Levi rubs his hands together at the prospect of checking out the Mad Mages territory, but also has the look of uncertainty about him. A new crew and some serious unknowns down that hole for sure.  

"Glad to work with all of you.  I think we accept your offer Obaya.  Just want to make sure Arden is in agreement before we completely agree to the deal. I think we will be in agreement though."

 Levi shares his secret he learned with the gnome off to the side after the discussion with Obaya has been completed.

"Thanks for the accommodations to Lady Obaya."

"I'll see you off in the morning then.  You can let me know if your friend will join you in the morning, but it really doesn't matter to me, who or how many you go with."

With that she hurries back to the bar to get a drink and comes back with 4 keys for your luxury rooms and off she goes upstairs herself.

Arden accepted the key to the luxury room with a respectful nod and a warm smile. "Much obliged, Lady Obaya. The deal sounds fair, and I’ll see to it these fine companions of mine get their hands on those magical goods and tomes you're after.”

As Obaya departed, Arden turned back to the group, lifting his mug one last time. "We’ll meet back here in the mornin’, aye? I look forward to walkin’ the deep with such promising company.”

With that, he rose from the table, his boots thudding gently against the tavern floor as he made a slow circuit around the room. His eyes drifted from table to table, scanning faces—perhaps out of habit, or perhaps hoping to spot someone in need. Eventually, he stopped at the bar, where a gruff-looking human slouched half-asleep over a mug of something far too strong. The man reeked of spirits and weariness, his speech slurred and mumbled under his breath. Arden stepped beside him, placed a firm but gentle hand on his back, and let a soft glow emanate from his palm—Lay on Hands, enough to clear the fog just a little. "There we go, friend. Don’t need to drown in it.”

Arden chuckled and slipped the luxury key into his hand. The man blinked, confused, and muttered something about not having a room. “Nah, mate. This one’s yours tonight. Go on now, get some real rest. You’ve had your fill of drink for the day.”

The man stared at the key, baffled, eyes widening as he realized what it was. Still hesitating, he gave Arden a long, puzzled look before making his way upstairs—silent, wondering who the hell that dwarf was and why he’d just given away something so valuable. Arden watched him go with a knowing smile and a soft exhale. He then turned back to the bar and requested a simple room—clean bed, solid walls, nothing more than a good night’s sleep could ask for. And that’s where Arden spent his night. 

OOC: I'll deduct like 10gp for everyone's food and drinks + Arden's regular room

i will over the course of 4 hours, leverage my staff to provide tounge spell to see if i learn anything else.

d18 = 5

Durnan the sixth, the proprietor nods to the paladin,  "I charge 1 gp for a standard room, including morningfeast.  The rooms are decent enough.  Don't expect any extras for the charity you give around here though.  The crowd here is a mix of town drunk that spin tales or washed up adventurers and a few well to do clientele.   You met Obaya seems like.  There will be others too.  Everyone once something that's had something to do with the stuff down that hole.  Enjoy the room. Morning feast will be here. Night.  Names Duran."

Durnan winks, "Get a good night sleep."

Eventually everyone heads to bed somewhere, but nice luxury rooms on the house well why go anywhere else.   The night goes uneventfully and everyone has a chance to adjust spell if they feel the need.  Everyone freshens up to their liking and comes downstairs for a morning feast on the house too.

Durnan the sixth takes you to a private dining area and says softly, "I have a special on the morningfeast if you have the coins for it.  When I see a group such as you and the generosity of the paladin over there.  We'll I lied last night. I will reduce the cost of the Heroes Feast to 800gp I'll pitch in the other 200gp for the special components needed to bring the feast about.  You folks hand over the coin/gems 200gp each for 4 of ya. I got the rest."

Just then Obaya comes in and hands out 3 bags with intricate stitching one to Levi, Arden and Zertel.  "Sorry big man. I think you have something better already with Handy Sack you got there.  I have my reasons for this. Just make sure to bring the stuff back to me in those bags and you'll have them as long as you are working for me.  You'll need an hour to feast if you put the coins or gems out for it.  I've said and done my part.  I'd suggest a good plan of action to get down the hole. Whether you do the Heroes feast or not."

Obaya takes off to go tend to other business somewhere else in Waterdeep.

Durnan the sixth quips, "Well folks I aint got all day here.  Well, actually I do, but what will it be?"

Durnan the sixth taps his foot.

Levi pulls out 20 pp and puts it on the table.  "I'll cover any others that are light on coin too."

I will pony up my portion in gold 

 Durnan the sixth adds, "Ah...I almost forgot.  I have provided you with crude maps to the first 5 levels and if you survive past that and come back up. I am sure I have some dated maps of the lower levels too.  Some folks have made it pretty deep into the Mad Mages territory."

OOC - Added to the public campaign page.  Consider there to be copies in each bag of holding.

Capacuana hands over her 200gp for the Hero's Feast. She just nods as others get the bags - Obaya is correct, Capacuana has a better bag with her magical haversack. In addition to its impressive carrying capacity, the haversack has the "Truth" (ooc: Pravda) logo and impressive counter-stitching, which made it even more of a collector's item.  Capacuana justified the ungodly amount she spent on it as it being both a practical and stylish bag. She says to her companions, "I'm happy to be at the front of our band - I can be quite stealthy when I need to - unless someone else wants the maps and to take the lead." She is confident in her abilities but also knows that others have skills that she has yet to approach. 

Quote from BillM328897 >>

Capacuana hands over her 200gp for the Hero's Feast. She just nods as others get the bags - Obaya is correct, Capacuana has a better bag with her magical haversack. In addition to its impressive carrying capacity, the haversack has the "Truth" (ooc: Pravda) logo and impressive counter-stitching, which made it even more of a collector's item.  Capacuana justified the ungodly amount she spent on it as it being both a practical and stylish bag. She says to her companions, "I'm happy to be at the front of our band - I can be quite stealthy when I need to - unless someone else wants the maps and to take the lead." She is confident in her abilities but also knows that others have skills that she has yet to approach. 

 OOC - Duran handed you the maps to the first 5 levels, but the others bag of holding has a set in each so everyone has the maps.

Arden graciously accepted the bag of holding, giving the map inside a quick but attentive glance before tucking it away. With a firm nod, he handed Durnan a neat stack of 200 gold pieces, payment for the Heroes’ Feast without a hint of hesitation.

Turning to Capacuana, he offered a wide grin, his beard shifting slightly as he spoke. “Well now, if you say scoutin’s your strength, I won’t argue none. You take the lead, and I’ll trust your eyes. I know my own limits—I ain’t the sharpest watcher in the bunch. But when trouble shows its face, you can count on me to stand between it and the rest of y’all.”

He rested a hand on the top edge of his shield, fingers brushing the sunrise emblem of Lathander, and added with a hearty laugh: “So let’s enjoy this feast proper—fill our bellies, lift our spirits—and head down that hole like we’ve already seen the sun on the other side.”

Levi thanks Obaya for the use of the bag of holding, bowing before she turned to go do her chores for the day.

Duran the sixth gathers up all the coins, "Ahhhh. I love it.  True adventurers you certainly are my friends.  You will be a delight to service here at the Yawning Portal.  I certainly hope you survive to come back.  One note...It's a slow ride down and it one at a time and normally I charge 1gp per person down and 1gp per person back up.  I do the hoisting too.  Of course you can find your own ways down but the are risky."  

Duran the Sixth waddles back to the kitchen through a private door from the private dining area.  In a few minutes his wife and kids that are old enough Duran the seventh being one of them start shuffling trays of food for the 4 to enjoy over the course of an hour. Magically scrumptious with beverages much the same. One special menu option was the so-called "Heroes' Feast", a banquet of several courses, including talyth as chopforest as entrées, hot river crab bites for the main course, and for last kisses a laumberry pie, mingari-spiced owlbear milk, and sour cream walnut cake.

While enjoying the hour long meal the four of you sort out your plans for getting down the portal, and any precautions you take.

Levi take a quick moment near the end of the feast to look down the yawning portal.  He comes back quickly, "Well, It dark at the bottom of the shaft/portal.  I heard last night that it's 140ft down. That's 10min down the it take 10min back up for the next person. Not to mention noise of it hitting the floor and those with noisy armor.

I have 150 ft of rope with a grapple hook to secure up here and Maybe Duran the sixth will send it down with one of you folks. I have gear that lets me see in darkness that does not emit light.  Might be best to go down quiet like and get a lay of the land.  If we could chat telepathically that would be fantastic.

I am skilled at let say after hours work in many areas.  I can go first and take a look around.  I just don't have a way to communicate with you before coming down.  Look we may just have take a chance and just getter done.  Thoughts"

"It would be great if we could get two down there quickly. I have no special way to do that. I also have no special way to talk to people at that distance. My weapons talk for me." Four sentences in a row shows that she was in a good mood. Capacuana had made a good dent in the feast - a goliath can really ruin the profit margin for any fix-priced or all-you-can-eat tavern - which likely explains her unusual verbosity. 

Quote from BillM328897 >>

"It would be great if we could get two down there quickly. I have no special way to do that. I also have no special way to talk to people at that distance. My weapons talk for me." Four sentences in a row shows that she was in a good mood. Capacuana had made a good dent in the feast - a goliath can really ruin the profit margin for any fix-priced or all-you-can-eat tavern - which likely explains her unusual verbosity. 

OOC - A creature that partakes gains several benefits, which last for 24 hours. The creature has Resistance to Poison damage, and it has Immunity to the Frightened and Poisoned conditions. Its Hit Point maximum also increases by 2d10, and it gains the same number of Hit Points.

Everyone roll 2d10......We all get the highest rolled set of 2d10 (of the 4 sets of rolls)  in extra HP for 24 hours.

 Levi gives Duran the sixth 4 gp for the trip down and an advance of 4gp for the trip up later on.  "Durnan, here you go..8 gp for 4gp down and 4gp up.  Just lower it down softly once we are all down please."

Levi nods to Capacuana, "I agree with you there.  Ok, I'll pay Duran the Sixth to let us you my rope and grapple hook to attach up top here and let us all go down that way.  I'll go first then Capacuana followed by Zertell then Arden. Everyone able to see in the dark?  I'd recommend we go down without a light source, but if we need one maybe have it ready to light down at the bottom so you're not fiddling around to get the stuff out of your bag."

OOC - Out of combat rope descent will not require a check.  You can safely take your time to slide down the rope slow as needed.  If everyone is good for the plan let me know.

OOC: Rolls a 12

Capacuana nods in agreement at Levi's plan and prepares to descend. 

Ill pay both my down as well as rope back up. 

“who does not  have darkvision, i agree it would be good to not have a light source and broadcast our location.”

2d10 roll - 16

Arden reached into his pouch, counting out the gold before handing it over to Durnan with a respectful nod. As the others spoke, he listened quietly, then offered a warm, thoughtful smile. “Alright then—looks like I’ll be the last one down.”

He tapped the side of his head lightly with two fingers. "Got a good pair o’ eyes on me, sharp enough to see in the dark just fine. And if I really put my focus into it, I can feel things movin’ through the stone itself. Comes in handy when somethin’ slippery’s tryin’ to hide. I’ll save that trick for the kind that don’t like bein’ seen.”

With that, Arden stepped aside, resting his hand on his shield as he waited patiently for his turn—eyes steady, heart light, ready to follow his new companions into the depths.

Time : 8 AM

13 for Levi... Zertell still needs to roll 2d10 please.

Levi says, "No sense sweating the small stuff Cap.  Let's just head down.  Let's just time it so Arden gets to the bottom just as Cap gets to the bottom as the last of those using the rope. So I'll go first then Zertell rope or any other means Arden starts first as that contraption will take 10min to get to the bottom.  Cap will time it to make it down just when the winch lets the basket down easy.  We'll need light at the bottom.  Cap can strike a torch or use my lantern at the bottom while we look around at what we just dropped in on. While Arden and Cap get sorted out,  lantern or torches for Cap. Zertell and I will take a quick peek in the dark."

Levi gets down just one round before Zertell, and Zertell bets Cap and Arden by one round.  Flint gives himself advantage to stealth during the feast.

Levi Stealth!  Unable to parse dice roll.

1. Entry Well

At the bottom of the Yawning Portal entry well is a dark, 40-foot-square room with the following features:

Exits. The only exit appears to be a tunnel that leads south before bending west. (There’s also a one-way secret door to the north.)

Sandy Floor. A thin layer of sand covers the floor.

Hanging Shields. Dented, rusty shields adorn the walls, which are also covered with graffiti.

 DDB dice roller was out.  I did an off sight roller.

Levi Stealth!  25

Group - Start 8am - A creature that partakes gains several benefits, which last for 24 hours. The creature has Resistance to Poison damage, and it has Immunity to the Frightened and Poisoned conditions. Its Hit Point maximum also increases by 2d10, and it gains the same number of Hit Points.

Player effects

Levi - Stealth adv until LR or used on another 8am

Arden - 

Zertell

Cap

While Zertell manages to spot the secret door the basket with is three feet off the ground by when you noticed.  Zetell's hearing picks up foot falls running away from the secret door.  Something was watching for something to come down into the first level.

Actions:

It is Dark unless someone did something on the way down.