Oriace blends in so well that even those of you who know where he is struggle to pick him out. He spends a while watching and the only "suspicious" behaviour is the fact that this lady is sat in a coach going nowhere.

Mana also notices nothing unexpected. His keen ears do pick up that it sounds like the lady is getting impatient though.

A calm thought flickers across Mana’s mind—All clear it seems; I’ll make the hand-off now—and Oriace steps from the shadowed buttress, every movement measured and unhurried. Crossing the flagstones, he pauses beside the hire-coach, raps twice on the doorframe with the back of a knuckle, and dips his head so the hood of his cloak parts just enough to reveal steady, dark eyes. In his deep, even voice he addresses the veiled figure inside: “Evening, madam. The wares commissioned through Master Skeemo, as requested.” He lifts the silk-lined coffer with both hands, keeping it level so the vials give only the faintest clink. If and when the lady’s gloved hand reaches to claim the box, Oriace waits until her grasp is sure, then releases it. A respectful nod, a murmured “Fortune favor your purpose,” and he departs.

Mana would have used his limited telepathy to convey that it was good to proceed, before Oriace approached the coach. Though he glanced infrequently towards the meeting, his main focus was looking for signs of double cross, entrapment, or entanglements with authority. Seeing none, he tries to find Sterling within the dwindling foot traffic and loiter within 30’ of him to, again, telepathically convey that the transaction is complete. He will exit the avenue via a different alley, trusting in his knowledge of back street navigations to intercept both Sterling and Oriace within the next block or two.

As he departs, Oriace realises that the lady must be skilled with slight of hand, as he is now in possession of a black velvet pouch that contains 15 Suns (15pp). As far as you can all tell, the mission went smoothly and is now complete.

Does anyone have anything they would like to do or are you just waiting for the Harpers and Zhents to get back to you? (I can't remember if you did send the snake back with questions for the dead, but you discussed them so I assume they were sent)

Wagner is just chilling at home. :)

Oriace turns the velvet pouch over in his palm, the platinum suns chiming softly, then opens it for the others to see. “A tidy tip for a quiet night’s work,” he says with a low, satisfied rumble. “Unless anyone has errands that can’t wait till dawn, I’d sooner lay these coins in the Trollskull till and toast a task well done.” He tucks the pouch safely away, ready to follow his companions home—or linger a moment longer if someone has unfinished business.

“Yes, let’s hurry home. I am famished. I hope Lif and Wagner will have something tasty for us to eat when we arrive.”

Mana smiles at Sterling and Oriace. A job with minimal complications was much appreciated. He will lead the troubadours via the shortest path back to the Manor. His stomach rumbles a few times causing Yersinia to chitter in sympathy or irritation, it’s hard to interpret which.

You make your way back (and there might be food there. It is up to Wagner if anything was prepared). 

After a busy day, you all manage to get a long rest. (Days post fireball - 1. I am counting the day before the fireball as being the end of a tenday so when we reach 10 days post fireball we roll again for profit)

If anyone has anything they wish to do to pass time, you may speak up. If no one has anything specific to do (feel free to RP minor things without my input) I will time jump to the first answer received between harpers and zhent

Wagner is not a cook.  He makes an array of sandwiches.

Sterling headed back with the others, and nodded at the income without actually doing a count. Again, he was distancing himself... if his associates added extra coin to the business coffers, he wasn't going to dig into the specifics unless he felt necessary.

Once home, the would-be jeweler took some time to practice his latest craft, experimenting as he wove leather and cloth together for various clothings. After a few hours of hard work and practice, he ended the day satisfied that he would be able to eventually combine his crafting skills with his ability to work gemstones.

(( For free time later in the week, Sterling will simply create a couple more leather brooches similar to the one he already has, each with his signature sigil magically etched onto it. He'll offer them to any allies who want to wear them, as they'll allow him to extend the range of his beneficial spells... so far that's just Cure Wounds, Disguise Self and Comprehend Languages. ))

You get a knock on the door on the morning of the following day (so one day complete downtime. Now day 3/10 a I realised previously fireball day itself was day 1 so we were technically on day 2 on the last post). Answering the door it is Mirt.

"My agents have managed to get enough description of the figure on the rooftops to work out that it sounds like a nimblewright, a type of automaton. We were not able to trace its movements however we do know the location of one of them is at The House of Inspired Hands, Waterdeep’s temple of Gond, on the corner of Seawatch Street and Shark Street in the Sea Ward. If your search there does not prove useful, do not fret. We are watching out for any other signs of nimblewritghts in the city."

"Thank you kindly for the information, my friends and I will check it out soon," says Wagner.

Oriace accepts a sandwich with a grateful nod to Wagner, sets the black velvet pouch on the counter so the platinum suns clink for all to hear, and tucks them into Trollskull’s strongbox. “Fifteen more for our coffers,” he rumbles, then turns a warm gaze to Sterling. “Your craft keeps outshining itself—if you’ll fashion a brooch keyed to that disguising charm, I’ll gladly pay; it’ll spare me the paint and paste of my kit when time runs thin in a tight spot. As for Mirt’s news—an automaton at the House of Inspired Hands—my first thought is to hold the fort in case the Zhents send word, but I won’t leave you short-handed. If the lot of you mean to inquire about this nimblewright and need me, I’ll shoulder my drum and come; otherwise I’ll keep the hearth warm and the spirits listening for snake-borne messages.”

Sterling nodded to Oriace. "That's a sound plan. I'm eager to see what this was all about, though, so I intend to join those who are going after the nimblewright."

Then he sighed. "As for the brooches, I wish I could infuse spells directly into them, but that'll still take a bit more research. For now though, they simply let me take spells that normally require a touch, and cast them on the wearer at a distance. I could use Cure Wounds on you without needing to get close, for example.

"Either of these would do for the effects, I just felt inspired to cover a couple more color options. Feel free to grab one if you wish, or even use my first if it suits your look better; just make sure it's somewhere visible on your person." He took off his gold-and-black brooch and set it next to the others.

"Well then," the would-be jeweler finally said to the others as his familiar hopped onto his shoulder. "Shall we head to the temple of Gond and see what we find?"

“These brooches are marvelous, Sterling!”

Mana handles each, admiring the handiwork, and contemplates which would be most appropriate for his aesthetic. He leans towards the darker editions. His choice of colleges (Shadows) steers his thinking. Although, born out of darkness and aged by fleeing the deep and chaotic, he finds himself now drawn back to the shadows, no longer fearing them but embracing them to his own advantage. He finally determines the solid blue one would be best. Ornate, yet the monochrome nature seemed less “flashy”. More easily muted into the recesses where direct light struggles.

”Thank you, very much, Sterling.”

He fastens the brooch high on his front left shoulder, proud to be wearing something so posh. Between this and the beautiful purple studded leather earlier fashioned specifically for him, the former urchin is beginning to look most respectable. He beams with pride and straightens to his full height, all 3’ 1”, and shuffles his shoulders to see how the ambient light reflects in the facets of the brooch.

”I am ready. Let’s go!” He chirps.

Wagner takes a brooch and prepares for the trip to the temple.

Oriace’s deep chuckle rumbles through the taproom as he pins the brooch to his cloak’s clasp. “Your craft is finer than any glamour I could paste on in haste, Sterling—this will spare you a sprint across the fray when I need a quick patch-up,” he says, tapping the emblem once so its facets catch the lantern-light. Settling his drum against his hip, he adds, “On second thought, other business can wait; letters ride serpents faster than we walk. I’ll tread with you to the House of Inspired Hands—better to stand together if this nimblewright proves less than friendly.” With that he shoulders his pack, nods to Lif to mind the bar, and falls in beside the others for the march to the Sea Ward.

The House of Inspired Hands looks like a cross between a temple and a workshop. The symbol of Gond, a toothed cog with four spokes, is displayed prominently. You see the silhouette of a humanoid shape perching on the rooftop. It extends an arm (in general, not towards you), releasing a tiny metal sparrow into the sky. The bird does a few loops in the air, then veers right toward you.

I do not need a full marching order, but I need to know who is in the front as you approach the temple. Additionally, anyone who has come to the temple may roll an initiative check, and if you get above a 10 you have chance to react to the sparrow which is on an obvious collision course with whoever is in front (I will say, it doesn't look threatening, and it doesn't look particularly intentional. It is almost like a paper aeroplane, where you have no real control and it just glides towards the floor, and you just happen to be in its path)

It would be logical that Mana was leading the way utilizing his City Secrets ability.

Unless anyone objects or argues that we would have taken a more circuitous route, Mana will face the oncoming sparrow.

Initiative: 21

If there’s time, Mana will say, “Would you look at that?” And attempt to sidestep while lifting an arm to see if the bird would alight on his own sleeve.

Oriace’s eyes widen at the whirring sparrow; with a bass-pitched “Mind the bird!” he pivots on a heel, cloak flaring as he slips sideways to clear its path, one hand raised in a calming gesture while he watches where the little construct might flutter next.