"That is a fantastic idea Vassa. But how long do we delay?" Elon ask as he makes his way over to Silver and begins explaining everything and his spill about the Zhents.

"I have never done or wanted to do any harm to anyone from your....organization Silver. I hope I have proven that to you." Elon pauses for reaction.

"Now, lets take down these bastards!"

Selinae shrugged and raised her hands to her side, " I honestly don't know, I haven't done anything like this before.  I'm pretty sure I can get to the second floor of that place through jumping from the wall to the tree and then to the house."

Kestrell grins at the mention of the City Watch's wizard.  "My buddy Barney!  That's a fine idea.  But how do we send a delayed message?"

Nodding as he grabs a piece of parchment and quil, Vassa doesn't write anything yet, pausing before he says,

"I'm pretty sure we could give an urchin a couple of silver to deliver the message for us, say half an hour after we leave? That should give us sufficient time to get there and do our thing.

So far it looks like we have Phae and I in group one, and Kes, Elon and Sel in the second group."

Seeing Elon explain what the rest of them had been discussing to Silver and Bason, the now animated bard waits a few moments before asking,

"What do you guys think?"

Bason was listening intently to the discussion. With a shake of his chainmail, he'll say "I ain't one for sneaking. So I guess that makes me in Group 1. On think I'll note, it's okay if that bastard dies in combat, but you don't want to be a cold blooded murderer." Thinking some more. "Couldn't we just have Renaer deliver the message for us? Tell him to go and let the authority know we are trying to find more evidence. He's probably going to be more reliable than a random urchin." 

Quote from joe >>

Bason was listening intently to the discussion. With a shake of his chainmail, he'll say "I ain't one for sneaking. So I guess that makes me in Group 1. On think I'll note, it's okay if that bastard dies in combat, but you don't want to be a cold blooded murderer." Thinking some more. "Couldn't we just have Renaer deliver the message for us? Tell him to go and let the authority know we are trying to find more evidence. He's probably going to be more reliable than a random urchin." 

About that time Renaer and Lif come up from the basement together, "It might be a stretch but I can try to be reliable this time. By the way, really nice job on the basement!"

"Awesome, Bason. And very much agreed on not murdering anyone... I'm more the hot blooded sort anyway, to be honest. I'd be happy to take Urstul on in a tango contest, but I highly doubt that he'd agree to my terms.

Great idea about Raener as well. You just saved me two whole silver pieces, my friend."

Vassa winks at Bason, then hearing Raener come up and seeing him with Lif, Vassa quips back at the noble,

"Isn't the new basement great? If you could help us out with the Watch and the Order of Magists, that would be fantastic, Raener. Just don't get kidnapped on the way, mate. We've got enough reasons to tango with both the Zhents and Xanastafarians. We don't need your rescue added to the list... again, that is."

Feeling a little sad as he always does when looking at the transluscent barkeep's ghost, the bard has another impulsive urge. Walking over to the bar, Vassa asks Silver and Elon,

"Hey guys... what are the symbols of Xanather's Guild and the Zhentarim?"

[OOC] If Silver and Elon tell him what they are, Vassa will draw the symbols on a sheet of parchment and place it in front of Lif to see if the barman's ghost reacts in anyway. insight check if needed: 9

OOC: Silver and Elon:

Zhent's

 Xanathar's

Silver holds up his hand in a motion to wait "So we want to go into this estate and take down baddies. This may end up with us murdering someone and we then want to send a sign confession letter to a member of the watch...I'm just trying to ensure that I understand the suggested plan is potentially murdering a noble, who we have circumstantial evidence against at best and then send a sign confession with said evidence to the watch. Can I suggest we just don't send the letter period, if it got out then just think about the enemies we would draw our way also. I would say if we want to send a message, wait until shit has officially hit the fan and we'll take all the physical evidence we have and put it somewhere in the manor only we will know where to find. I'll be in the group that sneaks into the house and looks around." he just takes a swig of his drink as he looks around at them.

He looks over to Elon and then everyone else as the man brings up his organization "What organization would that be?" as Vassa asks him to draw the Xanathar's guild sign he just sighs pulling out some ink as he begins to draw a circle with ten spokes pointing out "Common knowledge that it looks like this."

Vassa just steadily watches and calmly listens to Silver as the dangerous rogue speaks of his concerns regarding the possibility of being arrested for murder. When his fellow half-drow draws Xanathar's sigil, the bard's mouth forms a smile, but the warmth in that smile doesn't quite reach the charismatic man's violet eyes. Nodding his thanks, the musician slides the drawing in front of the ghostly Lif, who he watches closesly for any reaction. As he does so, he says quietly but clearly enough for all in the room to hear,

"That won't be a concern, Silver, because we will not be murdering anyone, least of all one of the Gralhunds. If Urstul resists our efforts to take him to the watch for questioning, we will insist based on the evidence that we have collected. If we use only the proportionate amount of  non-lethal force necessary to achieve this goal and a confrontation ensues that somehow claims a life, it should prove a matter of self-defence on our part. At the very least, by notifying the authorities and acting in such a fashion, we gain some level of reasonable deniability. If we wait until we are caught in an act of wrong-doing or accusations are leveled against us before offering up our information, we simply look like criminals trying to avoid culpability.

As for the risk of garnering more enemies, who do you speak of? Manshoon's Zhents and the Xanathar thugs who are kidnapping and killing people in the streets are already our foes... are they not? We will surely add the Gralhunds to that list as soon as we intrude upon their Estate... unless we were to try to sneak in, assassinate Urstul and steal the Stone of Golorr with no one the wiser. But that would be murder, plain and simple. Is that what you are proposing we do?"

"I'm proposing we go in and look for more evidence. To be fair I came in late on the explanation of what physical evidence we have to tie this person to the crime. If they are responsible for the attack, then we should move our operation to be more of a thieves moment in stealing the stone. Getting out and not shedding blood, only to drop the evidence on the front steps of the watch with a note saying its from an anonymous source. We are a tavern, not a credentialed militia any act that we take that steps foot on the guard, no matter how much good we may do - will only lead to our arrest as vigilantes. The second we cross the estate gates uninvited, we are trespassing and so if this person kills us or injures us. This individual can have us arrested and all we can do is throw out accusations that won't stand because they're rich enough to have an estate which means they have coin to bribe all the right people or have dirt to blackmail their mouths shut. All I'm saying is we need to be careful, or else all of our stories will be coming to an end very shortly - and I still have something I need to repay before I die."

Silver just looked around at his companions, wondering which one would actually be able to commit a crime if they needed to. He just sighed into the cup as it lifted to his mouth "Look - if we want this to be successful, the best person to take all of this information would be Renaer. He could take it right to the leader of the watch and display the concerns he has, saying that he has hired a team of investigators to gather more evidence before they act. This would at least buy us some sort of protection, though it would also then be putting Renaer's neck on the line for us. Second, you all need to be ready if something goes wrong to draw blood and not have any reservations about it because they sure as hell won't. Finally..."  Silver grabs enough glasses for each person and some rose wine pouring it in and setting it on a table "We need to ensure that if any of us get caught we are willing to go to the grave to protect each other. Renaer won't give our names up, neither will any of us. This is our pact to each other shared over a drink, to protect each other no matter the cost. If you want we can add a little blood, but that seems a little weird to me and like it might spread something. We need to ensure that we can trust each other."

"I think we're actually on the same page here, Silver, at least to some extent. Raener goes and convinces the Order and the Watch of our good intentions. We go in trying for the best outcome, but prepared for the worst. There is certainly a lot of risk involved for all of us, no doubting or down playing that. But those burned bodies were scattered outside our home and the target of that attack was on his way to see us. And after our previous run ins with both guilds, I honestly believe that we're involved in this gang war business whether we like it or not. But as you rightly point out, at least we're in this together."

While the cautious look doesn't quite fade from Vassa's face, his tone warms a little as he reaches for a glass, looking Silver directly in the eye as he raises the wine to his lips, pausing only to say before he drinks without hesitation,

"We all have each others backs and no one gets left behind or given up for lost. To trust!"

Quote from vassasunstar >>

"Awesome, Bason. And very much agreed on not murdering anyone... I'm more the hot blooded sort anyway, to be honest. I'd be happy to take Urstul on in a tango contest, but I highly doubt that he'd agree to my terms.

Great idea about Raener as well. You just saved me two whole silver pieces, my friend."

Vassa winks at Bason, then hearing Raener come up and seeing him with Lif, Vassa quips back at the noble,

"Isn't the new basement great? If you could help us out with the Watch and the Order of Magists, that would be fantastic, Raener. Just don't get kidnapped on the way, mate. We've got enough reasons to tango with both the Zhents and Xanastafarians. We don't need your rescue added to the list... again, that is."

Feeling a little sad as he always does when looking at the transluscent barkeep's ghost, the bard has another impulsive urge. Walking over to the bar, Vassa asks Silver and Elon,

"Hey guys... what are the symbols of Xanather's Guild and the Zhentarim?"

[OOC] If Silver and Elon tell him what they are, Vassa will draw the symbols on a sheet of parchment and place it in front of Lif to see if the barman's ghost reacts in anyway. insight check if needed: 9

 Elon quickly draws a snake with wings and slides it over to Vassa.

Raising his glass "I will drink to that Silver. All for one and all that jazz"

Bason will raise a glass as well. "To trust!" He will down his drink with the others. Then he will add. "But seriously, let's not get arrested." 

Renaer claps his hands, "Great! Now, what do you need me to do?"

Quote from WebGambit >>

Renaer claps his hands, "Great! Now, what do you need me to do?"

 
"Thanks for that, Elon.

Lif - do either of these symbols mean anything to you? Do you know them or have you seen them before?"

Vassa slides the drawing of the Zhentarim symbol in front of Lif, alongside that of the Xanathar symbol, watching the ghost closely as he does so to see if the spectral barman reacts in anyway.

Regardless of the result with Lif (if any), the bard looks around at the group to see if there are any additional additions or objections to the plan, before saying to Raener, 

"Wait long enough for us to get to the Gralhund Estate, before going to Barney Windblast, informing the mage that the party has gone to the estate to make a citizens arrest of Urstul in order to bring him in to the watch for questioning over the lethal explosion yesterday. Tell Barney that Urstul is a confirmed Zhent assassin belonging to one of the factions responsible for all the deaths in Waterdeep's streets of late, that he was seen searching one of the burnt bodies and fleeing the scene where the murder weapon was found and that his presence was confirmed at the Gralhund Estate.

And if the mage asks why we didn't go first to him with this information instead of to the estate, tell him that having witnessed the deaths so close outside our own door and having previously encountered some of the villainous powers involved in this attrocity, we felt that it was our duty as citizens of Waterdeep to act in order to prevent further possible murders, while at the same time informing the lawful authorities of what we know.

Got all of that?"

Selinae shrugged and drank, " Just tell me what to do. I've not done this sort of thing before.. But I'm 99% sure I can get into that Estate no problem."

Quote from vassasunstar >>

Lif - do either of these symbols mean anything to you? Do you know them or have you seen them before?"

Vassa slides the drawing of the Zhentarim symbol in front of Lif, alongside that of the Xanathar symbol, watching the ghost closely as he does so to see if the spectral barman reacts in anyway.

Lif looks at the paper and then he starts trying to mime out something. Then stops, waves never mind and then motions for someone to hand him a pen. It appears to take a lot of focus, even causing Lif to dim a bit, but Lif writes on the paper "No bother me. I no bother them. Their money good."

Quote from vassasunstar >>

Regardless of the result with Lif (if any), the bard looks around at the group to see if there are any additional additions or objections to the plan, before saying to Raener, 

"Wait long enough for us to get to the Gralhund Estate, before going to Barney Windblast, informing the mage that the party has gone to the estate to make a citizens arrest of Urstul in order to bring him in to the watch for questioning over the lethal explosion yesterday. Tell Barney that Urstul is a confirmed Zhent assassin belonging to one of the factions responsible for all the deaths in Waterdeep's streets of late, that he was seen searching one of the burnt bodies and fleeing the scene where the murder weapon was found and that his presence was confirmed at the Gralhund Estate.

And if the mage asks why we didn't go first to him with this information instead of to the estate, tell him that having witnessed the deaths so close outside our own door and having previously encountered some of the villainous powers involved in this attrocity, we felt that it was our duty as citizens of Waterdeep to act in order to prevent further possible murders, while at the same time informing the lawful authorities of what we know.

Got all of that?"

Renaer nods, "Got it. Try to be as safe as you can. We don't know how many Zhents are in there besides Urstul."

Quote from WebGambit >>

 

Lif looks at the paper and then he starts trying to mime out something. Then stops, waves never mind and then motions for someone to hand him a pen. It appears to take a lot of focus, even causing Lif to dim a bit, but Lif writes on the paper "No bother me. I no bother them. Their money good."

Renaer nods, "Got it. Try to be as safe as you can. We don't know how many Zhents are in there besides Urstul."

 
Vassa merely smiles and shrugs at Lif's response, figuring that it was worth a shot.

Nodding at Raener's warning, the bard will reply,

"Good point. We'll try not to get ourselves killed. You just worry about convincing ol' Barney boy that we're doing the right thing and worth coming to the aid of. Depending on how this goes down, we may find ourselves in need of some cavalry."

[OOC] Vassa will check his gear and wait for the rest of the group to be ready, then when the group moves out on their way to the Gralhund Estate, Vassa will check the road behind them and the rooftops, keeping an eye out for any sign of a tail: perception check: 3

"Alright, I'm ready.  We look for evidence and we try to apprehend.  Only killing in self defense." 

Kestrell gears up and follows Vassa.