[@rivaan][@Shoe Thief][@Sigil][@Arty Fox]

        And here we are again. It's a pleasure to see all of you today, typing out the continuation of our shared adventure into almost certain drunkeness. But before we all get hammered with the wine lady's wine, let us appraise the situation. Laurent is kind of a dick. Lizbeth has all of the earmarks of an ambitious, coming-of-age heiress with a bent for learning how to hurt people, Cecily is ever the diplomat, and Barbal is an irritable, pint-sized shit disturber. But let us not dwell on the negative! The party is officially started, for however long a wine tasting lasts. Full disclosure, it is not the same thing as a kegger, just with wine. 

        For those of you sampling this wine, as it is the reason for the gathering, you will find it extraordinarily sweet and very full bodied. Imagine drinking alcoholic grape sugar that smells like flowers. Or if anyone is a fan of wines IRL, this would be something like a tawny port mixed with a late harvest sweet Riesling and left to age for five years. If it was thicker, you could top ice cream with it and not be fully out of bounds. Hence, there are palate cleansers on the table and things to eat. 

        Now then, there IS a 20 minute delay until this happens. Fill in thus time however you see fit (within reason) and don't forget a blurb or two about the NPC under your control. Remember, these minor writing side quests are all building toward something. Per our usual, get with me for questions, rulings, and die rolls. And enjoy the party just as much as you're able. 😈