Trapped and with no way to escape, the Zhent leader falls to Dacknar's blade as the big warrior slashes once nearly severing the man's left arm and then drives a killing blow into his heart.
After the man slumps to the floor not far from the other fallen gangsters, the head of the guard slowly shakes his head. "Hmpph. I thought he was a bit better than that. Ah well. Here's your coin Wilem." He says tossing a silver piece to his companion.
"I do thank you for disposing of that particular bit of trash. So with that out of the way, why don't you tell me why you're here and why you shot one of my men?" He says, still holding his sword at the ready, but more in a defensive manner than as a threat.
Dacknar still in his blood lust, spins toward the guard handing over the coin.
"Now it's time for you to apologize for making me get blood on may clothes, since you " pointing at the head guard "are not able to take care of your own business. Or do you need a lesson on who I am, like that one." pointing to the dead Zhent leader with his sword still covered in fresh blood.
Bhoors adds his two coppers on Unmei's altruistic defense. "We heard a commotion and came to aid." He half chokes a laugh at Dacknar's comment as it drowns out his own diplomatic attempt.
The guard starts to nod thoughtfully at Unmei's suggestion about being vigilant and helpful citizens, but then Dacknar comments and the man brow takes a downturn as his once again starts to raise his sword.
"Why you...I'm gonna...." Is all he is able to get out before another feminine but commanding voice calls out from the door behind him.
"Hold your temper Hesten. I'd rather not have any further blood spilled in my home this night if you please." Emerging from the room is a handsome, fit, half-orc woman, dressed in an ornate breastplate and armed with an equally ornate, but also quite functional looking rapier. Her dark eyes quickly glance at each of you as she survey's the death laying near her bedroom door with mild disdain and annoyance.
"These good citizens say they have come to our aid, and have seemingly dealt with a rather troublesome problem." She says to the head guard. Turning back she offers a very slight nod of her head. "I am the Lady Gralhund and I thank you for your timely assistance. If you will follow me downstairs I would be happy to offer some compensation for your time and trouble. But first things first...."
She turns to one of the other guards. "Deadric, I think it would be wise if you fetched the Watch. We must report this terrible attack." She says to the man who simply nods and starts to move toward the stairs.
"We are not so full of pride as to down compensation. But I would hate to bleed any more on your finery."
As the lady intervenes, Marquez steps forward placing hand on his large companions shoulder in an attempt to defuse the situation. ”Eet es fortuneate we came along when we deed. Let us be at ease and rest for uno momento .” He then utters a short incantation infusing Dacknar with dark eldritch energy.
Dacknar slowly lets his blood rage subside at the sight of such a noble woman. And listens to what she has to say.
Bhoors makes an attempt to look dashing despite holding his innards in place.
The woman purses her lips when Bhoors mentions both blood and her fine furnishings. Many of which are scattered about broken, torn, scattered and some already quite bloody.
"Hrrmmm...I doubt your blood will add much more to the damage and cleaning that will be necessary to put things to right." She says both disgust and disappointment in her voice.
Deadric the guard moves down the stairs and you can hear his boots thumping across the downstairs floor as he rushes out to fetch the nearest watchman.
The lady simply nods slightly, seemingly pleased at the man's swift following of orders. She then waves a hand at the half-orc guard that accompanied her from the bedroom, her other guards, and you. With a gesture toward the stairs she waves everyone forward.
"Shall we go back down to the study? That is where some coin is stored safely for such matters.
" She says and then turns to Hesten. "Would you check on the children? They are in their room and should be safe, but let's make sure." Her eyes flick toward the other room that the lead gang member emerged from. "Then drag that useless husband of mine out of his room and have him join us downstairs. I want him there when the watch arrives."
Hesten nods and with a quick 'yes mame' and only a slight look back toward Dacknar, walks down the short hall to another room and through a door. As the door closes behind the guard, you hear the voices of two children enthusiastically asking questions and demanding to know more about the grisly seen within their home.
There's little time to learn more as the lady of the manor clears her throat in an obvious signal for everyone to leave her and her families private rooms. The half orc at her side grips the hilt of his sword as he gestures for you all to proceed the lady and her men down the stairs.
Bhoors moves close to Unmei and talks casually so as to not appear to hide anything from guards who are likely watching them close. "Is there any aid that Lathander can offer the wounded?"
Dacknar raises an eyebrow after the lady speaks. He sizes up the guard but figures he is way to tired for another fight so soon, so he fallows the lady downstairs. Dripping blood on the way down.
"So does this happen often Lady Gralhund? You seem quite calm for having your house invaded and your family put endanger."
"No....I dare say this doesn't happen often." She says with a shrug while casually stepping over one of the bodies in the hall on her way to the library you briefly visited earlier downstairs. "But this is Waterdeep and odd things do happen from time to time. And I'm not like the usual noble lady's who spend their days tittering and giggles over knitting needles." She adds with a feral grin while patting the end of her rapier. "One doesn't reach my age without surviving a fight or two, especially when I spent many of my early years on our estate up north. Where things aren't nearly so....sophisticated."
She walks over to the desk and unlocks on of the drawers with a key that she slips quickly back into a well disguised pocket of her coat. Pulling out a small sack she counts out a total of twenty gold dragons.
"Here you go." She says handing the coin to Dacknar. "This should be more than sufficient to cover your time and trouble." She says with a thin smile, then nodding to her bodyguard who has stuck by her side the entire time.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go back up and check on my children before the watch arrives." She gestures back toward the main entrance in an obvious dismissal.
Going over to the body guard
"Keep an eye out for a mechanical man. We are seeking it. So if you hear anything let us know at -(Can't think of the bar's name right now)- got it?"
Then leaving the manor and once outside
"Unmei you want to try that do-hickey thing to see if the mechanical man is near by?"
"We are lucky to be still breathing. Lets heal up and then we can get back at this." Bhoors moves the hand holding his stomach and he blanches and blood spills out. He tightens his grip wincing.
You make your way out of the manor under the watchful gaze of Lady Gralhund's bodyguard. Not more than a few moments after you step through the gate and off the grounds, the sound of whistles pierce the night air. The Gralhund guard was successful in locating the city watch. Fortunately you have plenty of time to slip down the street and out of site before any of the watch arrive.
Unfortunately, despite his best efforts to keep his innards from leaking out with nothing but his own hands, Bhoors continues to leave a trail of blood as you leave the manor and flee back to the Trollskull Alley.
Bhoors looks incredulously at Unmei, "Seriously I did. Durring the fight. I tried to get the lady of the house to help by suggesting that I was bleeding all over the house. . . . . I mean thank you."
"Its likely that these guys know we are not just good samaritans we should lay low and revisit things when hopefully the heat dies down."
Unmei patches Bhoors up enough to get him back to Trollskull without drawing the attention of the Watch. Throughout the night and even into the day, the whistles of the Watch can be heard and patrols are more numerous than usual. Attempts to get near the Gralhund manor are met by blocked roads and the dark suspicious stares of watchmen.
By late the next day Yagra steps through the door, a wary look on her face as she goes up to Dacknar. Seeing no one else around except for those she knows, she speaks quietly to the half orc. The look of worry, exhaustion, and even a little fear in her eyes gives the formidable woman's words even more weight.
"I wanted to warn you. I don't know what's happened, but something's stirred up a hornets nest. The watch is rounding up Zhents left and right." She says to Dacknar, her hand trying to rub a long night from her tired eyes. "You're not well known here yet, but you've done some work for us recently, so you best keep out of sight. They grabbed Davril early this morning and a bunch of others. From what I can tell they're rolling up the entire network."
"That hardcase, inspector Blastwind, was trying to throw me into the net as well. Luckily it was a long night at the Portal and I've plenty of witnesses to where I was so he couldn't drag me off to the mines with everyone else." She shrugs. "You should be fine, but keep your head down and your nose clean, if you can." She says slapping Dacknar on the back.
"There's a few other's I'm going to try and warn, so I'll be off now. " She adds starting to head toward the door. Suddenly she turns back to Dacknar, her face grim and hard. "And if you know anything about who sold us out, or why, you be sure to let me know."
"The only thing that I heard was that the Zents had some failed attempt at the Gralhund manor. You know why they were there? Why would the Zents take an interest there?" looking straight at Yagra.
Yagra shakes her head when Dacknar mentions the Gralhunds. "I've heard of 'em. They've helped bankroll a few operations here and there for us." She says, a puzzled look on her face. "But I've no idea why anyone would want to hit them. Doesn't make sense unless they were double dealing or something."
"Either way, a damned fool thing to hit nobles in Waterdeep and leave 'em breathing to tell the tale." She pats Dacknar on the shoulder. "There's a few other bits of business I've got to wrap up now. Take care of yourself."
Over the next couple of days the city is bubbling with the news of the 'Gralhund Villa Bloodbath.' Unmei's urchins bring in news of all kinds of people with Zhent markings being dragged of by the Watch. Some returned after a flogging or mere beating, but others haven't been seen since. Although the sound of the executioners axe has been heard falling behind the walls of Castle Waterdeep.
The broadsheets are blaming the Zhentarim for the attack and many of the other recent crimes in Waterdeep, including a certain incident involving a fireball spell in Trollskull Alley that killed several locals and damaged nearby residences.
After a week, one of Unmei's urchins comes dashing into the bar. Out of breath and slightly wild eyed, he rushes over to Unmei and grabs her by the arm.
"I found it miss!" He says loudly. "That puppet man you was lookin' for. Saw it plain as day, I did. Best come along quick if'n you want to catch it." He continues to drag at Unmei's arm, trying to get her to follow him.
"Aboot time, This sitting and doing nothing is not for me." As Dacknar grabs his gear.
Bhoors quickly gets ready and moves out with the others.
Unmei's street spy leads you on a winding journey through the north ward and into the trades ward not far from the city of the dead. He pulls up near the entrance to an alleyway off of Theln Lane between a candle makers and carpenter's shops.
"I saw 'em down there rummagin' in tha' bit o' trash, miss." He says pointing toward a dim section of the street where a large pile of scrap wood, broken wax molds, and other rubbish is piled.
"What that I spy with my little eyes. It looks like something shining."
As you approach the pile of rubbish there is a clattering sound as the nimblewright scurries out of its hiding place and tries to run past you. But Dacknar's keen eyes give enough warning that it'll be difficult for the creature to get by if you chose to stop it.
Bhoors "Let's get some strings on that puppet."
Dacknar reaches out to grab the tin man.
"Now hold on there. We mean ye no harm. But ye have something to answer for, so we need to ship ye back home to Nim."
The nimblewright stops for a moment, but then shrugs off Bhoors' spell as the creatures natural magical resistance prevents the bard's magic from taking effect. Seeing Bhoors' spell fail, Unmei speaks one simple word, her voice filled with power and authority. "Hold!"
The creature struggles against Unmei's power, but then freezes in place, allowing Dacknar to easily grapple the small metal man.
"Um, Unmei if this one is anything like Nim, he can not talk. Only do that hand language.
So my friend one blink is yes two blinks is no. And if you can talk you better use your voice or I will get angry, and you don't ever want me angry."
As Dacknar gives the metal man a squeeze.
Bhoors looks at Unmei quizzically, "Sometimes the odds run tougher than others. Though you are a strange one . . . for a priest of Lythander. Nice to see not all of you have sticks up your jacksies."
The little creature struggles in Dacknar's grasp for a few minutes, but eventually just goes limp and slowly nods its head in surrender. Pointing to its unblinking "eyes" made of two polished marbles, it shrugs at Dacknar's request, then holds up one metal finger nodding its head for yes, followed by two fingers and shaking its head for no. Finally it holds up three fingers and shrugs in a 'don't know' fashion.