Florien’s General Thoughts
I still feel the aches of the migraine lurking, but for the moment it’s subsided. Must’ve been the calmness of the temple. That, and the weight on my shoulders feels lighter now that I’ve talked to my friends. I almost wish I could have done this sooner, but it’s no use wanting to change what has already happened. What matters is that, at the very least, some things are finally sorted. There still are things I worry about, nagging at the back of my mind. The mission, the conflict, all the sides at play here.
But it’s good to keep busy while I wait to meet my brother. That quest board was filled with so many requests—so many old ones. I wonder why those were left behind. And the missing people… That shopkeeper, Nikki, was it? There were so many faces there, I just didn’t expect to see Samah. It’s been years since I saw his face, but I could never forget my only friend in this city.
Where are you? I hope you’re alive and safe, wherever you are. I don’t know how long it has been since you vanished, but gods, I swear I’ll look for you. As Florien, or Faust, it doesn’t matter. If anyone has hurt you, I’ll make sure they pay for it. I don’t know what punishment came upon you for helping me leave Waterdeep—I hope it wasn’t severe. If my search goes badly…
No. I’ll face that when I get to it. We’ll find these missing people and the culprits.
There’s something else too. We’re being watched, every step of the way. I thought I felt it in Middle Waterdeep, and then again at the inn. Something, or someone, is watching us. Could they be linked with the missing people? Gods, I hate having no fucking idea what to do, where to even go from here. All these unanswered questions make my head ache a little more, damn it all.
Hey Patron, whomever you are. Everything gets worse before it gets better, right?
Sure, Florien, sure it does.
Huh. Don’t know what I expected. I won’t get an answer, so I’ll just talk to myself.
Rick and Evie’s Quest
When we took on a quest, this was not what I was expecting. It’s nice to help two people come together, but is this really what mattered most? What about all those missing people? I know Rona did not want to look for Nikki, but I have someone who matters to me that’s missing. The hours spent doing this quest… I could have found a lead instead.
One quest together, the party said, for old time’s sake. Now that that’s all said and done, maybe there still will be time for further investigation tomorrow. It’s quite late now, and I have all these troubles on my mind. The letter from Faust, that presence I sensed outside…
I really need to sleep. There is a lot to be done in the morning.
Florien’s Thoughts on the group
Tarvo
You know, I may not have known you long as Adam, but I’m really getting used to you. Today, something felt different. As we walked through the streets of the city, I got that same feeling I got with Tarvo, all the way back in Revellia. There was a point where I truly felt like I could see him as a friend. Not just him, but the others in the party. It took a while for me to trust everyone. I’m sure you know the feeling.
It was just something about the horse we saw. Whether or not you really could talk with it didn’t matter, but you humoured my silly question. You did the silly thing anyway. I don’t know why that meant a lot to me.
Look, I’m trying not to be too sentimental, maybe it’s the overhanging impending chaos that lies ahead—but I really needed the laughs we had. Thank you, Adam. Maybe it’s alright that you know some of my secrets after all.
Kerrick
Oops. Sorry old man, didn’t mean to spill your secrets like that. I’d forgotten that no one’s really heard what I heard.
Your past… Is that how you became a warlock? Choosing to gain a dragon’s power in the name of strength and duty as a guard, what else did you sacrifice for this? I see you think of yourself only as a soldier, someone who lives for a cause. Someone who’s willing to lay his life down if it meant saving others or fulfilling a purpose.
You need to be careful, Kerrick. That magic is unstable, and whatever augments you have within you at this moment only exacerbates the problem. It won’t do if you die before you get to meet Gwendolyn again.
Rona
We’re alright, yeah?
You’re stubborn, but I can be stubborn too. Maybe you understand why I’ve made those choices, maybe you don’t. But we managed to talk, something long overdue. I don’t know what Tyr said to you exactly, but I could see your eyes were still watery. Maybe you’ll tell me someday, when you’re ready.
That necklace looks good on you. My neck feels empty without it, but it’s safer with you. Yeah, it’s another promise I’ve made, but I’ll keep it. I’ll come back as Florien, after all of this is over. Spineless as I am, I don’t plan on living out my life as my twin brother—fuck no. I think even he doesn’t want that as a permanent arrangement either.
The hourglass… I wonder just how much you know of me. Chronomancy is so inlaid into the lines of my ancestry, and still I haven’t fully understood it. Would you find it as fascinating as I do? Or would you listen to my rambles with a smile?
A promise in time, it says. How fitting, I like it. One day, I’ll get you something nicer. It has to mean as much as this gift did to me.
Florien’s Thoughts on specific NPCs
Romeo Shade
Holy shit, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Harengon before, much less one that performed on stage. I’ve never quite been to a show like this, but it does remind me of something in the past. A performance, perhaps a travelling bards’ group? It’s foggy, I can’t recall their faces too well. I remember liking the music, though.
This show was different, but enjoyable. Still, I can’t fully enjoy this leisure, not with everything going on. Even sitting in that theatre seat, I still felt odd. Never a moment’s of rest, not until something is done to make this city a better place.