Killilli’s Dragon Heist

Upon seeing the dray, horse, and human, Kerri smiles a little and runs trying to catch up.

Aimee smiles broadly at the two human monks and then the not-Cico,

"Hi, I'm Aimee, formerly an acolyte of Oghma! Lady Safahr wanted to see me! I'm here!"

She smiles expectantly.

Lyss beams at Aldrick's introduction of her.

"That's right, I'm great! Hero and business owner before the age of... being old! I don't need no babysitter, but if you've a job you need a hero for, you can talk to your brother about hiring me, might even give you a friends and family discount."
She wags a finger at the Reinholdt sister.
"But that's not a guarantee, and you'd have to ask very nicely."

"Yes Mister Nevercott, the guy at the door didn't like my work clothes and said I could only come in if we came up here and I got changed into something... nicer..."

Her boisterous demeanor changes as she takes in Nevercott's finery and frippery and realizes she's likely get crammed into the sort of outfit Aldrick was teasing her about.

Aimee - As an awkward silence lingers, you realise these are no monk robes. They are embroidered with arcane sigils, satchel bags of books slung over each of their shoulders. They stare at you wordlessly for a moment. Now that waiter, HE seems to be wearing monk robes, pretty odd that. 

Cico, atop the stairs, footsteps behind you. You see Aimee propositioning two silent mages down a hallway to your right. The hallway to your left has a door guarded by a single cleft chinned half-orc, his muscles threatening to burst out of his impeccable suit. His eyes lock with yours briefly, as he looks you up and down.

Kerri, you have to go a little bit of a round about way to get out of the estate and just see the dray turning a corner down the road as you make it out. Athletics(Con) check to chase it down unless you have a flavour that might change that.

In Amelia’s room - Nevercott’s eyes widen at the idea of dressing Lyss. “Yes, it would be a pleasure, I have some quite extravagant ideas I’m sure you’d love. If you would care to step into my wardrobe.”

”Not so fast.” Amelia interrupts “You drive quite a hard bargain Lady Lysslin, you must be an impressive hero indeed. Let’s hear what Eddie thinks of our brothers plans. In your…. Honest opinion.”

Aimee is used to this reaction and just stands smiling back at the wizard guy. If it goes for too long,

"Go ask her! She'll know me! Probably best before she needs to go gamble!"

Edvord has appeared a bit reserved and guarded during conversation with Amelia. In response to the sister's greeting, Edvord merely responded, "Unfortunately father has roles for some of us to fill, I already regret my return to Waterdeep... but you know of such burdens." As the conversation drags on Edvord quietly stands in the corner of the room unmoving, listening, and thinking.

Edvord glares at Amelia for a brief moment after she imitates his stutter-stop speech pattern. "Aldrik may usually be ham-fisted... but the plan is sound. Undoubtedly, we each have our own reasons for attending this establishment tonight, but I don't believe our goals are in conflict... today. I have observed Lyss to be sufficiently beguiling... when she can keep her hands to herself. At that statement Edvord shoots Lyss a look trying to impress the importance of not ruining the evening for his sister. "In return, all we ask for are a few unique perches from which we can discretely follow up on some loose threads."

"And... I... think... Lyss... is ... awesome.. too.", Lyss prompts in a gruff approximation of Edvord's voice.

Cico looks from the half-orc to Aimee, and then closes his eyes for a moment.

He opens his eyes, and heads towards the half-orc guard.

"These are the canapes ordered for this room," Cico says to the guard.

Edvord waits for a moment when the eyes in the room turn away from him. Taking the utmost caution to ensure noone else in the room sees the gesture, Edvord slowly turns his head towards Lyss, briefly sticks his tongue out at the halfling, and winks.

The well dressed half-orc looks Cico up and down, “You’re dressed funny for a waiter…” his eyes flit from side to side as be bends over and sniffs your tray suspiciously, keeping firm eye contact. Out of the corner of your eye you see a waiter at the top of the stairs watching you tensely .

Aimee, you hear a voice in your head ”Enter.” As the two mages open the doors to you. A plainly dressed human woman in her mid thirties sits at a writing desk, clutching a black rune carved staff cut with silver veins as she writes in a  thick tome. She doesn’t look up as she greets you abruptly. “ I did not call you here, though I’m impressed you’ve made it in. What is your business?”

Amelia waves a hand dismissively, ”Very well then. After all, we Reinholdts always stick together or whatever the motto is. Though, if you make a fool of me I will tell papa and he will end you. Hmmkay.” She snickers a little. ”Of course, if there’s anything I can help with so you can get on with your plans…. elsewhere in he city, I would love to help.” 

Nevercott gestures for Lyss to follow him into a large walk in wardrobe.

Kerri is running after the dray, darting through crowds of pedestrians 19 she makes it to the corner just in time as the dray is dropping off a customer, preparing to drive away. 

Edvord thinks for a moment on whether he should reveal more to Amelia, but he then remembers an intriguing comment Mirt made and is unable to resist. "Well... there is a minor matter. One of Aldrik's more connected drinking buddies, Mirt the Moneylender, seemed to know you... or at least know of you. Aldrik and his compatriots were trying to obtain a loan from him to repair their tavern but the terms were... most unfavorable. Assuming you know the man, I was wondering if you had any ideas on how to even the scales."

Aimee thinks a moment then gives a little curtsy before saying,

"Oh, I misunderstood! Some guy in black robes at one of the gates said that the blackstaff wanted to see me even though I was a kid and didn't know half as much as he did! I figured now was a good time, since you were here and I was here! Otherwise, I'm mostly here trying to get a loan to renovate my new, old, tavern but that doesn't have anything to do with you! Oh, and I like your boots!"

"Also, Ames, I'm impressed you managed to get yourself in the middle of the group of the Ladies of Waterdeep. Blackstaff and Silverhand, even! How'd you manage that? And... what is your own gameplan, so we avoid stepping on any overly-manicured toes?" Aldrik asks his sister.

Lyss gives Edvord a surprised grin, before accompanying Mr. Nevercott.

Vajra continues her writing , “Yes, I’d wanted to poach you for a while from those old librarians at the temple. Someone of your potential could grow very powerful studying at the Blackstaff Academy. Particularly with your natural magic. I know first hand that old male wizards can be particularly bitter seeing a young woman with innate powers do well, but my Khelben was different. I aim for my academy to give the support I was lucky enough to have, the doors are open to you if you please.” She closes her book, finally looking at Aimee. “Since you are here, I have a task for you. I will remind you that it is your duty as a member of the Watchful Order to assist when called upon. Your new friend, the outsider, he should be making a pilgrimage soon. Go with him, you will find a soothsayer. Ask what dangers face the city.”

Amelia rolls her eyes at the mention of Mirt, “Careful now, that man’s far more capable than he lets on. He has no shame and fears nothing so you won’t blackmail him easily. I heard rumours he’s a Masked Lord. My advice would be to do all you can to get him on your side.” she breaths a sigh of relief when Aldrik finally brings the subject onto her. “Oh, me? No it’s nothing. I only made very good friends with Lady Haventree, she let’s me call her Remi. She’s taken me under her wing, so to speak. Only problem is she’s into all of this ‘helping the poor’ business, which is a bore. Tonight my brothers, you can watch and learn as I light up the room with my charm endearing the open lord herself to me. I can’t go winning, everyone will be bitter, but if I lose too bad I’ll look silly - it’s a fine balancing act.”

"Truly a heart of gold. Well, like I said, perhaps Lyss's presence can help endear 'Remi' to you as much as it can help us. Tell her it was your idea, if you like, us taking her in. Hells, maybe she'd even want to meet Lyss herself, a brave kid with a bright future."

Aldrik strokes his goatee in thought. "Keep this on the down-low. We are looking for a thief. Something of Mirt's late wife was stolen - a little statue of sentimental value. The clues lead us here. Tell me, while in the setup for this game, did you run across the owner of the Mermaid? Or anyone who's fashion sense is overly blue?"

 For Lyss

Cico cocks his head a little to one side and returns the appraisal as he looks the half-orc up and down.

"The food is clean," Cico says. "At least as clean as this kitchen can make it. Keep it, throw it at the waiter behind me, do what you like. Though I would suggest eating it."

Cico then takes a deep breath. The charade of this is exhausting.

"I'm too tired to keep this up. I am not a waiter, though I have served food to many. I am an intermediary for an intermediary. I have agreed to help find a lost trinket and negotiate for its return. I would like to talk to your master about it."

Aimee nods with a thoughtful smile,

"You don't have to worry about poaching me, the old librarians kicked me out and are going to take me to court! Total misunderstanding!"

She pauses to smile in consideration,

"I'm not sure if I want to go back to school again! I just got out of doing school at the temple for like 12 years, I like not having people telling me what to do all the time, no offense! And I have a tavern with a real ghost! Maybe in a couple years? I'm going to live another couple hundred, probably! I have time! If that's okay?"

Aimee straightens when Vajra tells her that she is getting another mission,

"Yep! A mission straight from the top! But... sorry, which of my new friends is an outsider? Eddy and Allie seem pretty not outsider-y, so you mean Cico? He seems nice!"

Aimee also thinks to ask,

"You good at gambling? Think you'll win? I hope you do!"

Amelia thinks for a moment as she braids her hair. “Hmm, anyone in blue? Well, if I did I never would have thought much of it. The owner here’s a mystery all in himself, I don’t know if anyone’s ever seen him. But your story sounds familiar…. I believe Old Charlie boy had a similar experience. Vague and potentially misleading riddle left behind? Last I heard he’d found an alley in the Sea ward with blue tiles, swore to death his treasure was in there behind a gold door. Well, it probably was to his own death he swore, he took some sellswords to investigate and hasn’t come back since. I think they just killed him and took the gold.” 

Cico, the half-orc’s eyes widen at your words. You don’t know what you said, but it seemed to have struck a nerve. He eyes you suspiciously, calling out to the senior waiter, “What you staring at? This is one of Lady Gralhunds personal assistants, I advise that you leave him, otherwise I might think you are harassing the estate.” He cracks his knuckles menacingly, and the waiter scampers off. ”Get inside…” he grunts under his breath, opening the door “we’re being watched out here.” (I’ll leave it there for now so you can decide if you’re heading in.)

Vajra nods her eyes flashing white for a second, “Yes, your friend…..Cico. The one who’s outside getting in trouble with some noble houses guards right now. I’m sure he means well, but you and your associates are no good to me behind bars. This game is a meaningless charade,  a distraction from my work. I just hope it will be over quick.”