The meeting...

Perhaps I have a few trinkets I may be able to donate, if my workmanship passes your standards. As for considering me for head of security, I am humbled, although I will have to see if my 'boss' as you so term her will allow me time off my duties to perform such a feat.

Ah, but there's the beauty of it. If lady Beramode accepts my invitation to the ball, I'm sure she'll want her finest warriors by her side!
..and yes, some examples of Elven crafts would be well appreciated.

"Wonderful idea Doc, but some form of hat-rack aside, I don't see what use I'd be."

"A vey fancy one at that. Or maybe you can offer to take the other 'high ups' on a scenic tour? Somewhere? They seem to be all the rage at the moment."Vitalany grins.

"I suppose I could lead a small group on a tour of the woods. I hear that some humans in positions of power, with more money than sense like to...what's the phrase....'Rough it'..pretend that they're really experiencing life in the wilds."

"I shall never understand the human phsyche."

I see you're both getting into it. Actually Cern, that would be a great idea for the auction!

The main thing I wanted you for Cern was security *outside* in the night. If we can split security on the night, it might make things easier to deal with. I've a feeling that with recent events, You Know Who is going to be upping the ante in this nasty little war...

Well then, I shall see about having my 'trinkets' delivered to you, and see if they pass inspection Indeed, I don't understand why rich humans would want to 'rough it', perhaps they should come on our adventures, they might get a much better idea of what roughing it is.

Ha! yes. If half of the silver spoons in this city knew how much danger was on their doorstep, they'd never venture out!

Thank you Ariel. Indeed, thank you all. I will shortly be sending out invitations and then, with all of your assistance, I'll start spreading the word amongst the great and good.about who's going to be there. About a month after that, we'll put the tickets on sale. That reminds me, I don't suppose anyone's got any friends in the Royal Family, have they?

Vitalany sighs "Which one? I am second daughter to the first house Shalastayre if that counts."

*The Doc stops dead and looks at Vitalany*

I think that would do very nicely. Please don't take this the wrong way but I imagine you have very few enemies....


...left.

"I'm sure a troll on the door will act as a deterrant."

"Well I am sure I coudl ask my mother to come. She is almost always interested in the affairs of the surface." She taps her lip, "So...do we start making lists of who to invite and so forth?"

*The doc smiles and brings out a piece of parchment*

I'm glad you mentioned that. So far I have, The Huntress, The Mistress of the Sea, The King (we'll probably get a member of his family if we are lucky), Lady Beramode and the Starfall Council, Vitalany's good lady mother, All of you of course- even though I fear some of us will be "working" and at that point I would appreciate suggestions!

"I you'd like, I can contact The Huntress."

Ah yes, I was hoping that you could. Likewise with your Mother Vitalany...

"Well if I wasn't going to I would like to know wich one of you foo...I mean wonderful people would be going to visit her."

*The Doc smiles back* Indeed.

Right so, to summarize.

When you all depart, I will have invitations for some of you to take with you. When the replies come back, I will call upon the ever resourceful Bodge to visit various households of the great and good (via the tradesmans entrance, I imagine) telling the servants and staff that a grand ball in the presence of gods, Kings and heroes will take place on Midsummer at Nick Holdem's estate. My Mum used to be a parlour maid so I know that rumours work best from the ground up.

We'll give it a couple of weeks for the rumours to circulate and then we'll put tickets on sale- We'll have standard tickets and VIP tickets- extra pampering, a private area etc etc. I'd like suggestions as to ticket prices.

In the meantime we'll need to sort out catering and booze- I'm planning on giving Lisa a budget with which to hire extra staff and buy any extra food and drink.

We'll need to organise music- the best chamber orchestra in town (This is a ball, after all) and various minstrels, jongluers and entertainers. I'd appreciate any pointers there and I only want living staues if they really are statues that have been bought to life by magic!

Eloraine, you obviously know what you are doing with the Horse Racing just let me know how much it's going to cost. I'll see about inviting riders from Gamay to race against your finest. Bodge, If you and that Blackthorne fellow could organise the betting in such a way that it makes money for the charity, I'd be obliged.

Vitalany, I'd be grateful if you would host the charity auction. As well as the items we have discussed, I'll also be auctioning the right to name the ship.

I'm going to ask the Shipwrights to build a 10 ft long model of the ship. If any sizeable named donations are made during the evening, the Donors name will be hoisted in the rigging for all to see! The person who makes the largest donation by the end of the evening will be named patron of the charity and the Charity itself will bear their name.

If possible, Ariel will be in charge of security indoors and Cern, outdoors. If Lady Beramode agrees to attend, then i think we might be able to borrow a company of guards for the evening.

Nick's Role will be to play the gentleman adventurer host and get all those rich people to dig into their moneybags!

As for me, I'll pretty much be a dogsbody for the evening, passing messages, making sure everyone has what they need!

After that, we count up the loot and get the boat built!

Couldn't be simpler! Have I missed anything?

I think that sounds acceptable. If you wish I will take the invitation to Lady Beramode, along with the request for the evening off, I may see if I can bring my squad along.

Excellent Ariel, My Thanks, Here are invitations to Lady Beramode and the Starfall Council *hands to Ariel* The Huntress *hands to Cern* Vitalany's mother *Hand's to Vitalany* The King and the royal family which I will ask Bodge to deliver via the palace's tradesman's entrance- If you have to slip a servant a silver to pass it up the ladder then let me kno and I will reimburse you. *hands to Bodge* and I have one here for the Mistress of the Sea hich I will deliver myself.

No, any other business before we adjourn? Eloraine, I'll need a quick ord with you if that's alright.

...and meeting adjourned!