The little nimblewright waits, wondering why he's been rousted from his secluded place in the pile of trash.
"Ye know why the Zents are bing attacked?
Where you part of the failed attack on the manor house a few days ago?
Did you throw the fireball a few days ago killing many people?"
Thinking over the answers, Dacknar asks "Are you able to to put pen to parchment and draw words that we can read?"
The small metallic creature pauses for a moment when Dacknar asks his questions. The the first question it quickly raises up two fingers, to say no.
To the second, it pauses for several seconds. After a few more seconds it reaches up and scratches a pointy metal finger against its metal head creating a spine-chilling, high-pitched, squeaking that immediately sets teeth on edge and pains your ears.
After a few more grinding squeaks, it stops and raises two fingers to say 'no' to the second question.
To the third, its shoulders slump slightly and its head tilts forward toward the ground. Slowly it raises one finger.
Finally when asked it is can write or draw, it simply holds up two fingers. But at the mention of parchment, it pulls a folded bit of paper from a small compartment in its right leg and hands it to the big halforc. It appears to be a rough map of some kind.
The map appears to be of the Trades Ward of Waterdeep. An X marks a spot on the map and written next to it is the name Fenerus Stormcastle.
"Something here about a Fenerus Stormcastle . . . can't say it rings a bell."
"Fenerus Stormcastle? Wasn't he the lamplighter that live in an alley in the Trades Ward. We were trying to get him to supply the oil for the bar if I remember right."
Going back to the tin man
"So with the odd noises that came from you, are you damaged?
Are you in need of repairs?
And going back to the manor house. Where you there when it got attack?"
Asked about being damaged, the little creature pats itself in several spots, then shrugs and holds up two fingers and shakes its head.
When Dacknar brings up the manor house again it stops to think for a moment. Once again scratching its head, creating that greating metal on metal scrapping noise. After a few seconds, it slowly nods its head and holds up a singer metal finger.
Moments later it points to the map and mimics someone handing it the paper, along with something else.
The nimblewright listens closely to Unmei's questions, nodding and holding a single finger to first question, then two fingers to the next two questions.
To her next question, the metal construct again holds up a single finger, but then shakes it head and holds up two to the next couple of questions while pointing at the map and shrugging slightly.
It shrugs again and holds up all three of its 'fingers' when the cleric asks whether or not the other item was precious.
For her final question the creature again pauses to think. Eventually it holds up one and then three fingers in a maybe...maybe not sort of response. Then shrugs.
You go through several more rounds of questioning and eventually get all you can from the simple nimblewright. As best you can discern, the Lady Gralhund gave it something during the attack on the manor. The something was important and the same object they collected during the earlier attack outside of your home. The nimblewright really doesn't know what the item is or why it's important. It only knows that is was told to stash it at the location marked on the map.
And yes, the nimblewright admits to being the one who threw the fireball bead, because it was ordered by the Lady (who gave it the necklace to begin with) to keep the item away from the man. Since it looked like he was going to get the object from the little gnome, the nimblewright had to act.
That same man was the Zhent leader Dacknar killed back at the manor. The nimblewright really has no idea why they were fighting, but both you and it guess it was over the item it carried away and hid.
"I like things of great worth. Its not like I am gonna get a real job."
Once all questioning is done with, Dacknar lets the nimblewright go.
"Go back to the temple little one, Nim misses you, you are getting into trouble out here. I believe some people are having you do bad things so that they can blame you latter for it. And if for some reason you don't want to go back to Nim. You can always work at our tavern if you want. You know the one on the same street that you threw the fire ball at."
Then Dacknar heads for the Trade Ward where 'X' marks the spot.
The little nimblewright nods its head vigorously when Dacknar suggests it return to the temple and immediately heads off in that direction.
Following the directions of the map, you make your way into the Trades Ward. A light drizzle starts to fall as a cool autumn wind blows through the city. Winding your way through the busy streets of Waterdeep you eventually come upon the narrow alley marked on the map. Walking up the slightly inclined street you suddenly see a full apple cart careening toward you.
"Look out!" Screams the tiefling boy with an eye patch precariously perched atop the clearly out of control cart.
Not being nimble enough to get out of the way. Dacknar uses his body to stop the cart.
Picking himself of the ground, Dacknar roars "What in the hells do you think you were doing boy!" Stomping over to the youth and stands over him waiting for an answer.
The boy picks himself off the ground with a slight groan. Soon enough two other children come running down the way and straight for the boy. One is a heavyset Turami boy carrying a long stick and a ragged, worn stuffed owlbear. The second is a taller, thin Illuskan girl with a wooden sword tucked into her 'belt' which is actually just a piece of rope looped through her threadbare trousers.
The girl comes up and starts waving frantically at the boy on the cart, who immediately starts making placating gestures along with saying "I'm fine. I'm fine, honest....buuut." He says the last with a nod toward the fuming Dacknar.
"We're awfully sorry sir!" Says the heavier boy in a high squeaky voice. "We didn't mean no harm. It weren't Squiddly's fault. The cart got away from us when that carriage came charging past an nearly knocked Naty flat." He grabs a handful of apples. "You can have as many as you want." He says with a worried look that is joined byt the other two nodding their agreement and adding their own pitiful, sorry faces to the mix.
Dacknar grabs an apple and bites in to it. Looking around he grows "Where's your elders young ones? And don't lie to me."
But while eating an apple his snarl looks more like a smile.
Bhoors grabs an apple as well. "Its ok Dack I don't think they meant any harm." He. winks at the child.
Bhoors looks in the direction they wagon came from. "Charging carriage? Which way did it go?"
"Elder's sir?" Says the one referred to as Squiddly, who you are pretty certain you've seen before among those recruited by Unmei. "Nah...we're on our own an' doin' just fine. Aren't we Nat?" He says turning to the young girl, who nods her head in agreement.
Squiddly shrugs at the mention of the other carriage, but the heavier boy pipes up quickly. "Oh. That was just some nobbie in a hurry. Prolly just heading back to the Castle or something."
Nat makes a face and her hands quickly flash in a set of gestures that Squiddly watches with care. After a few more seconds the boy turns back to you.
"Naty, says they were heading south." He points off toward the Southern Ward. "And she jus' happened to see one of the drivers arms, an' it was marked with that weird circle and rays tattoo a few bad folk are sportin' these days."
He then leans down and starts picking up apples. "C'mon you two. We gotta get these to old Bauser or he'll stiff us fer sure." Soon enough they have the apples picked up, back in the cart, and ready to leave.
Looking down on the street kids
"Elder Sir"? At least they have manors for street urchins
He thinks to himself.
"If you have any problems with this old Bauser swabbie. You let Unmei know and she will tell me and I will go have a talk with him, OK."
And he give a nod to Unmei
"Oh 'ave no doubt, we will sir. Miss 'as been good t' us before." The boy says, taking a bite out of one of the apples.
The other boy looks at you all with a sudden frown, "Uh...what are you doing here anyway?" He asks. "You here to see the lamp man?" He adds nodding to the open door just across the street from where you are standing.
Indeed, the house marked on the map happens to be the same one you are currently standing outside of. And where the door stands open despite the chill drizzle and autumn breeze that blows bits of leaves and litter into the dim interior.
The boy takes another bite of apple and proceeds to munch and talk at the same time. "Oh...well...crunch....munch...I thought since you were...munch...munch...crunch...standing in front o' his house." He tilts his head toward the open door. "You were 'ere to see 'im...crunch....crunch...crunch"
"What can you tell us about the man boy? And stop talking with you mouth full, it's rude.
Waiting for the boy to answer.
Crunch...cru...gulp...Errr..sorry sir." The boy says after swallowing and wiping a bit of juice from his chin. "Don't know much about 'im really. Big guy, human. He's old. Got gray hair an' everything. Nose is all bent up an' he's got a couple o' scars."
He nods toward the open door. "Like I said. He lives o'er there. Alone as far as I know." He shrugs. "That's about it I guess. He never really hassled us or said much, so didn't pay 'im much mind." The boys eyes suddenly light up a bit. "He do something? Owe you money? Steal your woman? You gonna knock 'im off? Bust him up for somethin'? Can we watch? Cause me an' Nat an Jenksie are all gonna be adventurers. We're gonna need to know how to do stuff like that."
"Ahhhh....well. Okay. I guess." He says, head and shoulders drooping into a sullen slump upon not being allowed to participate in whatever grand adventure you're having.
When Unmei asks about the Fenerus, the boy shrugs and the other boy, Jenk pipes up. "Cause he lights the lamps, of course." He says. "He lights all of the lamps is the ward, just about every night." He adds pointing at one of the street lamps out on the main street.
Unmei nods and thanks the urchins, then turns to the others and asks: "This is strange, no? Can you see a connection? Perhaps we should sit on this place a while to see what comes and what goes?"
Unmei's words still echo softly off of the ramshackle walls of the alley when the thin girl signs something to her companions.
"Oh, right! Squiddly says. "We've got to hurry. Got to get these apples delivered. We'll let you know if we run into the old man." He says grabbing the cart and pulling while the other two push from behind. Without a backward glance, they quickly disappear around down the alley and around the corner.
Moments later, a tall, graceful woman in an emerald green cloak approaches you, her long, silver hair billowing out from under her hood. "If you've come looking for Fenerus Stormcastle, I'm afraid you're too late," she says. "It appears Xanathar has gotten to him first. Fenerus had something in his possession that I desire. Perhaps you can help retrieve it."
Bhoors looks surprised a moment the flash leaves quick as he less cooly than usual settles into a casual swagger that seems his natural state. He looks to the others to gauge if they recognize her.
He gives her a smirk and warm greeting, "You have a, hand, in quite a few, silver, pots if your tangled up with Xanathar.." He gives her a quick knowing look as he emphasizes hand and silver. Making it clear that he knows who she is but will allow others to reach the conclusion or reveal herself.
"This Fenerus has fumbled into some real trouble I take it. Where do you think we might find him?" He speaks charmingly even a little flirtatious if it wasn't business-related.
"How do you know who we seek? What's it mater to you? You don't have the look of someone from down in these parts. What are you, slumming it?
Maybe you need run back home little girl before something bad happen to ye. Or sell your wares on a different street."
Dacknar is unimpressed with the harlot in the fancy clothes. And has no idea why Bhoors is wasting his time with this one.
"Dack she's trying to offer us a job. And trust me we want to take it."
"Alright,if you say so Bhoors. So what's the job?" Dacknar grumbles.
The woman initially smiles at Bhoors and his generally deferring demeanor. Her lips part to speak, but before she gets a word in Dacknar pipes up. Her reaction is quick as her initially friendly, welcoming features turn cold, hard and dark. It's surely coincidental, but at just that moment an icy gust of wind blows through the alley adding a harsh moaning sound as it whistles through and around gaps in the wooden buildings.
She looks the halforc up and down, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain for the blustering barbarian.
"You, my uncouth subject, should learn better manners. And if I didn't have more pressing manners to deal, I'd insure the watch taught them to you." She says, her voice as harsh and cold as the blowing autumn wind. "In the meantime, what I know and how I know it, is of little concern to you."
She turns back to Bhoors.
"You seem like a bright enough young person." She says. "Although that is in question, given your current companions."
"But as I was saying, the man who lives in that house likely won't be coming back." She shakes her head in mock sadness. "You see, he came into possession of something that did not belong to him. An artifact called the Stone of Golorr. Which in the right hands could reveal the location of a large cache of gold stolen by my predecessor, Dagult Neverember." She pauses for a moment, looking thoughtful. Then smiles an icy, chill smile it is clear she has made some sort of decision.
"Perhaps, rather than arresting all of you and sending you to the mines or throwing you out of the city naked and penniless, I will allow you the opportunity to make up for your friends behavior." She says to Bhoors with a glance over to Dacknar. "You see, that gold belongs to the city and I mean to see that the city get it."
"I believe the Guild have taken Fenerus and this Stone to one of their hideouts not far from here." She says leaning in a little closer to Bhoors, resting her hand on his forearm. "Now I can't be seen storming a Guild lair. Nor can the Watch. Not right now. But you could do it easily and with little political...ramifications." She straightens back up, eyes searching each of you. "So you will retrieve the stone and return it to me at the Seven Masks Theater. If you do so, then there'll be no need to remember this little...incident in any future dealing you may have within Waterdeep. What say you?"
Bhoors smiles warmly, "Well naked is always an option." He risks a wink. "Penniless just sounds cruel. The only thing I think I would need to hear what percentage is at play for our risk. And second, there has been blood on the streets and constabulary in their dutiful nature are a bit touchy about open gang wars so we'd need a signal or letter of writ or safe word to make sure the faithful lads know we are on the side of the angels." He smiles and quips "My safe word is usually 'your turns."
Looking at Bhoors and then back to the lady squinting his eyes at her.
"Who in the 9 seas R' ye? If you realize who you were talking to you might know that I am the one who teaches the watch their singing.
Just ask Master Blastwind of the watch." And gives a smile.
"Ah...ha. Hmmm. Yes. Quite prudent, I suppose." She says as Bhoors suggests some form of legal protection. Quickly pulling out a gold dragon, she proceeds to scratch an L and S into the back side of the coin.
"This is what I can do for now. Since this is supposed to be a somewhat clandestine arrangement, I'd rather not hand over a writ or some such. I'm sure you understand." She hands the coin to Bhoors. "But show this to any commander of the watch and it'll see you clear."
She rubs her chin thoughtfully for a few seconds. Then smiles at the young bard. "As for what I would offer in return...how does ten thousand gold dragons sound?" She leans in slightly, again lightly touching the bards arm with her hand. "And of course my gratitude. Which could be much more...helpful than any amount of coin."
Stepping back she nods at Unmei's blessing. "May he also shine upon you good woman."
"And as for the good Inspector Blastwind." She says, her smile disappearing as her eyes land back on Dacknar. "I'll be sure to ask him his thoughts regarding a rather shabby looking halforc who claims to have the watch in his pocket." She folds her arms across her chest. "After all, they're supposed to be in my pocket."
"Now what is your decision? Do we have a deal?" She asks, turning back to Bhoors.
"I'll roll the dice on that deal. You had any hold outs at 10k gold dragons."
"Now you mention the hide out is near here I assume that is as close to an exact location as you know?"
"Excellent. A wise choice and hopefully beneficial to all us." Laeral says with a smile. "As for the exact location of this hideout, I am not without some resources." She laughs lightly. "There is an entrance to the sewers not far from here in the Southern Ward. My informants tell me that this is where the Guild lackeys took Fenerus and the stone." She goes on to better describe the entrance and how to get there, ending by handing Bhoors a key stamped with the sigil of Waterdeep. "This key should get you past the usual city sewer gate, but nothing more I'm afraid. Whatever else they've put in place to secure their lair, you'll have to deal with on your own."
She nods her head and smiles again at Bhoors. "The city and I thank you for your brave service and I will see you at the Seven Masks."
"We will do what we can."
Bhoors turns to the others smiling wryly. He looks back to make sure they are alone again.
"Well we just moved up in the world. The lady you rightly assumed was slumming Dack was none other than Laurel Silverhand herself. Open Lord of Waterdeep. Do we have everything we want for visiting the sewers."
Listening to Bhoors, Dracknar turns to the street where the lady disappeared at.
"Ye think she might be looking for a mate?"
Taking quick stock at his gear.
"Aye,I am ready to crawl around some smelly hole in the ground. It will be like when I was growing up, before the sea took me hart."