Tylaerys nods at Jararaka. Simply explaining they were adventurers if questioned about it seemed like a good plan. The young blonde half-elf then takes the hand of the giantess beside her and looks up at her with silvery and playfully pleading eyes. "Are you coming with me then? I would feel a lot safer with you around when walking the streets of this city." She says softly, tugging slightly at Jirel's hand.

     Finn digs out three silver and hands it over.

     "We've got nothing of the sort," Finn assures.  "My friend here crafter a bit of a spear out of a Wyvern's tail but there's nothing magical about it."

     "Spear, right?" Finn asks Jararaka.  "Or would you call it more a javelin?"

     "Frankly they're not the best weaponeer," Finn says to the guard with his best shrug and What Can Ya Do? expression.  "But it was a wicked fight and she's quite proud of it.  Can't really blame her, I wasn't sure we were going to survive the attack.  I'll tell the tale quite differently in the taverns though, eh?  A little music, a bit of a tall tale, hopefully get a few rounds bought for us from it...  Hey, you want to hear the song I been working on?"  Finn starts to put bow to fiddle and is more than willing to play a rendition...

Honey hues hover. With a grunt, she's pulled out of her haze from Tylaerys' tug. Jirel feels warmth in her cheeks from getting distracted, muttering an apology under her breath. If Jararaka and Finn went the long way, then Jirel would be up for taking the short route. If they didn't, she'd suggest they take the long way. It was worth seeing if any one stood out one way or the other, whether that was guards or passersby.

Tylaerys and Jirel:

You break away from the others and pass through the 'quick' line.  As you approach the guards, you see pedestrians are either throwing a handful of coins into a pot, showing paperwork or receipts, or showing badges of some kind.  Most don't even talk to the guards and are just waved through into Wyrm Rock.

When it is your turn at the front of the line, what do you do?

Finn and Jararaka:

"That's quite all right," says one of the guards, raising a hand as if prepared to physically take steps to prevent Finn from playing.  "Go on..." he starts to say as he waives you forward before he is cut off by the other guard.

This guard steps in your path and prevents you from advancing.  "Wyvern tail?  You aren't carrying any of its venom, are you?  It's quite valuable, quite dangerous... and subject to tax."  He looks at Jararaka meaningfully as he waits for a response.

Assuming she knows of a good or at least decent inn from passing through Baldur's Gate earlier, Tylaerys would suggest that to Finn and Jararaka for meeting up later.

History if needed: 10

Coming up in the fast lane, Tylaerys does her best to blend in with her goliath companion, casually throwing the guards a bit more coins than the ones before her, hopefully enough for both her and Jirel, also firing off a warm smile, tilting her head slightly as she passes them. It wasn't the first time she passed into a city like Baldur's gate so she had a decent grasp of what would be sufficient to not have any questions asked.

Perception if needed to know what would be a reasonable amoumt of coins: 10
Persuasuon if needed to get a smooth way through: 11

(How much coins should I deduct?)

Assuming she and Jirel gets through without problems she tries to navigate them to the Cup of Coins Lending House.

Persuasion to get directions if needed: 17

Jararaka takes note of the one guard's attention and lifts her cloak to show the blades and shield she has, saving the guards the hassle of asking, "just yer mundane weapons here." She then responds lazily to the question about the wyvern stinger, “eh, a spear's longer right? More a javelin then. A spear woulda felt more proper, but I'm still pretty proud, I made it with just a dagger, you know."

She lifts a brow as the guard stops them before nonchalantly dodging for now and asking her own question, "oh, didn't know that, wasn't in that list. Wyverns' a good sell here or something?"

[Insight to see if the guard just wants to skim off some gold or if he Has Something To Say: 19 ]

Tyalerys:

Before you split up into pairs, Tylaerys is able to recommend several different taverns where the four of you can meet up this evening [it is currently mid/late afternoon]:

• The Blade and Stars:  This is in and tavern is located a few blocks from the Basilisk Gate [the main gate where you will enter the city proper].  It has a reputation for being clean, quiet, and serving excellent food.
• The Blushing Mermaid:  The polar opposite of the Blade and Stars, the Blushing Mermaid has a reputation as a rough and rowdy tavern.  Moreso, it is known as a place where criminals come to discuss illicit business.
• The Low Lantern:  This is a converted ship located at the docks.  It is a tavern, a gambling house, and can be rented out for private parties.  While much louder and more raucuous than the Blade and Stars, it has much better security than the Blushing Mermaid.

We can say you settled on one of them to meet up at.  Preferences?

Tylaerys, you try to get a look at how many coins are being tossed into the bucket, but never have a good line of sight.  Your best guess is that you'll need to throw in at least 8 silvers each for you and Jirel.

If you throw in at least that many, or if you do anything different, please advise.

[Assuming nothing happens to delay Tylaerys and Jirel, they would have passed quickly through the other line and may already been gone for 10-15 minutes before Jararaka and Finn ever make it to talk to their guards.]

Jararaka, he nods.  "Brisk trade in that venom.  Apothecaries use it to make antidotes... criminal scum use it for making poison.  If you didn't grab some when you killed that beast, more the pity."  You get the impression he is bored but thorough in his job and he was legitimately concerned you might be carrying the venom on your person.  He seems to have taken your denial at face value.

"Might get another chance," pipes in the other guard.  "I heard they spotted a wyvern flying over Dusthawk Hill this morning.  If it hangs around, they'll surely post a bounty, 'fore it causes any trouble."  The venom-questioning guard just shrugs.  Completing his visual inspection of the two of you, he motions that you can continue forward across the bridge.

Of the three inns Tylaerys mentions you get the feeling she would much prefer to stay at the Blade and Stars, although she's not against visiting the other two at some point. As she and Jirel passes the guards she realizes she has no silver pieces and throws them 2 pieces of gold, just to be sure. She would then give Finn and Jararaka a quick wave and lead the blonde giantess into the city proper and towards the Cup of Coins Lending House.

     Finn had been ready to bribe the guards and/or talk them out of whatever problem the guards decided to make about the weapon but he happily breathed a sigh of relief when Jararaka handled the situation easily as smoothly as he could have done himself.   

     "Fighting the one was plenty for us," Finn assures the guard.  "I don't think we're eager to try our luck again, eh?  Honestly I'd rather just hunt down a pint, eh?"

     Assuming there was no other hold up other than perhaps some friendly banter, Finn ushered Jararaka on as quickly as possible, lingering would just be suspicious...  Once past the guards Finns turns to his companion and asks "So, check out the Flaming Fist first?" Finn asks once and thinks Say that five times fast! to himself.  "No idea where to find them but the paper reviled them enough that they can't be too hard to find, huh?"

     "Orrr....  We could just head to a tavern?  Not likely to find the cultists there, zealots tend to only socialize with their own, but the lowlifes tend to know far more than any suspects," Finn offers.

Since Tylaerys is the one recommending the taverns, we can assume she only recommended the Blade and Stars as a rendezvous point.

Tylaerys tosses two gold coins into the box, and the guards hardly give her and Jirel so much as a look as they pass through into Wyrm Rock, leaving Finn and Jararaka behind.

The passage through the Flaming Fist fortification is dark and chill.  Though there are sconces on the walls, they are unlit.  The foot traffic parades through the long stone hall in both directions, with the only light being daylight pouring through the openings at each end.  Emerging on the other side, the cross the other half of the bridge and step onto the north bank of the Chionthar.

Their final approach to Baldur's Gate takes them the long way around Dusthawk Hill.  They pass through the Outer City’s ramshackle neighborhoods, the road hemmed in by cook fires, market stalls, and industries too noisy or repugnant for more genteel citizens.  Tanneries, distilleries and slaughterhouses assault the ears and noses of those who pass by. 

Here you must also depart from your mounts Shiloh and Widowmaker, as horses and other large animals are not allowed inside the city walls.  Coupled with an additional entrance fee assessed at the Basilisk gate it is another 5sp, 8cp each.

[5sp per day to stable each horse, with one full day due up front and the balance payable when you collect the horse.  8cp each to enter the city.]

With the final tolls paid, Tylaerys and Jirel pass through the Basilisk Gate.  Piercing the city’s eastern wall, this statue-lined gate connects the Outer City to the Lower City neighborhood of Eastway.  A symphony of sights and sounds awaits them as they venture further into this lively district. Crowded markets line the cobblestone streets, their stalls bursting with colorful fruits, exotic spices, and finely crafted wares. Merchants cluster here to get the first chance to impress (and perhaps swindle) newcomers to the City.  Brick and mortar shops boast large glass windows, displaying everything from fine gowns to hand-carved furniture.  Buildings, some three or four stories tall and adorned with intricate carvings loom overhead, showcasing the city's architectural grandeur. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked goods from inviting bakeries, enticing passersby to savor the local delicacies.  Every intersection in this neighborhood plays home to one more taverns, it seems.

Not looking to waste time, Tylaerys leads Jirel deeper into the city, toward the location of her contact.  The Lower City is a chaotic tangle of conjoined, slate-roofed buildings, its narrow cobblestone thoroughfares spanned by bridges and buttresses designed to keep overflowing tenements from tumbling into the streets.  The city rises sharply up from the harbor - more so on the western side, and the streets are winding and often sloped up or downhill.  In some areas, the streets are broken up with short stone staircases.

Soon you come to an unassuming brick building in the Steeps, a neighborhood between the Harbor and the inner wall that separates the Lower City from the nobles of the Upper City.   The sun is low in the western sky.  A wooden sign above the door shows a wine cup overturned, spilling coins.  Lending House is spelled out in small letters below it.  The door is closed but unlocked.  Opening it, a tiny bell rings announcing your presence.  You step into a modestly appointed waiting room, Jirel needing to stoop to avoid bumping her head on the low ceiling.  A few open doors lead out of this room.  Some are closed, others are ajar, leading into dark, empty offices.  In the waiting room a dwarf sits behind a large desk, leering through spectacles at large stacks of paper, which reviews, signs, or marks as he deems appropriate.  "Can I help you, Ma'ams?" he asks without looking up.

Finn and Jararaka, you too are able to pass into Wyrm Rock, the Flaming Fist fortress in the center of the Wyrm's Crossing bridge.

If you are looking for Flaming Fist personnel to interview, look no further.  There are guards at either end of the bridge and stationed at the interior doorways within the fort itself.  Keeping an eye out, you see there are groups of four Flaming Fist soldiers on patrol in the Outer City as well.

Also, Jararaka knows a fence at the Golden Pig Pawn in Sow's Foot, a nearby Outer City Neighborhood.

1. Sweetjen's Spices
2. Wyrm Rock
3. Golden Pig Pawn
4. Basilisk Gate
5. Cup of Coins Lending House
6. Blade and Stars
7. Blushing Mermaid
8. Low Lantern

((Do'h!  No idea where to find Flaming Fist when we're going through their checkpoint!  I can be braindead sometimes... Or Finn meant their offices...  yeah, that's it... that's the ticket!  He meant their offices!  But seeing as there are plenty here...))

     Finn elbows Jararaka lightly to get her attention and then nods over towards whichever Flaming First guard looks most bored, and thus most likely to be in charge.  ((Finn will also go by insignia or rank markings being worn, if such are:  Perception: 16))  "Let's go feel them out, eh?" Finn suggests and heads over to do exactly such.

     "'Scuse me," Finn says as he approaches, adopting an amiable enough demeanor, hopefully.  "Got a moment?"  

     Finn didn't have a plan, exactly.  At one point he had been considering trying to play the Flaming Fist against the Watch, as per the paper Jararaka bought, but he wasn't sure if he knew enough of the city politics to really do that right.  Instead, almost at random, he decides on a new tactic...  The truth?

     "Hi, yeah... Sorry to bother you but see, we're at a bit of a loss," Finn says nodding to Jararaka to indicate the "we" he was talking about.  "We were recently in Greenest, yeah?  Have you heard about the attack there?  There were wyverns and a dragon and waves of kobolds... It was madness.  Lucky we were to get out alive, eh?  But thing is, it was a raid as much as an attack.  The dragon was mostly covering the kobolds ransacking the place more than looking to destroy.  And ransack they did..."  Finn uses his natural talents to add or subtract details based on the guards perceived interest level - Finn knows how to play an audience and while he is sticking to the truth he is still trying to perform for this guard.  ((Performance: 11... bah.  Anyway...))

     "Long story short, we're trying to track the bastards and the gold and such they stole.  We're doing this with the approval of Governor Tarbaw.  The factions... Well, they know we're trying to hunt down the cult that did it but we didn't exactly want to sign up to any of them so they know and ok'd it but we're not exactly of them, ya know?" Finn says doing his best to keep his tone companionable and social as if they were old friends but he kind of feels it's not working exactly.  "Anyway, to cut to it, we were thinking you all are in a good position to have seen a bunch of shady shits carting in a bunch of gold and plunder, eh?  We think they've been running carts full this way and so who better to inquire with than you all?  A friend had suggested the Watch were the people to contact but I just don't buy they'd know more about what was being brought into the city than you of the Flaming Fist, am I right?"

     It's not Finn's best performance and he's half worried this guard is going to misconstrue everything and think he's looking for leads on who to burgle but if he tried to pour it on too hard he worried he may just tip things in that direction... Best to just hope for the best.

Finn, you pick out someone in Flaming Fist garb that looks like a higher ranking officer.  Instead of the chain and tabard, she has red leather armor and nice gloves and boots to match.  She's older than the other guards as well and seems to be watching them as much as she is watching the common folk.

She listens to your story but then shakes her head.  "Dragons and stolen gold... I can't tell if you're sincere or just putting me on.  Can't say that I care.  This is Baldur's Gate, lad.  We have real business and real problems here in front of us.  Have you any idea how much coin and trade flows through these gates every single day?"  She scoffs.  "Probably not.  But let me assure you, the crown treasury of bloody Cormyr could be split up and boxed through Baldur's Gate and no one would bat an eyelash.  So no, we are not in a position to spot stolen gold.  We see gold pass by constantly.  Our job is to make sure it doesn't get intercepted on its way to where its going.  That porters don't get nabbed or trade goods get nicked by any of the half a hundred cutpurses, cutthroats and back alley currs that haunt these streets and alleys."

She sighs.  "Look, if you've got evidence a crime has been committed and can point us at the perps, then by all means come and see us."  She looks at you and then at Jararaka.  "But we haven't time to fritter on some adventurer's dream of finding a stolen treasure.  You're looking for a needle in a haystack.  Now move along."

Tylaerys quickly leads her blonde giantess companion on towards the Basilisk Gate, giving Shiloh a comforting pat as she stables her steed, paying the fees for stabling and entering the city. Once past Basilisk Gate she continues to take the lead, holding Jirel by the hand in the more crowded streets, efficiently making her way towards the Cup of Coins lending house, occasionally stopping and pointing out places of interest to her companion while trying to make sure the goliath is not overwhelmed by the sounds and sights of the great city, taking her hand to comfort her, stopping by the harbor for more sight of the open sky and offering Jirel another Penny treat before proceeding to their destination.

"Yes, I am interested in a loan." Tylaerys starts to respond as she has entered the Cup of Coins lending house, realizing this would be obvious when visiting a place like this. "I have a collateral for the loan..." She quickly continues. "...a Halruuan airship in fact." She finishes, studying the dwarf closely for his reaction, nervously hoping she had made contact in the way she was intended to.

Persuasion: 18
Perception: 20
Insight: 8

When the discussions of taverns have come up, Jirel did have a few thoughts cross her mind. However when Finn would offer their opinion, she'd consider thinking harder on it. The goliath had considered that even if the cultists may not be there themselves, couldn't 'subcontractors' like the Garbagemen be there discussing some sort of illicit activities, or at minimum, rumours? Couldn't a place like the Blushing Mermaid to listen in on business deals? She's about to open her mouth when the group continues in their own direction. Not without a soft grumble, she concedes to accepting splitting the group to cover more ground.

Jirel is whisked through the Outer City’s ramshackle neighborhoods. Along the road hemmed in by cook fires, market stalls, and industries too noisy or repugnant for more genteel citizens she was hit with nostalgia. The tanneries, distilleries and slaughterhouses which assault the ears and noses of those who pass by were reminiscent of her village. The giantess felt herself fade into memories. Even a self assured warrior such as herself, convinced it was impossible, became lost.

Lost in her own thoughts, Jirel relied on muscle memory, and leaned Tylaerys to guide her along. Leaving their trustee steeds behind and continuing beyond the Gate, she is met with further temptations. They passed by colorful fruits, exotic spices and the aroma of freshly baked goods from inviting bakeries. Her mouth was salivating and her stomach grumbling before they even left the area. Making it through successfully without delay, the giantess was rewarded with a Penny treat. She enjoyed what comfort it brought her in the moment. Although, admittedly, it wouldn't satisfy her hunger for long.

Now finding herself stooped in a Lending House, Jirel blinks. Honey eyes look from the Dwarf man to Tylaerys and back. She didn't remember discussing getting a loan... did they? An airship? The giantess goes to rub the back of her neck only to bump something before returning her arm back to herself. She clears her throat and just remains quiet and alert as she watches the situation unfold between the two.

     "Alright, alright," Finn says in defeat with his hands up.  He takes a step back away from the Flaming Fist woman and half turns to Jararaka.

     "You and your newspaper were right," Finn says with a bit of a sigh.  "The Fist is useless.  Let's take our concerns to the Guard..."

     Finn has a very faint hope the barb may spur the woman into being a bit more cooperative but it is very, very faint.  When he jerks his head and starts leading Jararaka back onto their way into the city he doesn't really expect to be stopped.  ((If he is, disregard the rest... but...))

     "You know," Finn says slowly, thinking...  "We're not totally without actual contacts here.  Back at the Black Antlers...  In Elturel...  There were those two, umm, shady sorts?" Finn digs around in his pack for a bit before letting out an Aha! and pulling out a card.  "Blackrim Exports and Transportation!" he exclaims and shows Jararaka the card.  "They didn't exactly say they could help us out but they knew the Cult of the Dragon was bad news...  And they did suggest we look them up if we were even in Baldur's Gate..."

     Finn looks from the card to Jararaka and back again a couple of times before the excitement on his face fades a bit.  "Then again, none of my ideas have really worked out, of late," he says as he shoves the card back in his pack.  "Let's make this next call yours, eh?  Where to next?"

The dwarf stops writing and looks up at Tylaerys and Jirel over the top of his spectacles.  He looks first at the silvery sorceress, then at the giantess, then back to the sorceress.  He lets out a long, tired sigh and sets down his quill, pushes his chair away from his desk, steps down, and slowly ambles to one of the closed doors.  Opening it, he mutters something under his breath.  He closes the door behind him and you think you can faintly make out the sound of his voice, talking behind the closed door.

20 seconds pass before the door opens again.  Out steps a halfling man, his attire and demeanor as different as possible from the dwarf who departed.  Whereas the dwarf was dressed in a button-down shirt and slacks, this halfling is wearing studded leather armor in hues of olive and forest green.  His hands are wrapped in leather as though he is about to go riding, and he is barefoot as is still the custom for many halfling rangers and rogues.  He is youthful looking, but not exactly young.  He closes the door behind him, leaving the three of you alone in the waiting room together.

"Ah," he says, pausing 10 feet away to size you up.  "You've made good time.  You're the ones helping out with the dragon cult business.  Tylaerys Silverscale... and you can only be Jirel.   My name is Vellin Farstride, humble wanderer and student of fairplay. Are the rest of your band arranging lodging?  If not, I can help you with that.  A lot of the inns are overbooked as it is but we always keep a few rooms available."

He smiles, but not happily.  "Business, then.  I'm afraid we haven't learned much just yet.  The blackguards are definitely here... or at least some of them have started to arrive.  They've paid off the Guild and the Fist... I lost a good source in the Outer City yesterday when I sent her to put out feelers about this treasure passing through.  They found her in the harbor this morning."  The smile has completely faded.  "I'll figure out who's responsible and settle that account, but for now, no one wants to talk."

"It won't last.  Throwing coin around for bribes is all well and good, but either they'll turn off the spigot and someone will get bitter... or one of the gang's will get wind of another getting paid more and will look to sell them all out.  How long will that take?  Hard to say.  For now, the Cult of the Dragon is paying more for silence and protection than we are offering for information."

Tylaerys takes a small breath of relief as her words seem to have the intended effect and smiles brightly as they are joined by the halfling contact, looking up at the blonde giantess beside her and nodding. Her smile fades quickly though as she listens to the Harper Agent's fairly dour description of the current situation in Baldur's Gate, glancing up at Jirel with a small blush over dragging her off to this place. She had hoped for more and found herself slightly disappointed but that was the danger with her optimistic attitude she found. "Thank you for seeing us Vellin and I'm so sorry to hear about your lost contact..." She starts with an empathic tone. "...I think we have a plan for lodgings but we'll be in touch if that doesn't work out. Regarding the cult, I'm not sure we have the time to wait for their bribing coffers to run dry and I doubt we have the resources to outbribe them, we will simply have to do our own cautious investigation into their actvities here. Your city is quite large though, any idea in which part of it the cult might have their hideout or who they would likely deal with." She finishes with a friendly smile.