Yeshil shows no interest in taking a bath, and since no-one has objected to her examining the documents, she does so while the others take turns bathing. As the hour passes, she occasionally speaks out loud to whoever is (or isn't) listening, but she makes particular mention to Finn on a few specifics, as he seems to be the one most associated with the intelligence-gathering activities of the group...

So it looks like Imbros was winding up his business over the last few weeks. Must have suspected something was up and planned on clearing out. I guess he left it too late... Or did he? ... Says here that he was sitting on almost two grand. Don't you think all that coin would still be in his safe box? Maybe he stashed it somewhere else... or maybe... maybe he caused the explosion... I mean, maybe he wanted the Cult to think he was dead, so he staged it, and the bodies were planted... Can any of you guys scry?

Hey, I haven't heard you guys mention anything else about the Red Wizards, although you didn't seem surprised that there was a connection to the Dragon Cult. What's the deal?

     "Scry?  I'm a bard, not a wizard," Finn says with a smirk as he pets Misses Binklesworth.  "Such is beyond my simple tricks, I'm afraid..."

     "And I'm afraid all I know of Red Wizards and Thay is what you hear in the stories and songs.  Basically they're bad news and I'm not so sure I'm supposed to be upset if a few of them got knocked off.  Even if they were supposedly reformed," Finn adds, not cruelly but not overly sympathetically either.  "Never did meet one myself, never much wanted to."

     "You have any real reason to think they may have faked their death, or is it just speculation?" he asks.  "I mean Jararaka did find three bodies.  Sounds like they weren't very identifiable but you think this guy would have killed three people and planted their bodies just to cover his own escape?"

Servers rap on the door roughly every 30 minutes to check for drink orders.  [Ale/house wine 3cp each.  Finer drink options available upon request.]

The bellhop can also be summoned to refresh the bath water.  The tub drains through a pipe through the wall (and presumably down to the street).

If the Thayans are as unscrupulous as you've heard, then would you be surprised if he had killed to save himself and his family? But no, I haven't got anything to go on. And if he's alive and in hiding then he'd have shielded himself from scrying anyway. Unless something new comes up, I'll just have to report back that this lead is ... well, dead.

Outside, the sun has set and night has come to Baldur's Gate.  That is not to say the city is quiet.  The Basilisk Gate never closes and trade continues to flow through the night, albeit at a diminished pace.  The din of the streets fade to quiet murmers and from somewhere nearby a free-reed instrument plays a sad, slow song, echoing through the alleyways.

After a fairly long time Tylaerys emerges from the master bedroom, rosy cheeked and seemingly in a quite cheerful mood, her silvery scales shimmering slightly and her long blonde hair still somewhat moist. She's now wearing a delicate haute couture green gown with a silver-mounted green tourmaline set for jewelry. "That's much better..." She says softly, smiling warmly at Finn, Jararaka and Yeshil. "I was thinking we could perhaps make a night out to gather some more information on the situation in the city, maybe even make a contact or two?" She suggests, looking around at the others. "Did you consider what I suggested about taking on the guise of a thayan wizard Finn?" She then turns and asks the changeling, then finding her way over into the sofa again. At the next opportunity, the blonde half-elf orders another glass of white wine to enjoy while listening to what the others have found out.

((DM ruling on if Misses Binklesworth would be able to find the locations she tracked the guy from Sweetjen's to again?  And if she'd be able to identify who he spoke to?))

     "Becoming this specific Thayan, this Dovnod Imbros?  I've never seen them, don't know what they looked like.  If I had a few pictures to work from?  Maybe.  But even then I would be unlikely to fool anyone who really knew what they looked like.  It would be like a drawing of a drawing of a drawing.  Details get lost.  Details that matter," Finn explains with a bit of a frown.

     "A generic Thayan wizard would be easy enough though.  Hard part would be the red robes..." Finn says.  "Would there be more to the plan than just parading me around as a target?  Because alternately we could just go out, have a good time, and keep an ear out for any porters who are complaining about being elbowed out of the work of moving the cult treasures.  They may be willing to speak if properly incentivized... And may know just who is doing the job instead.  Or the kid said they know some members of the Guild?  We could always purloin one of them for some questioning..."

     "I'm not exactly saying no to putting a bullseye on my back but is it our best plan?"

At the suggestion from Tylaerys, Yeshil glances around at everyone, raises her hand eagerly and offers hopefully: I'll come. I think those other two look pretty done in, but. Maybe they've had enough rest, I dunno.

Then as more ideas start being generated, Yeshil puts in her two-coppers' worth:

I dunno if they're looking for just any Thayan wizards. Only these exiled ones, who prolly weren't advertising their history. I s'pose if we could find a real Red Wizard of Thay, they might know something... that's if we can get 'em to talk.

If I get what you're saying about the porters... Maybe we could pay some pissed-off porters to watch the Gates and point out anyone they see leaving the city that's not part of their guild or whatever.

"Exiled ones..." Tylaerys repeats to herself. "We've gathered at our visit in Greenest that the cult has some sort of alliance with the red wizards. Perhaps the cult hunting down exiled Thayans is part of their deal?" She ponders aloud. "We could perhaps try to find an ally in exiled Thayans, the enemy of my enemy and all that." She continues, standing up again and walking across the room to peek out the window on the street below. "We should perhaps find out which tavern would be frequented by disgruntled porters then." She adds after a while.  "Oh, and about impersonating an exiled red wizard you are absolutely right Finn, that plan could definitely wait until we've run out of other options, I was just floating the idea." She continues, smiling warmly at Finn. "Anyway, I'm ready to head out when you are." She finishes, emptying her glass of wine, seeming excited to explore Baldur's Gate at night.

Tylaerys perception to notice anything suspicious down on the street: 15

Jararaka scratches her head at mention of finding exiles of the Thayan wizards, "how do we find them? Anyone could wear a red robe."

Once Tylaerys and Jirel were done with the first bath, she gets the bellhop to refill the bathwater, assisting him just so it takes less time. Once she returns to the room, the soot on her scales has been washed away to revealed mottled green scales.

"We could probably find some unemployed porters down in Stonyeyes, in the Outer City."

"I'm up for taking a stroll in the city. Just a stroll, I don't know how much more explosions or whatever I can deal with today. Though, isn't it the big festival in a few days? High-harvest-... something. I'm kinda curious about it, but do y'all think the cult will do something while the city's busy celebrating?" She taps her chin in thought, but the thought doesn't really go anywhere. She drapes her cloak back on, ready to head out.

Pff! Yeshil scoffs quietly at Tylaerys's mention of finding more exiled Thayans, but says nothing. But then when Jararaka brings up the topic, Yeshil replies: They got kicked out of Thay, so I doubt they still get around in full regalia. Thay wizards aren't that popular on the Sword Coast, right? Bad reputation? (she says this looking at Finn). Besides, my intel was that Imbros was the last exile still at large. I doubt we'll find any others. We've got a better chance of finding Imbros himself, if he's still alive, but he's probably left the city by now. Then to herself she adds: I wonder why they were exiled...

Then as the discussion turns to where to go next, Yeshil suggests: Well, Stonyeyes is just out the Basilisk Gate, so that's closest. If you're going through the Old City, I'd like to stop in the Steeps for a minute to report to my contact.

DM: Can Yeshil recall the history behind the Thayan Civil War, and any details that might connect to the Dragon Cult? (History: 18)
If she can't recall them, can she think of where to find the information? This would be drawing on her Researcher Background feature.

"I assume the exiles somehow became a percieved threat to the local rulers, but I'm not sure of course, it doesn't really make sense to first exile someone and later have them killed though, unless they became a threat in a new way." The blonde half-elf says, gracefully pacing the room in her exquisite green gown. "I don't expect it will be easy to locate any remaining exiles but I have some contacts that might be able to help out with that." Tylaerys then turns to face the green-skinned girl. "So far the cult actvities we know of are collecting treasure that will somehow help the queen of dragons to ascend to rule all of the realms, quite ambitious even for a cult. The four of us are here to help preventing that from happen, I would assume the Arcane Brotherhood too would be opposed to that particular fate but if you are to remain with us it would be helpful for building trust and friendship if we knew what you consider your mission right now?" She asks the girl with the attitude with firm tone and a polite smile.

If Yeshil has been impudent toward Tylaerys so far, it's only gotten worse since the half-elf emerged from the bathroom. The green teen has actively avoided looking at her as she paces the room, and averts her eyes as Tylaerys addresses her directly. But when the half-elf finished speaking, Yeshil looks straight at her and says with a sneer: Friendship? Why would I wanna be friends with you, blondie? My mission right now is to avoid looking at you, that's my mission...  and then turns away.

What was merely attitude has now turned to open b!tchy-ness, and seems completely unwarranted in light of Tylaerys's continued restraint and politeness. Clearly Yeshil has it out for the half-elf, and is trying to provoke her.

     “Alrighty then!” Finn says.  “Sounds like someone missed nap time and is cranky…  Not to step in the middle of a girl fight or anything but Tylaerys is a part of this team.  You on the other hand..,.”

     Finn isn’t looking to dump kids on the street in the middle of the night or anything, but if they’re going to adopt strays they should at least find polite ones.  

     “Just what is your issue??”

My issue? Yeshil starts to unload, and gets louder as she goes. She's the one with the issue! As if it wasn't bad enough that I had to look at her before with her gorgeous sparkling scales. Don't some people get lucky with their 'special heritage'! She gets a dragon, I get an effing hag! And now she struts around in an effing green ballgown. Like she's tryna rub my face in it! Literally! 

The mean green teen slouches back into her chair and turns her face away, likely embarrassed by her outburst, and possibly holding back tears.

[Don't let me interrupt... I'm just catching up on some rolls and details.

If the party is going to venture out for a little late-night exploring, I think it is fair to say these handful of hours eating, chatting and bathing at the Inn are enough to account for a Short Rest.  So anyone who wants to spend hit dice can do so and you can all hit the short rest button.  Also, I am going to throw out some inspiration for everyone.  You're paying attention to the clues (though I won't say which items you are on the right track and which ones you may be misinterpreting).]

Tylaerys, looking down from the balcony you don't spot anything overly suspicious.  Lit torches line the streets and large braziers illuminate the intersections.  There are still people on the streets, but where once there had been great throngs of traffic, now there are individuals and groups of twos and threes walking.  All of them keep to the middle of the streets when possible, a careful eye on the shadows and alleyways between the buildings.  There seem to be more Flaming Fist patrols than you remember during the daytime, though perhaps that is more due to the lesser amount of regular pedestrians, making the soldiers stand out more. 

As you watch, you also notice a pretty wide range of different behaviors from the Flaming Fist.  Some patrols stroll down the street seemingly without a care in the world or an eye for detail.  Others greet passersby and engage in polite conversation... one such patrol stopping to chat with a juggler on a street corner for several minutes, their casual laughter audible even up on the balcony.  Still others seem to be looking for trouble, sharply questioning pedestrians.  One patrol stops to question a young man leaning against an alleywall.  A guard strikes him hard, and the young man runs off into the night while the other guards laugh.

Yeshil:

 Finn, Misses Binklesworth would certainly be able to retrace some of her steps, and possibly all of them.  [Roll a straight D20 and we'll see what she can help with...].

((Just because the in message die roller hates me so much I’ll tempt fate and use it!  1 ))

…

Quote from Kaemgen >>

((Just because the in message die roller hates me so much I’ll tempt fate and use it!  20 ))

…

 

 See?  Tempt fate, get rewarded!

Misses Binklesworth of the Twilight Binklesworths purrs with only faint annoyance that you would doubt her skills.