- Graxen briefly mentions the war he fought in pitting the kingdom of Voldaris against The Drowned, a legion of underwater undead led by the twin Necromancers, the Rudiviks - preventing them from invading the shores of Barovia at Strahd's behest. - Ellette mentions carrying a locket housing a picture of her family. This is the sole possession she took with her when she fled the Feywild - Qwimby mentions a square on the north side of Kalteo - where the Fire Genasi were widely renowned for their culinary expertise. The best place was called Little Yo's - which was subsequently destroyed by Savage Cabbage. The secret recipe for the broth was lost when the owner's grandmother died. Qwimby laments that the reopening of the restaurant was not the same - Graxen mentions being afraid of flying. Ellette seizes upon this, kicking him from the cart and casting Flight - sending him spiralling into the sky. - Qwimby mentions encountering a small river monster that stole from and killed travellers along the riverside. He admired its sneakiness - He goes on to speak of a tropical city down south, Vichachita, where he would love to retire to - but believes he will not survive that long - Qwimby speaks fondly of Pirate - mentioning how he once fell out a window while trying to be sneaky. He speaks of possibly taking an apprentice again, but would teach them to defend themselves - Ellette would like to have earned the respect of Visidira - but believes she has not done anything of note yet. She wishes to live up to his name, and achieve a mysterious task he charged her with when she encountered a vision of him while temporarily dead. - Qwimby speaks of his heritage, coming from a small town called Velen - a day's ride outside Kalteo. Around the harvest, all the children would gather to indulge in copious amounts of wine together. He has fond, but patchy, memories of these days. - After leaving the city, Qwimby wandered for some time. He remembers being asked to join Sordia Vignti, seeming touched that he was deemed useful enough to travel with the group - He goes on to recall the night he departed Kalteo, burning down one of the brothels belonging to Big Tony - despite being aware that his former lover, Kristal, was inside - He regretfully recalls a time a number of refugees entered Kalteo, with a large number of children among them. Big Tony's men preyed on the children, attempting to get most of them hooked on drugs. This drove him from his ambitions as a gangster. He was also held back, denied entry into Big Tony's "Top Deck" because of his mixed parentage - We arrive at a signpost for Velen. Qwimby has not been home in eleven years. He recalls the last time he came home, for the harvest festival - clad in finery and bedecked in jewels. This lead to an argument with his parents as they were previously unaware he had abandoned his aspirations to attend Bard College. He left, returning to Kalteo and never speaking to them again - Journeying down a small path, we arrive at the Watery Bee - the tavern owned by Qwimby's parents. - "For the buzz you bee having and the tears you shed" - The tavern appears to be slightly more run down than Qwimby remembers - Melancholy music leaks from beneath the creaky door - Qwimby slowly pushes it open. The tavern is empty but for two people. A woman sweeps the floor, while a man plays music on a small stage - The woman gives Qwimby a curt nod, urging that the tavern is closed. Qwimby calls out to the bard, identifying as Anthony. - The man is a Water Genasi, and the woman is a Fire Genasi - These are Qwimby's parents, they both seize him in an emotional embrace - calling him Orlandis - Qwimby brings up the note from Fat Tony - causing his parents to mention having a single visitor who gave them an engraved stone, claiming they'd know who to give it to. - This was given to them by a "little wiry man" - who wore the regalia of Qwimby's previous colleagues. He had long fingers and arms, but was quite short in stature - and arrived roughly a week previously - The small engraving emanates magic. Kyo vaguely senses it to be a form of key - Qwimby admits that his real name is Orlandis Strada, his parents being Anthony and Carmella - Anthony and Carmella are former bards who would fill their tavern with crowds who travelled from all over to see their performances - Antony admits that there hasn't been a day they haven't regretted missing Qwimby - Carmella leaves to fetch some food, but begins sobbing in the kitchen. Qwimby follows her, confiding that he feared coming home in case his former associates followed him. - Carmella speaks of sending all of their finances with Qwimby when he left for college. His refusal to return left the Watery Bee on the verge of collapse - Carmella serves a large platter of turkey sandwiches while Antony climbs on stage - urging Qwimby to join him - Kyo sneaks around the corners of the tavern, using Mending to repair various areas - Graxen, having never experienced the effects of alcohol before, struggles with intoxication - Qwimby climbs on stage singing "he got shot by a fish and stabbed by a cat, it's quirky combat" - Qwimby and his parents perfom the Parting Glass together - Antony admits journeying towards Kalteo, out of curiosity. They did not enter, as the city is now floating miles above the ground. There is a musical hum in the area - This has been the case for at least two years - Qwimby's mother reprimands him for attempting to light a cigar - She asks him to promise to stop by after visiting Kalteo, promising to throw a celebration. - Festiv da Grap, the harvest Qwimby enjoyed as a child, is in two months - Qwimby asks about Dixie Trixie, an infamous dancer with no legs - and Janice with the Four Eyes - Carmella begins to plait Ellette's hair, asking where she comes from. Ellette mentions the Feywild, which impresses Carmella owing to the stories she's heard about the realm's music. Coldfey is one such renowned group of bards - Antony strokes Kyo, asking for his story. Kyo reveals his true name and title to be Kyomahr - Shadow of the Mossveil, Lightbringer of Neverwinter. He hails from The Glimmerwood - Qwimby's parents speak fondly of Bardway - the college he was supposed to attend. It has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious performing colleges in Faerun. The admission fee was 12,000 GP - which Qwimby absconded with after attending for a single year. - Qwimby left, having struggled to learn an instrument. He felt comfortable singing and dancing. - Qwimby's parents performed under the name Strada Yada Yada - Carmella offers us accommodation for the night. Qwimby's room, inverse to his quarters in the keep, is extremely colourful. The walls and ceiling are covered in various hand drawn artworks. - Qwimby pulls a box from under his bed, finding a harmonica. He plays it for the group - The following morning, we awaken to a large breakfast cooked by Carmella - The group departs, finding a small bag in the cart full of rations. The bag is emblazoned with the symbol of the Watery Bee - We arrive at Kalteo, finding massive gems embedded in the ground. These appear to be powering the flight of the city above. Both Kyo and Orlan recall the Netherese Empire - Kyo believes there either may be a Netherese mage held hostage or those inside found ancient knowledge from the empire - Approaching Kalteo, the lush growth surrounding Velen has given way to a barren desert - There is a tall tower on the ground beneath the city, guarded by a massive Bone Golem wearing a bowler hat - The Golem demands a tribute, repeating the word with growing aggression. Qwimby offers the engraved slab given to him by his mother, but this has no effect - Kyo offers a piece of platinum, which the Golem accepts - standing aside and gesturing towards the tower - Qwimby uses the engraved slab - it fits into an inset in the door, opening it. Stepping inside, we are rapidly teleported upwards - into the city of Kalteo - The city is bustling with life, extremely loud. Mechanical floating carts brush by as people hurry about their business - A homeless person lies next to a nearby bin - Orlan gives the man a silver coin. The man insists on learning his name, hobbling towards him and grabbing at his hand - Orlan panics, casting Hold Person - but the spell fails - Kyo uses Abjure Foes - causing the man to hurriedly back into the alley. The cloak falls from his shoulders, but he disappears. - Kyo takes the cloak - Qwimby speaks of the uniform of his crew being a black blazer over well kept, fine wear. - Qwimby recognises the area we are in as being close to Bardway - The passersby all take notice of us, appearing bemused by our arrival. Qwimby remembers a nearby clothing store, and recommends changing our attire - A group of people across the road begin to harass us, calling out suggestively - A young child approaches, strutting confidently. The child bumps into Graxen, pickpocketing him. Qwimby calls out to him, demanding "I'm a man, you're a kid. Show me what you got" - Kyo casts a spell to restrain the kid using magical vines - Graxen finds his cursed bracelet, returning it to his wrist - before the group disperse hurriedly towards the clothing store - Qwimby knows the owner of this shop, asking to be outfitted with the current "Kalteo style". The tailor wears thick glasses, seeming to have particularly poor eyesight - The tailor returns with a selection of clothing for the group - which will allow us to blend in with the populace - The man requests 1250 GP for the set - Kyo quietly suggests offering to use a spell to fix the man's eyesight in exchange for lowering the price. - Qwimby and Kyo successfully bargain the tailor down to 500 GP, with Kyo using Lesser Restoration to restore his sight - Outside, Kalteo is in almost perpetual dim light and darkness - overshadowed by smog and seemingly endless tall buildings