Hustling out into the cold afternoon air, Mitchell, Kurgan and Jasper see Talliree at the intersection with the nearby street, saying goodbye to a grey haired man.
She catches sight of the other three, and runs up, "Whew, do I and Mr Whiskers have a story for you! " she says, about to start in on a long winded tale, but comes up short seeing Mitchell's serious face, " What's wrong? " she asks.
"The Blackstaff? That...that's an interesting situation." Jasper muttered, rubbing at his chin lightly. He gave a look towards Mitchell, one that was of both excitement and concern. The most recent inheritor of the position was an interesting woman and to have gained her notice was a curious thing. Perhaps he should've been a little more cautious before joining this venture. It was too late to reconsider now, giving a shrug of his shoulders.
"I will dress in my uniform's best. We must dress to impress, after all." It only took a bit of time before Jasper returned dressed in his uniform; a sleek black trimmed in gold that sat well with his armor. Nodding to the others, he would follow Mitchell out into the streets. At the intersection, they stumbled onto Talliree once again. A wide smile spread across the halfling's face as he rocked back and forth on his feet.
"We were summoned by the Blackstaff, a Miss Vajra Safahr. It should be quite an experience to meet the Archmage of Waterdeep." The excitement was palpable in Jasper's words as he looked back down the street. "Go and change into your very best, you can tell us about what happened when you get back."
"Yeah. What he said... hurry".
Talliree looks down at herself and exclaims, "But this is my very best "
She falls into step with the others as they trek across the city to Castle Ward, regaling them with an account of the mouse circus she watched with Mr Whiskers, then muttering something about visiting another tavern...to see how they did things.
The day is blustery, but not too cold, especially as the group pushes through the bustling crowds filling the Market.
At the far end lay Blackstaff Tower, a squat black blot in the otherwise pretty ward, it's curtain wall of black stone holding back the city a space.
Humble though the edifice might be, looking at the place for too long can give you a queasy feeling and the sense that you are being watched- almost as if the tower itself has turned an unseen and wrathful eye upon you.
Getting closer, the group can see that the gate lay open, made up of ironwork depicting wands and staves interwoven with vines.
Stepping through the gate, the group sees a cobbled courtyard surrounding one half of the mostly featureless tower, the other half a garden...still in bloom despite the time of year.
An attendant, or perhaps an apprentice approaches and stops nearby, "May I inquire as to your purpose here?" he asks politely.
"But of course my good man. I am Sir Mitchell Cloudkeep, and we have been summoned to attend promptly by the Blackstaff. Here is the missive if you need to verify".
The attendant nods and accepts the message, giving it a quick look, "Excellent. One moment..."
He makes a fluttering motion with his hand and looks towards the tower, a look of concentration on his face. After a moment or two, he nods, then turns back, "She is attending to another matter at the moment, but has bidden me to escort you to her waiting room. Please follow me."
The man leads you directly to the prominent door at the bottom of the tower, opening the door and passing through.
Following, you experience a moment of disorientation as the room you entered is larger than the outside of the tower. The attendant waits for you at another door nearby.
He opens it for you and again a moment of disorientation as it seems as though for a moment a number of different rooms were on the other side of the door, until a comfortable sitting room lay before you.
"Please wait for my Master here, enjoy the refreshments on the table. She will be with you shortly."
Mitchell helps himself to the offered refreshments, but continues to stand.
Kurgan plopped down onto a seat and helped himself to the refreshments. "Always good to sample what the nobility enjoys." He said with a smile, taking personal and professional interest in the offerings.
"oooOOOooo, refreshments!" Jasper says eagerly, moving alongside his friends to grab a large handful of refreshments before eagerly engorging himself on the food. He hoped into a nearby seat, his feet hanging off of the edge as he waited.
Mitchell observes the others eating with gusto. After an indeterminate amount of time he observes.
"Just like important people. Push you to get here as soon as possible, then leave you waiting forever".
The refreshments are of quite good quality, and provide sufficient distraction until the door you entered through opens and a woman steps through, behind her a garden in which a few apprentices are using rakes to beat down a very mobile plant.
With a wry look behind, the woman closes the door, "Forgive my tardiness, the old Blackstaff had a love of exotic plants...some of them dangerous!"
She smiles, looking at Mitchell and Taliree, then frowns when she notices Jasper and Kurgan. Tapping her chin she mutters, "Missing two...". She shakes her head and smiles again at Mitchell, "Forgive my manners, I am Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff. Be welcome!" she says, extending her hand to each in turn.
Kurgan raised a drink. "Oi, to yer health!" He said, then downed it with a smile, reached out and took her hand and gave it a firm shake. "How can we be of assistance?"