Bhoors tilts his head and whispers to his companions,"Bhoors Thistledown and Company. No it's not the right ring to it."
Bhoors chuckles.
The guard waves you forward and gestures down the hallway toward a stairwell leading down. Passing a few more closed doors labeled, Magistate and another Guards. You also get a glimpse of a large room filled witb a variety of people sitting on hard benches. At the front of the room on a raised platform behind a large wooden desk is a heavy set woman in her middle years. She wears a wig long, coiled gray hair and raps and iron stone upon a piece of granite.
"By the light of the gods, I call this court to order. May the scales of be weighed here today with integrity, honesty...." She continues on as the guard moves you past the door and down the stairs to a dimmer corridor of stone. Here the halls are narrower and more oppressive in there stone and iron sturdiness. You work your way down a long corridor of prison doors. Great, thick wooden barriers with face sized grills of iron. Eventually the guard stops and unlocks one of the doors pulling it open and gesturing for you to enter.
Inside is a dank, little cell, no more than 10 feet wide by 15 feet long. A nasty, straw lined pallet lies across the far wall, while a foul smelling bucket sits near the door. Sitting on the pallet, is an thin half elf with graying hair, bad teeth, with the tip of his left ear missing. He offers you wary look, meeting you with narrowed gray eyes as the gaurd speaks up.
"Visitors, Stormcastle. Guess you still have some friends on the outside afterall." Chuckling at his own sense of humor the man closes the door behind you and takes up a position just outside.
Continuing to look at you with suspicion, Fenerus Stormcastle spits to the side of pallet and says in a ragged angry voice.
By the Nine Hells, who're you lot and what d'you want with me?"
"Good to see you as well." Bhoors offers a wry smile. "You really fracked up." He shakes his head. "I mean you got rolled up by the watch. While your mixed up with Drow. Wow." He smiles and claps sarcastically. "You are not very good at this are you."
His demeanor softens. "I would say you must be s%$@eing yourself but I can smell the buck." He offers a look of sincere concern. "Seriously working with drow just slows down the pace at which they'll kill you." He looks around, "What guard is paid off. What other prisoner is a glamoured shanker. Woo. Dizzies the mind."
Bhoors squats down to get a better look at the man. "I have a feeling you are a small player in this. When its all over. You are likely not public enemy number one. Now sure you might not be looking at the chop block but will they care that you are languishing here. If I were you. I would look for how I could be beneficial to however actually finds the stone and to the city itself. We offer that connection. We aren't officials so you're not a rat. But we also have access like this to come and speak to you and put in a good word in the end."
"So why are we hearing that you are the man to talk to about the Stone of Galorr?"
Fenerus nods his begrudding thanks for Unmei's ministrations, but simply leans back and folds his arms across his chest when Bhoors brings up the stone. His lips form a thin smile as he suddenly seems more confident.
"Well, I guess that's cause I'm the only one who knows where it is." He says smugly. "An' I figured it wouldn't be long afore someone came knocking and lookin' to bargain for that bit o' knowledge." He leans back up against the wall. "Now I don't know nothin' about any drow, but wouldn't surprise me if a few of the elven freaks aren't lurkin' about trying to nab the gold. I don't care really. All I want it a free ride outta here and enough coin to set me up good somewhere far from here. Got my eye on a little villa down in the south, so I'd say five thousand dragons aught to do the trick." He puts his arms back behind his head. "Really it's a pittance compared to what you're goin' after."
"Hmm. So you know where it is and not going to share the info unless bribed." He shakes his head. "We aren't in a back room of a seedy tavern. Despite the smell, this ain't the sewers apparently everyone hangs around in. I mean that sort of talk on your side of the law here that triggers words like 'legal culpability,' 'liable for damages,' and the really fancy one, 'ACCESSORY'."
He looks empathetically grim. "You are horrible at negotiations currently. I mean we can leave you here in case any of our other leads pan out. I mean that offer you are jangling out there no doubt you made it to the other legal types. Ones who pride themselves on not negotiating with criminals. You have nothing those in power want to hear. However, your former associates will certainly know your ready to rat. Now while you are horrible at negotiations maybe your willing to gamble. Why don't you tell us about the stone? If we recover the stone and naturally the loads and loads of Dragons. We can make sure your information is mentioned to the legal types, and we can give you the money you want. Heck, it's a gamble if we find it we'll break you off 7,500."
He leans back and waves his had batting aside arguments like they are in the air between them, "I know how can you trust us blah blah blah. Who knows who cares. Your negotiations getting you nowhere. Gamble on us. I promise we are nicer than drow. If we succeed you get a shot at free air and enough for your villa down south. If we fail you've lost nothing." He points at Unmei, "Would she let me lead you on?"
A few beads of sweat pop up across Stormcastle's forehead as he contemplates Bhoors' offer and the implications of others who might know of his knowledge concerning the stone. Thinking the matter over for some time, he eventually comes to a decision.
"Well now. That's a mighty pretty offer you're makin', and fool I may be, but total fool I ain't." He says working things through in his mind as he speaks. "You still aren't getting anything outta me as long as I'm sittin' in this cell. I know it's my only ticket out and I ain't wastin' it spillin' the beans before I'm outside o' these walls."
He taps a weathered, knotty knuckled hand on his knee. "There's a magistrate right up there." He points up to the ceiling. "Right up there mind you, who can let me go right now. If you're so all connected, you get her to set me loose and scrub my record and I'll show you where the stone is hid." He leans back. "Otherwise, I'll try my chances with the system. I doubt you lot are the only ones with connections and strings t' pull an' money to spread around. And that big pot o' gold can buy a whole lot o' good will."
"So....do we have a deal or not?" Stormcastle grunts looking back and forth from Bhoors to Unmei to the stoic looking warriors behind them. "You get the magistrate to let me out. Then I tell you where the stone's hid and you give me the gold if you manage to find the hoard."
Bhoors moves away and turns to face the opposite wall. He ignores the man and looks at Unmei, he moves close and talks softly, "If I make arrangements with the guard to be 'less attentive' and how hard can we push. I don't want to do anything deadly perse' but it might need to be healed."
Bhoors agrees. "I bet that's the last time you say that."
Bhoors moves toward where the guard is. He signs and looks at the guard. "I don't envy you. Protecting these guys." He offers an empathetic 'stuff you must have seen' look. "Look this guy is a scumbag we both know that. I mean look what his type are doing to the city. Open bloodshed in the streets." He shakes his head at the thought of these current times. "I hope you and your fellows have avoided the recent troubles unscathed. That one there. He's even wanted by the drow. Fracking Bregan D'earth I wouldn't want to be guarding him. Sooner all this is done the better." He offers a sincere look of empathy knowing that the recent events have put the guard in harm's way.
Bhoors leans closer, "Hypothetically, if one were to promise that when you see him again he won't have any lasting hurt would such a one be able to continue this conversation uninterrupted. Despite the scumbag loudly expressing displeasure. One is aware such things may or may not be available and certainly understands that such requests if accepted warrant compensation from the party granting such access."
Talking to Stormcastle,
"You should take us on our offer, I have been in here many times and the guards have a habit of not caring when the inmates start to scream in pain." Dacknar leans forward into Stormcastle and says "The drow know all about pain, they will get that information from you one way or another."
The guard listens to Bhoors, barely batting an eye at the bard but then gives the half-elf a quick nod and wink.
"Aye! What's that? Hold on I'll be right there." He says down the hall where no one stands. Turning back to Bhoors he whispers "You've got a quarter of a bell. Let's see the color of your dragons."
Stormcastle tries to watch the bard, but has his view blocked by Dacknar's big frame. Sliding away from the half-orc. Fenerus throws his hands up in the air. "Look, I really want to help you. I do. But if I tell you where the stone is now, what guarantee do I have you'll get me outta here? Get me out, I talk. Simple." He folds his arms across his chest stubbornly. "Maybe you don't have the pull with the upper ups that you say you do. And what good will beatin' me up do you? Knock me out, I can't tell you where it is? Kill me, the stone's gone fer good. Ain't nobody gonna find it. After all, I ain't daft enough to just leave it layin' around easy for any old wizard or thief to stumble upon."
Unmei gives Stormcastle a motherly smile and says: "Well, it looks like we're at an impasse, for we too lack assurances that you will reveal the location of the stone once you are freed. What do you suggest we do? Perhaps we should trust one another, yes? I, for one, promise, you, as a priest of Lathander, that we will honour our part of the bargain. Surely, the word of a priest should be enough, yes?"
Bhoors slips the man 50 gold. "As much time as you can spare."
Bhoors shrugs as if he just lost 50 gold. "Well if it works it will save me the shame of what I am going to do next."
"Its a gamble for sure friend but we will have a lot more pull to get you free if we return with the goods. And have the word of a Lightbringer"
Bhoors crosses the room slowly. "We tried honey. He might try to run Dak keep him still." Bhoors begins a slow haunting chant. The prisoner begins to hear the whispers of his most dark fears.
The man looks back and forth between Unmei, Bhoors and Dacknar and eventually his shoulders sag and he simply nods his head resigning himself to a bad bargain made in a bad situation.
"Fine... He says to Unmei. "I'll trust you to hold your word priestess." He glares around the room, not completely broken yet. "But if you double cross me, I'll find some way to even the score."
He then goes on to describe where he hid the stone. "It's in an old ruined tower off of Lackpurse Street in the Dock Ward. Two story, stone thing about three buildings south of The Reach on the seaward side of the street. Place has been abandoned for years." He runs a hand through scraggly hair. "You should find the stone in the old pot on the second floor."
He leans back, closing his eyes. "Now go get what you want and remember our deal." He says appearing tired and worn down.
Bhoors smiles and moves toward the cell door. He is pleased at the result. Tymora wow. Thank you. I am glad things rolled this way."
"Ye made a wise choice friend." Dacknar tells Stormcastle.
And heads out the cell.
Once outside Dacknar tells the group "Why do I have a feeling that the tower is not as abandoned as he makes out."
"Its Waterdeep. I lived in abandoned places for years."
It takes a few moments for the guard to return and escort you back out of the cells and back up to the clerk of the court. He quickly and efficiently signs you out and is happy to send you are your way.
It is a bit of a trek from the courthouse south to the Dock Ward. The route circles takes you all the way around Mt. Waterdeep and Castle Waterdeep. Passing near to the castle, the crowds thin a bit as most of the cities activity and economy revolve around other districts.
But that pleasant break from the press and smell of crowds is soon gone as you enter the Dock Ward and its churning mass of sailors, merchants, laborers, thieves, and all other manner of folk trading, traveling, or simply trying to scrape out a living in Waterdeep.
After a few wrong turns and needing to ask directions once or twice, you eventually find what must be Stormcastle's abandoned tower. The old ruin stands on a small plot of land along the southern base of Mt. Waterdeep. Tall weeds grow unchecked in what must have once been the front garden. The entrance to the tower stands open, the door having long since been removed or fallen away during some storm.
Unmei takes in the sight of the abandoned tower and comments: "What a piece of work... Let's just hope it doesn't collapse on our bones..." and she then makes her way casually through the front entrance.
Bhoors looks about and follows.
Dacknar looks around outside to see if anyone is taking notice of the party then walks in.
Neither Bhoors or Dacknar spot anything out of the ordinary as Unmei steps into the tower. The dimly lit interior looks much like what you'd expect an abandoned tower in a large city to look like. Mud, dirt and trash line the floor and sits piled in the corners of the vestibule. A few rotted and moth eaten tapestries hang on the walls of the fifteen by forty room. Another door sits open across the way where you can see the bottom of a spiral stairway in the next room.
Bhoors carefully moves checking for anything amiss.
Dacknar makes his way up the steps. Trying to be as quiet as possible.
You pass through the vestibule and into the main chamber of the lower floor. A stone staircase spirals up and down into a cellar below.
A soot blackened fireplace is along with west wall and contains mostly old refuse and charred scrapes of wood. A busted up leather chair sits nearby, its padding and frame of little use except as nests for mice or rats.
Bhoors raises his finger to his lips. He points up. He mouths the words exaggeratedly whispering, "We are not alone."
He draws his swords.
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The group tries to slip quietly up the stairs. Leading the way, Unmei moves up the spiraling stairs but slips on a wet, moss covered stone where dripping rainwater from the leaky roof has decided to gather. Fortunately Dacknar is there to catch her as she slips backwards. Unfortunately, Bhoors was not ready for the sudden stop and reversal. While catching Unmei and being forced back a step, the half-orc's elbow catches the oncoming bard right below the eye. This elicits a loud yelp and a metallic clatter that rings loudly through the tower as one of the bard's swords slips from his hand and rattles its way down several steps.
Bhoors looks shocked and moves to grab his sword.
After getting Unmei back on her feet Dacknar puts his finger to his lips "Shhhh."
And keeps making his way up the steps. As he strains his ears to pick out the sounds from upstairs.
Bhoors looks wounded gesturing to where she had slipped.
Dacknar doesn't hear anything further as he cautiously approaches the top of the steps. Peering into the large circular room that's covers the entire thirty five foot diameter of the tower, Dacknar easily spots two drow in the light provided by the wide, evenly spaced arrow slots that circle the chamber. One kneels near the big fireplace to the west of the stairway. Currently he's reaching into the old iron pot dangling from the cooking hook. The second is standing nearby alongside the charred remains of an old cobweb-covered bookcase holding a crossbow pointed right at the top of the stairs. With a nasty grin the dark elf pulls the trigger and the thwack of the string echoes through the chamber.
"Hurry up. Get it and let's get out of here." The one near the case hisses to the other as his bolt hits Dacknar right in the left shoulder with a loud thud.
Bhoors sings a quick snippet about the lights of faeries in the dark and rushes the drow near the pot.