Well, I guess you could say that the party was a success.  I never did
manage to find a nice pair of hand axes, so I borrowed a silvered Main-Gauche
from Shali, and even though I have no idea how to use the damn thing, it
looks ok, and it is a weapon.
     Bob and Brianna decided not to go to the festivities... Bob was feeling
a bit under the weather from the remains of the wasting sickness, and Brianna
thought she might be coming down with it, and said she would prefer to spend
the evening in bed.

     Shali would rather be damned than miss this party, and so she borrowed
one of Brianna's dresses, as she has missed our earlier shopping sprees.
 Bri's dress fit well enough, and so Shali had her hair done up in one of the
latest styles.  Shali also gave us explicit instructions on how to act, and
which fork to use first and all that kind of rot.  She is a troubadour after
all, and knows how to work a party, so we listened to her advice.  The
carriage arrived right on time, and we were as ready as we were ever going to
be, so we climbed aboard.

     After a trip through the city, we arrived at a mansion of truly
astounding size, full three stories tall, with at least twenty rooms on each
floor.  All the windows ( which were of real glass!) were a-light with
candles  and the silhouettes of party goers.  There were at least a hundred
horses and thirty or more carriages drawn up outside the place.  As a servant
showed us to the door, and asked how we wished to be announced.  This caused
a bit of consternation amongst us, as we really have no official name for our
little group, and none of us have any titles running before our name.  So,
after a bit of discussion, we decided to be announced using just our given
names.  The servant bowed, opened the great oaken doors, tapped his silver
staff on the marble floor three times and announced loudly our names to the
assembled crowd, he then bowed and left.

     The assembled crowd, was the most richly dressed assembly I have ever
seen.  Silks trimmed with rare furs were the norm, and many people sported a
truly astounding array of jewelry.  We stood there for a while, looking for
some sign of Rastvan, or anyone we knew.  When it became apparent that no one
we knew was nearby, and that people were beginning to stare at us, we made
our way to the buffet.

     While at the buffet, drinking ale from a crystal goblet that looked more
as if was meant to hold wine or some such, we spotted Rastvan.  He came over
to us with much enthusiasm and greeted us warmly.  We thanked him for the
invite to the party.  As we made conversation, he told us that his father,
Eoduard, the head of the whole Geron-Tyes household wished to see us.

     So, after a time, we were shown to Eoduard's study, which looked like
you'd expect the office of a merchant prince to look, very rich.  Eoduard
thanked us for agreeing to travel with Rastvan on his men on the last
expedition, for it was our healer. Merlaine who had saved the lives of
several of the men under Rastvan's command.  Eoduard then asked us many
questions concerning the exposed vein of semi-precious stone that we had
discovered.  And of course, he was also most anxious to learn anything he
could about the 200 or so gnolls we had seen camped around the base of that
same cliff.
 
     After we told him all we knew, he presented us with an envelope that he
said contained a bank note good for 125 pieces of gold.  He told us that this
was a finders fee for the vein of gems.  It seems that, after Rastvan's
report of our adventure, Eoduard had consulted with his household astrologers
and other such folks, and determined that it would be a profitable venture to
mine this vein of stone.  He then made us an offer, or several offers
actually.  He told us that we could keep the bank note free and clear, or, we
could chose to gamble a bit, and accept a 1% interest in the mine's profits
instead.  After a little thought, we all accepted the interest.  Eoduard then
informed us that it would take a sizable force to deal with the gnolls which
were camped around the vein.  He was considering hiring a company
mercenaries, many of whom are in the city during the winter, but that they
were expensive.  What's more, if he started asking around for mercenary
companies, the other great merchant houses would surely find out.  Then the
other houses might do a little snooping and find out about the vein of
stones.  They would of course then try to get a jump on the claim.

     Eoduard then asked us if we thought we could deal with 200+ gnolls, and
that if we could, he was prepared to up our percentage of the mines profits
to 20 percent!  He said we did not need to give him the answer right then,
but that he would require our answer within two weeks, for it takes much time
to gather a force of skilled miners, and a skilled troop of fighters and
arrange transport for them.  I for one, left that office feeling rather
light-headed.  I mean, mines can be hugely profitable, but the thought of the
six of us taking on 200 and some gnolls!  Well, that is enough to give even a
Mountain warrior like me pause; gnolls are tough, and cunning in a devious
sort of way.  I am sure that in the next two weeks, we will be discussing
this offer much.

     During the rest of the evening, Merlaine managed to get asked to dance
by a Prince, a real Honest to Goddess Prince.  His name is Josev, and he is
of course THE guest to see and be seen with.  He is heir to the Lion Throne,
which is the throne of some Kingdom way down south in the Nyr desert, as far
as I can tell.  Josev seem somewhat taken with Merlaine, if the party gossip
is to be believed.  Most of the parents of well endowed daughters here, seem
to be comforting themselves that surely, someday, Josev will raise an army of
liberation and march down to free his homeland from the despot who ousted
him.  That is why he spent so much time talking to Merlaine, trying to get
her join his army of liberation, not because he liked her or found her
attractive or anything like that....yeah right.

     Vasquez made herself right at home.  She likes to drink, smoke a bit of
pipeweed now and then and tell war stories.  She did just that for most of
the evening.  She found some old soldier who liked to do the same, and the
two of them talked and smoked and talked and drank, until it was time to
leave.  By that time, this fellow Vasquez had met was so impressed with the
stories of her battles, that he offered her a position in his guard unit, as
an enlisted person to start with, but with quick promotion to officer
promised.  Not a bad offer at all, if one is inclined to be a member of a
large company, and spend most of ones time in battle with the enemies of
Nvym-dar, who right now are the Kathorian's. 

     The rest of the soiree went fairly uneventfully, with one exception.
 Shali had managed to get Rastvan to introduce her to a fellow named Wulf
DeNasse, who runs the local upper class pet shop, as Shali has a way with
animals the like of which I have rarely seen, even in a magician of earth.  
 
     Wulf seems to be one of the darlings of this social set, and while he
and Shali were talking, richly dressed ladies were continually coming up to
him and asking questions about how much would it cost to acquire a clouded
leopard, or to tell a story about their poodle, or to show off the latest
diamond collar they had purchased for the thing.   Now, I was not there, but
I heard it from Shali who was.  Wulf saw a lady named Madam DuPuey,headed for
him, with Wuddims her poodle in tow.  Deciding that he had had enough of rich
dames and their Wuddimsis, Wulf made a very slight hand gesture, which was
seen only by Shali, and Wuddims.  Whereupon, Wuddims promptly stopped, lifted
his leg and relieved himself all over Madame DuPuey's left foot.  Well, this
caused quite a stir, let me tell you!  The Madame of course, left the party
in tears, and by the end of the night people were referring to her as Madam
DuPee.

     As for myself, I stood by the buffet table, chatted briefly with the few
people who came my way, and mainly contented myself with eating the good food
and drinking the ale, and recalling all that I know about gnolls.   

     After a goodly time, we perceived that many of the party goers had left,
and that those who remained were too drunk, or lethargic from opium to be of
any use, or even amusement to us.  So, we called for the carriage, and after
locating Vasquez and hefting her into it, for she was unable to walk herself,
we made our way uneventfully home.

     One surprise did await us upon our arrival however.  The manager had
stayed up to meet us.  He told us that someone had tried to break into our
room, but that they had run afoul of the Inn's security and failed.  We asked
a few questions, but the manager said only that the fellow had been given
over to the guards for questioning.  He had been found unconscious in front
of Brianna's room with a lock pick laying on the rug next to him.   We
thanked the manager for such good security, and for awaiting our return.
 Then we promptly checked our belongings.  Satisfied that nothing had been
tampered with, we slept.


     Day The Next:   Well, this morning the dining room was all abuzz with
the chatter about the great social event of the season, namely, Wuddim's
performance.  We broke our fast quickly, and then made our way to Hides
Alive, which is the pet shop that Wulf, along with his two brothers owns and
operates.

     The variety of animals that this place trains and sells is most amazing.
 They sell some truly astounding birds, mainly the parrots and macaws from
Kathor and environs.  But they also had raptors, such as snowy owls,
gyrfalcons, and in one cage, a gorgeous Mountain Eagle, which is big enough
to pick up and carry off lambs.  They also had a wyvern, and many big cats
such as lions and tigers, and even a clouded leopard, which I must admit, as
cats go, is a beautiful creature.

      We talked at great length with Felix, who is a brother to Wulf, and
then to Corinth, who is the other brother.   The end results of our
negotiations, was that we sold them our Gryphon eggs for the sum of 1,200
pieces of gold, and that Shali purchased from them two Island Wolf hounds.
 Also, Shali was hired by them as an assistant keeper.  I feel sure that once
they realize the extent of her abilities with animals, she will be promoted. 

     I do hope that Shali and Felix train those hounds well, for they are
indeed fearsome animals.  Almost as big as a Dire wolf they are, with fangs
only slightly smaller.  Horses tower over us Mountain Folk, and that is OK,
but I must admit I find it somewhat disconcerting, to be standing next a dog
that is taller than I.  If she ever lets either one of those beasts drool on
my head, especially if I am wearing my new armor or good clothing, there
shall be words between us for sure.   But, they are indeed intimidating, and
she can take them with her about the city, as dogs are allowed, and so they
shall be excellent protection for her while the party is separated, away at
collage or other training.  And on the trail, they do look like they shall be
most excellent guards.

     That accomplished, I took my share of the monies from the sale of the
eggs, and went directly to my Collage's reading room where I gave them notice
that I should like to begin instruction in the ways of an Adept.  They took
my monies gladly, and told me to show up at the reading room in two days
time.  I would then be transported to the Collage itself and begin my
instruction.  I then found a buyer for the potion of Mind Shielding that I
have had about my person for over two years now.  The gold from that sale
went into my Guild account, which now has enough in it to pay off the other
half of my armor--when it is complete and I am satisfied with the work.

     The knowledge that I will soon begin my magical tutoring, and that I can
pay for the armor lightens my heart most wondrously.  For the past few days
now I have been sleeping on fine silks, eating fine foods and purchasing the
finest of goods.  But I weary of this luxury.  It can make one soft if
indulged in for too long, and I find myself longing to be on the trail,
sleeping out under the stars, with no worries about what to say to whom or
who can do what for us.  I like things simple--clear objectives, a concise
plan, clear mountain air in my lungs, rather than the foul mix that is what
people in the city breathe.  I think I shall be most glad to be done with our
training, and be out of this city of humans, where the main distraction of
the holiday season seems, at the moment, to be dog piddle.

    By my hand this second day of Janan.
    in the year of our lady 540.
      
                                                 Drashak Khea Milari