Trial by Fire

A courier arrives at the Frothy Mare. He has a parcel for "a pair of adventurers - namely one Filbur and Jormund" he says and drops the parcel on the bar for Barmm the Tavern Proprieter and general barkeep. He looks at you and says, "Well, well. Looks like you've drawn the attention of Lady Walcrest. I can tell by the seal on the package. These aren't the sort of parcels dropped off by Workle's Wares or Katy the Fence. Aye, this bodes well for ye both. For the Crown mates!"

The customers only hear "For the Crown" and they lift their flagons, "For the Crown!" and take big swigs of ale.

You open the package and find a set of clothing for each of you, to include shoes.

You arrive at a very luxurious house. The doorman, with white gloves, looks at you as if you were somthing he scraped off his foot, however, he nods and says, "I assume you are here to see Lady Walcrest. I hope the tailor was able to follow my explicit directions. Your fit should be near perfect - including your footwear. Please, come in and follow me."

He leads you down corridor after corridor, giving you information about the history of the "edifice", which of course is an "abridged version" since he explains he doesn't have time to dally. He finally brings you into a dining room with a long table. One side is set for two with chairs faicing each other. Two more servants, also wearing white gloves, pull your chairs as you are seated. "My name is Neb-Kadjer, you may call me Mr. Neb. Today's fair is roasted pheasant with plum jelly sauce and black rice. This first dish is an amuse bouche to tease your appetites. Hummingbird tongue sauted in honey and amaretto mead. Please enjoy," says the doorman as two older women serve you small dishes with a silver forks slightly longer than your middle finger.

This goes on for 5 courses, the fifth being the pheasant and black rice. All of the food and drinks are decadent and made to perfection. Once you are done, you are asked to meet with Lady Walcrest on the terrace. You are taken to a large room with an open deck that leads out over a manicured garden. Below you can see a maze made of shrubbery and several fountains and pools linked by narrow waterways and a stone path connected with bridges over the canals. Lady Walcrest sits in a hooded chair drinking tea as she gazes out over the garden. She see you and smiles. She is an older woman of about 35 with blond hair, sky blue eyes and the look of aristocracy about her. She is very much a woman of grand beauty and elegance.
"Hello my dears, I hope the luncheon was adequate. I have had a very stressful morning, but all is well. Please sit my dears. I have a proposal, but please tell me how you vanquished the fire demon. Neb-Kadjer tells me you are all the talk in lower Rivergate," she says with a smile that would make most men weak in the knees. She holds out her hand in greeting.