#and i'm gonna make that everyone's problem and make this liveblog even slower than it already was XD

[blackjackkent]

OK, we made it to the counting house. WHERE IS MY BOY!

Hm. No immediate sign of Minsc and he's kind of hard to miss so I guess we'll just go look around.

It turns out that I did lie slightly about being able to read red-tagged documents as long as you don't pick them up; everyone in the bank, including all the customers waiting in line, disapproved loudly when I tried to have Hector look at the accounting books behind the desk.

Some other interesting documents to look at, though, including this on a random table:

Vault 1, 3, and 5 are all names we recognize; I wonder if bringing Wyll around would be useful for getting into the Ravengard vault. Might have to look into that later.

2 is also a name recognizable from BG1/2, as I was reminded by another document nearby:

*trumpet fanfare* BG1 reference!

Grand Dukes Belt and Liia Janneth appeared in BG1 and Siege of Dragonspear. Silvershield is also a familiar name; not Daryn, but we met Duke Entar Silvershield in BG1/SoD - he was Skie's dad. Despite what ended up happening to Skie, I guess Entar did have another kid to carry on the family line.

(I don't *think* any of this is actually relevant to anything, I'm just enjoying nerding out about all the little details. :D )

There are a lot of doors and chests around that Hector is very much not allowed to touch. We might have to touch them anyway but let's try chatting with the clerk first:

"Welcome to the Counting House. I'm Head Clerk Meadhoney - how may the Fellowship of Financiers serve you?"

"You seem a little nervous, Saer Meadhoney. Had some difficult customers today? One in particular calling himself the Stone Lord, perhaps?"

"The who? The what? All right, fine -- the Head Banker may have just taken a customer by that name down into the vaults. Rather large. Rather heavily armed -- which is against regulations. But I'm sure the Head Banker knows what he's doing."

"I assure you -- he does not. You're right to be nervous - but let us pass, and all will be well."

The fact that we're having this conversation while covered in blood from the fight with the gith is probably not helping our credibility.

"Eh, well... who is this Stone Lord to you?"

Hector, as usual, taking the honest and direct route until it stops working: [PERSUASION] "A friend. He might do something stupid down there, but we can help."

"That would be most unusual. But then again... so is our visitor."

Jaheira gave this kind of sad little laugh... "That he is. But don't worry. We can handle him."

"Very well. Show the guards this *temporary* vault pass. And should my superior ask -- keep my name out of it."

All right, we have a way into the bank! Sadly I have to stop here for the night; more tomorrow after my stream, most likely! :D