created by Kaverick, Blademaster of Gracklstugh. The blade is five hands in length, the handle allows the blade to be wielded in either a one handed grip or a two handed grip, and it is fashioned out of the finest adamtinium. We will open the bidding at five thousand. Do I hear five thousand?"

A Troglydyte wearing a green cloak yells out in undercommon, "Five thousand from Krzed the Destroyer!"

A male Drow elf on the other side of the crowd raises his hand. The Duergar continues, "Six thousand from Kanin, servant of Lady Yyssiriryl of Menzoberanzan. Do I hear seven thousand for one of the finest blades ever produced by the City of Blades?"

A tall surface human with dark hair, pale skin, and glowing eyes calls out seven thousand. The Duergar continues, "Seven thousand from Chirar!"

A pair of large, very smelly reptilian creatures(troglydytes) grumble and leave the crowd, passing close by the members of House Millithor. The Troglydytes are heading in the direction of Laral's of Skullport. The Troglydytes wear armor made out of lizard scales. One of the Troglydytes is carrying a shiny steel axe and the other, the self-proclaimed Krzed the Destroyer, is carrying an axe made out of stone.

The Duergar continues, "Seven Thousand going once! Do I hear Eight Thousand?"

 

[Prince Atom]

"Five thousand as an open bid for a sword? Even with an adamantium blade... eh, it's probably a rip-off. I wouldn't bid on anything I can't handle myself."

The thought strikes Marckarius that it might be just desserts were the Patron to bid 5,000 on a shoddy piece of work that turned out to be plated lead set with colored glass. He's very tempted to leave Krecil to such a fate and not mention his suspicions, but concern for the fate of House Millithor and the thought that the gold is better spent elsewhere pricks him to open his mouth.

OOC: Is there anything about the old, bald duergar that Marckarius would recognize? What is the reputation of duergar among the drow -- would they try to cheat us if given the chance? Unless Marckarius would know better, I'll voice my doubts to Krecil -- with the proper respect from elderboy to a patron who is only tenuously related.

TWK

 

[Yasarra]

OOC: Sorry about the delay. RL has had me very busy lately.

IC: Ki'Willis nods to her daughter, "Xas, let us be rid of the golen. We need coin more than we need them. Krecil, do naut bid on anything at this time. We will do that before we leave, but naut now. First, we need to be rid of these golen and get any information that we can regarding Menzoberranzan." Turning, she made her way through the crowd, heading toward the Menzo sector, intent on hiring someone to sell the golen for her. This was not a job for a noble, after all. She wanted nothing more than to be rid of them and get a room at Laral's, a bath, a meal, and to sort her thoughts.

 

[Prince Atom]

Marckarius gives one last longing look at the riding lizards, then sticks close to his family. There will be plenty of time later, after the Matron has released him, for looking at mounts and the marketplace. For now it is his duty to give protection to his family -- the last of his house -- from the vile freaks and monsters that Lolth has spun of her web to vex the course of her chosen.

OOC: Marck sees his mother safely ensconced wherever she wants to land, then grabs a few hours' trance and comes out to find a good riding lizard and do some shopping before having to attend his mother again. Meanwhile, whenever in the company of one or more Millithor noble, Marck keeps himself carefully between them and the largest concentration of aberrations he sees at all times.

TWK

 

[Endur]

The members of House Millithor leave the auction and enter the Menzoberanzan quarter. With their house insignias hidden and wearing their cloaks, they are anonymous pools of darkness in the black streets. The Menzoberanzan quarter is empty of activity and light and everything is quiet, in marked contrast to the crowded, bustling Gracklstugh quarter.

Outside a large pavilion decorated with symbols of Lolth, you encounter an old male drow named Tolokoph, with stooped shoulders and tremors in his hands. Scents of incense float out of the pavilion, and the smell is much improved in this vincinity compared to the awful smells of the Duergar quarter.

Tolokoph says, “I will certainly agree to act as your agent for selling the golen. This is an excellent time to get a return on your investment by selling a slave. Each gol is worth at least twice the normal amount, because Jabbress Yyssisiryll bought nearly every slave in Mantol-Derith yesterday and sent them to Menzoberanzan. The rumor is that the slaves are needed for a zhennu or’shanse (great sacrifice) to honor the Goddess.”

After Tolokoph spoke the word “or’shanse”, Glick, Grivak, and Snarka cry and struggle to free themselves to no avail. Tolokoph laughs and hands the goblins over to a pair of Bugbears who roughly toss the three goblins into a cage.

Tolokoph offers to introduce Ki’Willis to Jabbress Yyssisiryll, but understands when his offer is put off to another time. Tolokoph hands 100 platinum pieces over to Matron Ki’Willis as a down payment for the goblins and offers to bring the rest by Laral’s once the sale is finalized.

Leaving the Menzoberanzan sector, you pass through the booths of the independent merchants and enter the huge facility known as “Laral’s of Skullport.”

As you enter the front door, you realize that Laral’s is huge, several floors high extending all the way to the ceiling of the cavern with several floors excavated below the cavern floor. From the front entrance you can see a front desk for guests to obtain lodgings, a restaurant, a tavern that contains gambling games and a huge gladiatorial arena, signs pointing to additional taverns and recreational facilities, and more.

In the gladiator arena, a trio of Reptilian humanoids (Troglydytes) are circling a huge four legged shark-like creature with a mouth that looks large enough to swallow one of the reptiles whole. Gamblers are betting on which reptile will be the first one eaten.

A human innkeeper behind the desk greets you warmly and offers the members of House Millithor the “finest suite” in the house. Designed specifically for Drow, with heated running water for baths, multiple rooms, and decorations reminiscent of Menzoberanzan.

As you walk down the hallway towards the luxury suite, a strange looking Shield Dwarf looks out of the tavern at the members of House Millithor and whistles in appreciation at the female members of the house. In contrast to the gray dwarves who tend to wear drab gray clothing, this dwarf wears brightly colored clothing. In further contrast with dwarven tradition, his hair is cut short, his beard is a small goatee, and he doesn’t seem to be wearing any armor or carrying any weapons.

There are half a dozen other Shield Dwarves and Duergar at his table (all of whom look like traditional dwarves), but they aren’t paying attention to his antics, instead they are focusing on their ale.

 

[Calim]

Torrellan will casually move in between the dwarf and the ladies of the house and catch his eye and start drumming his fingers upon the pommel of his sheathed weapon.

 

[Thels]

Dariel stays on his toes, looking around the room all the time, taking exceptional note of the dwarves at the table, resisting the urge to jump at them and kill the fancydressed one.

Weird dwarf. Even weirder habits, insulting the women like that. As if they'd be interested what a stupid stinking dwarf thinks of them. One word of the matron and he's dead.

 

[Radiant]

Narcelia allready has one hand lifed up to blast the dwarf with a spell before she reigns herself in, remembering she can't afford to waste them. Still this is an incredible insult especially in the presence of the matron and even her patience knows limits. With one fluid move she grabs the handle of her scourge of fangs and the snakeheads fly forward to hit the dwarf in the face.

 

[Thels]

Action time!

Dariel dwars his swords and positions himself next to and just behind Narcelia, ready to step in and intercept if one of the dwarves makes a move at her.

 

[Pyrex]

OOC: A bar fight already? Whatever happened to subtlety?

Unless she recieves different instructions from the Matron, Carcelon will draw her rod and prepare to glob the first individual who moves to interfere with Narcelia.