Therendor 7th, Sar, 998 Y.K.
The Seventh Street-Kind Charity Ball
The Seventh Street-Kind Charity Ball
Hosted by Corven Sahlmer
The Sahlmer Residence, Crystal Springs, Mithral Tower, Upper Central Plateau.
The building is a beautiful example of understated opulence, bathed in Mithral filigree. A large garden surrounds the building filled with rare and exotic flowers and trees, songbirds and the centrepiece, surrounded by topiary animals, is a great fountain of crystal that seems to sing as the water splashes over it.
People of all classes are moving towards the great gates and on along the winding pathway to the main entrance. Somewhere over the edge of the tower there must be a landing balcony for those who have flown in, as an assortment of flying steeds and skycoaches slowly circle under the watchful eye of mounted guards. Reporters from the “Sharn Inquisitive” are present taking notes and asking for stories as people pass through the grand gates, occasionally being buffeted back by the gate guard.
Those who are carrying weapons of any kind are politely asked to leave them at the reception along with coats and bags that people wish to store safely. Of course weapons can be hidden, people are not frisked upon entry, but etiquette does not smile on such activity.
The crowds are politely herded to a vast banqueting hall in the centre of the building; huge crystal chandeliers hang from the high vaulted ceiling; several long buffet tables piled high with exquisite culinary delights run adjacent to the walls, a small twelve man orchestra fills the blossom fragranced air with dulcet tones, and a fleet of warforged servants meander through the throng with trays of drinks and orderves.
A well dressed servant asks for your tickets as you enter the ballroom, he quickly scans over them and directs you to a large table on the far side of the room.
Once you are seated a warforged waiter heads over with a 2 bottles of wine (one red, one white) and a tray of glasses.
“My name is Tend; I will be your waiter for the evening. Please do not hesitate to ask of my services”. He serves everyone a drink and asks if there is anything else they require.
The group are not confined to their chairs, they are free and indeed encouraged to mingle and pick at the buffet, play at the gambling tables or head to the bar for a drink. There are numerous servants wandering around selling raffle tickets, for 2 silver pieces a ticket.
The group mingle with the guests meeting several interesting people.
Kalen and Temasi E’ressar – elven siblings seeking help to find their father, Hathmarri, either practical or financial. Used to be wealthier but the absence of their father’s income forced them to the lower wards. They last saw their father in Downstairs but he ran when they saw him. The pair now live in a side-alley by Hythan's Smithy in Downstairs.
Hervall Gen – human, ex-adventurer. Owner of an adventurer's mart in Deathsgate.
Wingnut – a severely damaged warforged. He is studying a lifestyle he has never experienced.
Manora and Seph Cambert – Female human exotic dancers that love to be the centre of attention.
Satok Perep – a human Silver Flame adept. A very pious man who speaks loudly of the benefits of the purging of lycanthropy.
Trom Casurs – a male shifter. An old retired inquisitive that wishes to return to the land of his childhood – the Eldeen Reaches – but is oathbound to remain. He swore he would not return home until the albino gargoyle Scrimshaw was behind bars.
Malaren Dexel – Male human. A businessman who has discovered that a watch captain has been wrongly charged with narcotic supply and he has concerns about a corrupt watch captain that has replaced him.
The lighthouse is on one of the main shipping routes from Valenar and there have already been many Valenar horses lost to the waves, incurring huge losses to the Lyrander coffers, House Vadalis are also feeling the effects of this particular area of lost trade. Th group express an interest as they will be in the area when they head out to Zilspar and Turvin in a few days.
Zametiro ir’Dheren a wealthy merchant noble asks any who are heading to the lighthouse if they could keep their eyes open for any sign of his daughter who was a part of a merchant caravan carrying silks that never made it to Gullsnest. He can pay well for any information.
9.30 Dinner is served
At 9.15 sharp a bell is rung and the servants begin encouraging guests to their tables explaining that dinner is to be served shortly.
At 9.30 fleets of waiters move through the tables with platters of various foods placing them on each for the guests to feast upon. The meal has five courses and takes about 2 ½ hours from beginning to end. Guests are in no way confined to their tables during the meal, nobles have their servants running messages as part of the course.
11.30 The Hippogriff is stolen
Just as the waiters begin to serve dessert, the stable hand races into the ball with a message for a noble sitting at the table next to the group. They overhear that the gentleman's hippogriff has been stolen before he storms out of the banquet hall to the stables. Kapek, accompanied by Anvil, follows the man and his two guards with concern for the safety of Fareye, his dinosaur mount that is stabled there. The situation is now over, it turns out that the Hippogriff that was stolen was not the gentleman's and he heads back to the ball obviously relieved, however the stable-hands now have to give the bad news to the right owner and are a little nervous as they return to the dining hall. Meanwhile Anvil and Kapek look around the scene, there was one casualty in the theft, a Vadalis stable-boy who has a blow to the head, he claims he detected a pungent smell that made his head swim before he fell into unconsciousness, it is determined that this was probably the result of an oil known as Aroma of Dreams.
With nothing else that can be done here the group return to the banquet.
12.00 The Proposition
The tables are cleared from the dance floor and the band begins to play. Gradually couples leave their tables to dance.
Battle commences. Through the fog cloud that was cast in the area the group eventually defeat the thieves, a fighter, a ranger, a pair of rogues and a wizard that seem particularly well organised. It becomes apparent that the first hippogriff has been returned and they are in the process of stealing the second, their plans are thwarted in bloody combat.
As the fight ends the house guard arrive with Paxor, he checks over his mount and tells his new employees they are free to return to the party should they wish. Anvil and Kapek, both men of honour, remain in the stables as they have been paid.
12.30 Speeches from the sponsors
Various nobles and representatives of charities and groups spend some time giving details of how they contributed to the event, and special awards for outstanding contributions to society are given to ordinary people for extraordinary acts.
These speeches and awards continue until the drawing of the raffle at 2.00 am.
2.00 The Raffle is Drawn
As the raffle is drawn the tension in the room mounts, curious gamblers wonder what this years first prize will be. As the winning ticket is drawn a working class couple jump with joy as their prize is revealed as a diamond tiara.
It becomes clear that one party-goer is not pleased with this result and with a flushed face and agitated gait he storms directly towards Paxor accusing him of stealing what is rightfully his and questioning his nerve at giving such a priceless heirloom away. Paxor takes the high-road and decides that it is time to leave.
The red faced noble notices Ajax and demands that he and his group make amends for such a public humiliation. This demand obviously is not something that Ajax responds to particularly well but after a few heated words he heads down to the stables to fetch the others.
The noble, known as Kalesh ir'Semhel, claims that the tiara is a family heirloom and that it was stolen from his estate several weeks ago. The tiara was crafted for his grandmother some 60 years ago from an original piece found in a lizardman temple in Q’barra. It was prized by the lizardfolk of the area and his grandmother managed to acquire it and had the crude ornament crafted into a tiara. Upon his mother's recent death the tiara passed to Kalesh.
He want it back....
He demands that the group find out where the winners live and from there he can retrieve it, but Anvil has other, more law abiding ideas. Through careful negotiation he gets the winners to agree to a price of 2000 gold in exchange for the return of the heirloom, meanwhile continually preventing Kalesh from finding out where they live as he has suspicions about the nobles integrity.
By the end of the evening Kalesh has his tiara back and the poor couple are 2000 gold richer.
3.00 The Party's End
A bell rings and servants hurry into the banqueting hall and begin to clear the tables. Guests gradually leave and Corven Sahlmer meets with each guest as they leave, her ettiquette is impecable and it becomes clear that she is well versed in many languages, cultures and customs.
The guests are harrassed as they leave the grounds by several Sharn Inquisitive reporters eager for a story but they ignore the throngs, head to a waiting skycoach and return to Anvils workshop in the cogs.
12.00 The Proposition
Paxor ir’Somera approaches the PCs enlisting their aid. He only brought two of his personal guard this evening and they have been posted in the stables. He feels threatened by the evening’s events and is sure that they are not over. They are offered 30 gold to guard his hippogriff, Kapek, Katerina and Anvil accept the deal and head down to the stables.
As they enter the stables they realise that all is not right here, the lights have been doused and the stable is silent save for the gentle sounds of what could be someone coaxing an animal to do their bidding. Katerina rushes back to fetch the other two who are busy socialising and dancing as Kapek and Anvil head further into the stables to investigate.Battle commences. Through the fog cloud that was cast in the area the group eventually defeat the thieves, a fighter, a ranger, a pair of rogues and a wizard that seem particularly well organised. It becomes apparent that the first hippogriff has been returned and they are in the process of stealing the second, their plans are thwarted in bloody combat.
As the fight ends the house guard arrive with Paxor, he checks over his mount and tells his new employees they are free to return to the party should they wish. Anvil and Kapek, both men of honour, remain in the stables as they have been paid.
12.30 Speeches from the sponsors
Various nobles and representatives of charities and groups spend some time giving details of how they contributed to the event, and special awards for outstanding contributions to society are given to ordinary people for extraordinary acts.
These speeches and awards continue until the drawing of the raffle at 2.00 am.
2.00 The Raffle is Drawn
As the raffle is drawn the tension in the room mounts, curious gamblers wonder what this years first prize will be. As the winning ticket is drawn a working class couple jump with joy as their prize is revealed as a diamond tiara.
It becomes clear that one party-goer is not pleased with this result and with a flushed face and agitated gait he storms directly towards Paxor accusing him of stealing what is rightfully his and questioning his nerve at giving such a priceless heirloom away. Paxor takes the high-road and decides that it is time to leave.
The red faced noble notices Ajax and demands that he and his group make amends for such a public humiliation. This demand obviously is not something that Ajax responds to particularly well but after a few heated words he heads down to the stables to fetch the others.
The noble, known as Kalesh ir'Semhel, claims that the tiara is a family heirloom and that it was stolen from his estate several weeks ago. The tiara was crafted for his grandmother some 60 years ago from an original piece found in a lizardman temple in Q’barra. It was prized by the lizardfolk of the area and his grandmother managed to acquire it and had the crude ornament crafted into a tiara. Upon his mother's recent death the tiara passed to Kalesh.
He want it back....
He demands that the group find out where the winners live and from there he can retrieve it, but Anvil has other, more law abiding ideas. Through careful negotiation he gets the winners to agree to a price of 2000 gold in exchange for the return of the heirloom, meanwhile continually preventing Kalesh from finding out where they live as he has suspicions about the nobles integrity.
By the end of the evening Kalesh has his tiara back and the poor couple are 2000 gold richer.
3.00 The Party's End
A bell rings and servants hurry into the banqueting hall and begin to clear the tables. Guests gradually leave and Corven Sahlmer meets with each guest as they leave, her ettiquette is impecable and it becomes clear that she is well versed in many languages, cultures and customs.
The guests are harrassed as they leave the grounds by several Sharn Inquisitive reporters eager for a story but they ignore the throngs, head to a waiting skycoach and return to Anvils workshop in the cogs.
