They spent the next two days lingering at the Coronet, keeping their ears open for any rumors of Lord Jierdan Firkraag. They heard nothing, except that the man could be ruthless. "A dragon with his money," he was called by one drunk patron using the Athkatlan term for a miser. In a city where spending visibly and lavishly was a widespread pastime, anyone who chose not to participate was given side glances, or at least regarded as something of a bad sport.
Gorion's Company had other ends in mind when they finally sold the scrolls. Bernard had come by someone willing to trade, and he set up a meeting; they got a decent price for a few of them and evenly split the proceeds at a couple hundred gold pieces each.
Most of the money had gone towards improving their gear. Most of their possessions had gone missing after Irenicus captured them. They were eager to start finding replacements, especially when signs pointed towards more dangerous work than doing dishes.
Lidia, for her part, spent most of her money on a few pieces of clothing and the best gambeson she could afford. This was a quilted, padded jacket that could serve as a bit of protection in a pinch, and was a crucial layer under mail or metal. It even had some sturdy cord ties for attaching pieces of armor. For Lidia, picking up a decent set of field plate was mostly wishful thinking for now. But one could always dream.
On the third day, Bernard passed along this message to Lidia: "Lord Jierdan is in the common room. I told him that you're interested in meeting. Don't delay."
Lidia took Yoshimo, Minsc, and Jaheira along, as soon as they were able and as non-obviously armed as they could manage,
They went down the hall towards the bar, which was bustling in its usual state of tightly-maintained peace. A low hum permeated, with the occasional burst of alcohol-cheered noise. The air of good humor was contagious, but the presence of guards had doubled. Two of them were escorting a particularly aggressive patron by the scruff of his worn, dirt-spattered work shirt. Shouting something at the man, they slammed the heavy door behind him. The noise disturbed two bats upon a high rafter, who flitted to the other side of the room.
Gorion's Company only had to glance at Bernard, and he pointed out where the lord was sitting, at a round, roughly-hewn table nearby.
Lord Jierdan was as powerfully muscled as any fighter she'd seen, with ruddy skin and a broad nose that flared every so often. If it weren't for the finely embroidered vest he was wearing, she might have mistaken him for a laborer. Lidia didn't have much experience with alcohol, but she was certain that his drink, a still and clear amber color, was meant to be served in a much smaller glass. He was stirring the drink with a wooden stick, clearly impatient with his current conversation.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Yoshimo said.
"I need a moment," Lidia said. "I don't want to go into this blind." She cleared her mind and lowered her head. She cast out a thought in Lord Jierdan's direction.
Immediately, her arms shook, and her heart started pounding, as though it were preparing for a fight. She leaned against the edge of the bar to steady herself.
The others gathered around her, partly to shield her from any curious stares.
"Are you all right?" Yoshimo asked.
Lidia whispered, "We'll go ahead, but step lightly." She tried to calm herself with a few deep breaths. Her arms finally stopped quaking, but it took longer before the roar of her pulse in her ears subsided.
"Right into danger, well ahead of schedule," Yoshimo said with a grin. "If the rest of us get ensorcelled somehow, you'll come for us, right?"
Jaheira said a bit too loudly, "Blast it all, but you've had too much already!" She put up a charade of helping Lidia to her feet, and called Bernard for a glass of water.
Lord Jierdan glanced towards the Company as they approached. He interrupted his current conversation with a wave of his hand. "Excuse me, but I need to speak with these good people. Mark my words, you'd be better off joining your fellows in this venture."
A flash of irritation crossed the other man's face, but it passed just as quickly. "As you say," he said. He had a posh accent that seemed partly put-upon. "It is still an evil that must be crushed regardless of who deals with it." He was two heads shorter than Lord Jierdan, but well built, and he clearly was a warrior looking for a chance to ply his trade; that was the most likely explanation Lidia could think of for why he wore mail and a mace to a bar. The man retreated to a recently-emptied table nearby.
As Lidia and the others approached Lord Jierdan, she put on her best face for affable business. Despite what Minsc might claim, dealing with evil sometimes required a cool head.
Lord Jierdan stood up and offered his hand. He cast an appraising, amber-colored eye towards her. "You there. Lidia, is it? I would have a word with you. I am called Lord Jierdan Firkraag, and I bid you stand a moment and hear what I offer."
"Yes, I was told to find you," Lidia said. "We're known as Gorion's Company."
They shook hands. His grip was like a vise.
"Word has come to me of your actions," Lord Jierdan said. "I see you as capable and headstrong, with the ability to handle what e'er is thrown at you. Just the type of creature that I am looking for."
"Flattery is not necessary, m'lord," Lidia said, "but that's neither here nor there. I do have a suggestion, though."
He raised a dark eyebrow.
"Would you like to speak your offer to me in more...suitable surroundings?" She glanced towards a strong pair of double doors, on their left and towards the back.
He sported a grin full of rough yellow teeth. "I assume you mean the games, of course."
"Of course," Lidia said. "Find a spot for us. We won't be far behind."
As Lord Jierdan left, Lidia finally noticed that Minsc had drifted off to the next table.
His voice boomed, "Minsc and Boo have never run from a fight, no indeedy! Boo may be small, but he has much courage for one so tiny!"
Lidia and Jaheira exchanged concerned glances, and they went over to him, with Yoshimo following.
Thankfully, the man in mail was not interpreting Minsc's words as a challenge, and in fact seemed to take them in stride. "Tell me then, Minsc, be you a force for evil or good?"
Minsc replied, "Evil trembles before Minsc and Boo, because we apply the hobnailed boot soles of righteousness to evil behinds, yes sir! It is good of you to ask. And now, hold still, that Boo may examine you."
Boo ran down Minsc's arm, crawled into the giant hand, and peered out as his master thrust the hamster into the man's face.
"Minsc, what are you doing?" Lidia asked.
"He is pointing a rodent at me," the man said incredulously, leaning away from the fur-filled fist.
"Boo is a miniature giant space hamster, thank you very much," Minsc said. He withdrew his hand and stared into the hamster's beady black eyes and twitching whiskers. "Hm. He does not know what to make of you."
Lidia said to the man, "I apologize for my friend. We'll stop bothering you." As Yoshimo and Jaheira went towards the back, Lidia tried to draw off Minsc, who was still studying his hamster. It was like willing a mountain to move.
The man in mail sat up. "A moment, if you would. I've seen a fair few people enter and leave those back rooms, and you do not look like the kind who normally frequents them. Tell me, lady, what are you doing in this cesspool of corruption?"
"If you call this place a 'cesspool,' then I might ask you the same thing," Lidia said.
"One cannot seek to rid the earth of foul corruption by avoiding that same corruption. Perhaps your path links closely to my own," he said.
"Perhaps it does, but I'd rather not give out our business to a stranger."
"Then let us not remain strangers," he said. He stood and bowed. "I am Anomen, warrior-priest of Helm. What is your name?"
"Lidia," and she pointed to the other members of the group. "This is Yoshimo, Jaheira, and...you've met Minsc and Boo."
"Your reputation precedes you, if it makes Lord Jierdan take notice," Anomen said. "Perchance I have found worthy companions. I seek to be knighted in the Order of the Radiant Heart and I must prove my worth, first. Have you need of a strong warrior, my lady?"
Lidia glanced over her shoulder for a moment. Jaheira was aggressively gesturing at the doors. Minsc had finally drifted off towards her and Yoshimo. "As much as we could use one," she said to him, "this isn't the best time for us to take on someone new. Lord Jierdan is waiting for us."
"Indeed, the man faces great hardship if these attacks continue," he said, pulling in his chair and taking his small pack.
"What I mean is - " After making sure Lehtinan was out of earshot, she leaned in and whispered, "We're getting into different trouble, right now."
"Excellent! Adventure and honor await us both!"
She was tempted to set him straight, but then realized she'd be turning down free help. If he was who he claimed and was up for the possibility of danger, she thought, she could work with that. She vigorously shook Anomen's hand. "Well said, and welcome to Gorion's Company. Now, if you'll follow us in…"
She and Anomen went over to where the others were waiting. Jaheira shot her a quizzical look.
Lidia whispered, "He wants to help, and we could use an extra hand if things go south."
"If you think it wise," Jaheira said, in a tone that guaranteed she'd have more to say on the subject later.
Two guards stopped them at the double doors. These ones, especially, didn't look as though they were playing around; they each wore mail and carried longswords and bows. One peered at them underneath his helmet. "You don't look like one of Lehtinan's," he said.
"We're guests of Lord Jierdan Firkraag," Lidia said.
The guard gave the other one a look and offered no more protests, unlocking the doors and opening them up. "On your way, then, ma'am. Enjoy."
Minsc and Lidia went in first, with Anomen following shortly afterwards. Yoshimo and Jaheira hung back for a moment. They thought she couldn't overhear them.
"So, this thing we're doing - undercutting our host alongside some stranger in a bar - is this something she normally does?" Yoshimo asked.
"Yes. I have told her to do right, but in a sensible fashion." Jaheira said. "But does she listen to me? No."