PORT LLAST
Alaine's Memories
I travel to Port Llast and arrive at #7 at the top of the map. Valeria, along with Shandra, reminds Sand to be more respectful of the locals although that does not have any influence repercussions. *Evil* Zarathos uses the "glad to have you along" dialogue option in order to increase his influence with Sand by +2.
*Note* There are a couple of merchants nearby, Haljal Throndor and Yask. But I avoid buying any wares from them until Act III, because I have some very expensive purchases to make during Act II.
I enter the Guard detachment at #4. I need to pass either a Bluff or a Diplomacy check to convince Captain Haeromos to let me question Alaine, who supposedly witnessed Valeria massacring the villagers of Ember.
I then question Alaine, and make a Diplomacy check to get her to concede that somebody else besides Valeria may have performed the massacre, for which I get 500xp. This will make things somewhat easier during the upcoming Trial.
I also choose the dialogue option that involves leaving Alaine be instead of using her as a witness in order to increase my influence with Shandra, although this loses influence with Sand.
*Evil* Alaine's Memories
The evil version whereby I make free use of Intimidate instead of Diplomacy on Haeromos to get the conversation with Alaine. But alas, Diplomacy is still needed to convince Alaine that somebody else besides me may have been the murderer.
I also grab two opportunities to lose influence with Shandra. One is when I tell Alaine to "Tell me what you know or else ..." option. The other is when I take Sand's side during his argument with Shandra, by indicating that I intend to use Alaine during the upcoming Trial.
Port Llast Guards
At #5 will be some Guards who are so convinced that Valeria is guilty of the massacre of Ember that they want to kill her then and there. Either a Diplomacy (for Valeria) or Intimidation (for Zarathos) check suffices to get them to back down, and earn 250xp.
Elgun's Tale
Now I enter the Alliance Arms Inn at #6. An obese man named Elgun spins an unbelievable yarn about him trying to be a hero at Ember and nearly succeeding. I need to learn the following bits of information before I can punch holes in the story:
My next destination is Duskwood Grove.