Tarric shakes his head, "No, I didn't get to where I am by making enemies actually. I participated in the Last War of course, but I provided my House's healing services to all sides, as long as they were willing to pay. That's how I got this manor and my position here in Sharn as House leader without actually manifesting a Dragonmark myself, and how I lost my fingers." He holds up his hand and smiles, but his face turns serious again quickly. "Honestly, I think your best bet will be to find the group who I hired in Sharn's Welcome. If they haven't stolen my money or met the same fate as Anric, then they may have some useful information for you. Additionally, I can provide some Potions of Healing for you if you need some extra healing." Do you have any more questions for either of these people, or will you begin your investigation?

Erix let's Elero do the talking, with this coming from his dean and all. But listens intently.

"What can you tell us about the other group you hired?  Did you meet with them yourself, or use an intermediary?  Where did you hire them, and what were their names?"

Mark will finally speak up, "I don't want to be rude, but I am wondering how much this will pay? Being town heroes is not cheap, you know." 

(The job pays The Rouge 10,000gp and promises to House Jorasco to the cause of Operation Stoneveil.)

Tarric looks somewhat bashful at Elero's questions, "I'm afraid I may have been a bit ignorant, I failed to get all their names, but I remember three of them. A Kalashtar names Zoveldra, a strange Warforged named Lompy or something, and a tough but beautiful woman named Mome. I met them at a tavern down in Sharn's Welcome. I was feeling very out of place down there, and they seemed quite confidant, so I thought I'd just ask if they were interested in a job. Let me tell you, they seemed capable, but now thinking back I wonder if I was silly to put my trust in them. In my defense, I at the time I thought Anric would basically turn up on his own, I wasn't expecting to actually have to send out rescue parties for him."

Any other questions for Tarric?

"One more," Elero says, "if you don't mind.  How do you know Anric's met with foul play?  Children can be...flighty.  Maybe he's just wandered off for a while.  Does he have any friends or romantic partners he might have gone to see?"

Tarric shakes his head, "I'm convinced something's happened, it's simply been too long. I'm afraid I don't know much about Anric's acquaintances, he spent basically all his time down in Sharn's Welcome. He ran a little health clinic down there I believe, not sure exactly where, that might be a good place to start." 

"That definitely sounds like a good place to start," Elero responds. "Thanks for the information."

If there's nothing else, The Rouge heads off to Sharn's Welcome. Kalrey and Tarric remain in conversation working out what House Jorasco would contribute to the Operation if Anric is returned: Tarric seems to be a very intense negotiator.

You head down to the Cliffside district, which houses the docks of Sharn's Welcome, as well as some houses up the side of the cliff called Mud Caves. You notice some hustle and bustle around as some rough looking types walk around questioning people about a group of adventurers who apparently killed one of the local thugs. It is fairly easy for The Rouge to find the small open air clinic Anric ran near the docks. There are a few people milling around the clinic but it seems to be pretty well abandoned. Most of the better medical equipment has been stolen, and only a few scraps of paper and broken bottles remain.

Where do you start your investigation?

Erix will asks some op the people in the clinic if they have seen Anric lately.

Mark will try to check with some underworld connections he made while growing up in the streets of Sharn. He wants to see if anyone has seen or heard anything. 

Erix Investigation: 16

Mark Investigation: 16

Erix - Most of the people around the clinic ignore or actively walk away when you question them. However, one little girl bravely tells you some interesting information. Apparently, there was a group of adventurers here a few days ago asking about Anric. The girl tells you what she told them, that she saw Anric heading off toward Mud Caves with a trio of scary looking people. The other adventurer's seemed very interested in this information.

Mark - You find one person from your earlier years working down here in Sharn's Welcome. A grouchy dwarf names Jarfer runs a little shop down here, he seems to be doing ok for himself, at least well enough to still be complaining. Jarfer let's you know that the pirate crew called The Kraken's Squall have been hunting down a group of adventurers who killed one of their crew a few days ago. Jarfer then sold some odds and ends to a strange group a day later who matched the description of these adventurers: A female Khalashtar, a strange Warforged, and a tough yet beautiful human woman. When this group skulked off, they headed up toward Mud Caves.

"I guess we will have to go to the mud caves to find out more." Erix says after getting back together with the new information "And let's try to not let the Pirates know we are also looking for the adventurers."

You easily track the group's movements up into Mud Caves. The name of this district truly does it justice, the smell of mud and dirt fill your nostrils. Not necessarily bad but certainly dirty. Many people here live in caves in the side of the cliff, or shanties built outside. You follow the trail to a lane between two such shanties that leads up a relatively disused path to a cave in the cliff set far apart from the other houses. You head down the lane, lighting torches, and find yourselves in a disused mine.

The mine has a strange metallic smell that compliments the sound of water dripping down the sides of the walls. Different colored dull stones litter some of the cavern walls as you move through shafts in the mine: first past an empty minor's shack, then left down a t-intersection that leads to the largest cavern in the mine. In this cavern you find the remnants of a recent fight. Orc corpses litter the floor, with the same tattoos of the orcs you found working with Ash. Along with these corpses, you also find a shaft in this cavern that doesn't match the ones you've seen before, this shaft clearly is older still than this mine and leads almost directly down into the depths of the earth. The tracks you've been following lead down this shaft.

"Figures Ash's group would be involved somehow," Elero mutters.   He looks at the others. "We go down?"

"seems to be the way to go" Erix says 

When they got ground below their feet again Erix will pull three fur balls from his bag of tricks. Thinking it might get hairy down their.

(3d8: (4,1,4)-> 2 boars and a weasel)

Mark will look for any thieves' cant on the walls, potentially showing safe passage through this place. He pulls up his crossbow just in case, and his broom is attached to his hip if he needs the mobility.

Mark does find some Theive’s Csnt on the walls of the cavern with the dead orcs. Apparently it was claimed by a crew lead by a figure named Shilek, and it explains in detail what happens to rival crews trying to take over this space. They don’t sound very nice.

You work your way down what now seems like familiar tunnels leading to the depths below Sharn. Are you having Mark scout ahead or travelling as a group for safety?

Mark will try to move ahead, hovering on his broom to make no noise.