Vaulting Ambitions of a Grand Opening (City of Splendors #12)

Zloton,
 
The Gralhund Villa Bloodbath was in the Broadsheet today!
 
They knew there were Zentarim (the dead bodies had tattoos), but they guessed that there were probably other factions.
 
They had no idea just how many: Xanathar, Zhentarim, Gralhund guards, drow. We suspect the drow might be connected with Zord and the Faire, based almost exclusively on their lantanese equipment and sense of style.
 
Apparently, the watch thinks Flynn is a person of interest or at least, that’s what Flynn’s brother said.
 
We had a visitor today: Yagra Stonefist. She's the half orc that almost started a bar fight with a bald Xanathar thug the night we earned the tavern.
 
Apparently, there’s inner conflict in the Zentarim. In fact, there’s actually two factions of Zentarim.
 
So, there's this wizard named Manshoon. He founded the Zhentarim. He also, perhaps more famously, made a bunch of clones of himself and they all fought each other to the death. But some are still alive! One is even in the city as I write.
 
According to Yagra, he showed up, convinced most of the Zentarim to join him and is driving their increased violence between Xanathar.
 
Since Gralhund manor, the watch has been rounding up Zhents and throwing them in prison, including Davil, Yagra’s boss.
 
She insists he's not with Manshoon and not involved with the violence, but the watch assumed he was and threw him in prison. According to her, they’re rounding up all the Zhents that are *not* with Manshoon.
 
Davil might have business contacts that could help us find out more. We’re going to arrange to meet him.
 
All that is important and all, but the real news is we have my new kitchen aide! Yagra’s cutting skills are lovely. We will have the most evenly cooked vegetables in Waterdeep. Yagra started cutting onions right away. Before we headed out, I told Jenks to "Watch her" and he gave enthusiastic agreement
 
We went back to the Faire. The captain was "not expecting you," but we just smiled and gave him the "Special delivery for him personally."
 
Clar Besham was borderline hostile today. He straight up told us to row the boat to the Eyecatcher ourselves. I strongly suspect Pete gave him a subtle foul smell for his trouble.
 
Zord was as delightful a host as ever, and his food. Ah. Divine.
 
<2 paragraphs of vivid food description>
 
On a more relevant note, I was listening as well as eating. The crew has a slight elvish accent, which is interesting as they are supposed to be human.
 
I bumped into one of the servers, masking my purpose behind my inherent bumbling unsteadiness. The body I crashed into was in truth shorter than he looked, and his hair felt longer. There was an illusion upon the crew, of that there could be little doubt.
 
We came to the conclusion that they must be elves, and if they had anything to do with the ones we met at the Gralhunds: drow.
 
Anyway, that’s enough sleuthing for one day. Pete plans to do more tomorrow.
 
This morning, I learned Pete can alter his form to be well suited to the water and went swimming.
 
According to him, there is an underwater submarine attached to the Eyecatcher, you know, Zord’s ship.
 
Pete tells some dubious tales, but considering all the weirdness surrounding that ship, I believe it.
 
Anyway, enough of that. My restaurant opens tonight! I'm so excited I can barely hold the pen. Hopefully, you will grace my door later, much much later. Tonight, I won't have the presence of mind to receive you.
 
 
Joy, love, joy. The joy that my grandmother once gave to so many people, I transmute here in Waterdeep. I can barely contain myself. The restaurant’s grand opening was a dream I doubted I would ever taste.
 
So many were there: Fala, Tally, Embric, Tobias, Jehearna, Maloon Wardragon, Algerron, Carina, even Flynn's brother’s mercenary group. The men appeared to have a blast, although the brother seemed awkward at Flynn’s success.
 
Tozi, Bolu and some of the faire performers were there. Hearing a fellow chef compliment my cooking was such a surreal experience. I’m so used to competition and sabotage that I didn’t know what to do with open camaraderie.
 
Pete was there of course, but not as Pete. He disguised himself as he often did as Baron Zomdi? I think that's what he calls that form.
 
Mirt came, along with playful raven haired woman named Elias. I give her special mention as she complimented my food, said it was a “pleasure to meet you” and winked at me. I learned after the party that she would be a helpful source of information in dealing with the Gralhund business.
 
Pete greeted Mirt with flamboyance as the baron, but then leaned in to whisper: “It's me!"
 
That got Mirt to laugh into his drink.
 
Pete tactlessly complimented him on his beautiful catch. Mirt winked and Elias kicked the fat man under the table
 
There were many new faces as well of course. Our marketing campaign did something after all. I was introduced to one such newcomer. JB Nevercott is a Habadasher, which from context clues, means a hat maker. We asked him about Zord. "What do you think of his hat?"
 
Turns out, Nevercott did in fact design some hats for the faire people.
 
Renear came late with Floon, but just in time for the show. Nettie put on a spectacle of a performance. Dancing lights, minor illusions, glorious music. We all danced with spectral fawns.
 
It has been the happiest night of my life, I think. So many tasted my grandmother’s flavors. The memory of her cooking is fresh in so many minds. They have no way to share that memory as I do, but now I can be sure that the memory will not die with me.
 
Weirdly, I also feel sure that my dream of a flavor library will be achieved. Probably not in my brief lifetime of course, but a new optimism consumes me: it will be real.
 
Now, I must ensure that my grandmother’s flavors survive to be archived in that library. I must succeed in teaching Jenks to prestigitate. He has the love of food and love of wizardry necessary to continue my work when I am gone.
 
I will pass on all I can. This night will be one among many, even or especially when I am not there to share them.