"No, I think the carriage crash was a distraction to get after whatever your friend is hiding," answers Blossom.  "But I am not sure the events are unconnected."

Jun turns his eyes back to Leilani to guage her reaction to Blossom's answer.

Rue slowly nods to Sarva.  He extends a hand, palm up, as a gesture of welcome, but thinks better than to actually try touching her.  

As the conversation continues, Rue considers.  He may be new to the city, but he's read a lot of books - has he read about this vault?  

Jun keeps his eyes on Leilani as he takes another sip of his drink before asking another question of Blossom,

"You suspect that there may be some connection between this gnome and and whatever she protects then? That seems like a stretch as well. Unless you have further information. What is it you believe her to be hiding?"

Arvel turns to Jun.

"Oui. Zere will no doubt be a time just after everyone gets enthralled by zee festivities but just before zey begin to leave for zee night when an interested person could slip away and search for zee gnome or zeir room while zee rest of us...I mean zeir companions run interference down 'ere.

For zee right price, of course."

"Young man, I have no idea," says Blossom. "And, to be clear, I said 'I am not sure there is no connection', not 'there is a connection.'  But, if you allow an old woman to prattle on, I will outline the logic behind my stretch.  I welcome corrections."

"We suspected before tonight the performance was somehow tangled up in the Cassalanters' pans, which we suspect involves the Vault.  We know, thanks to you, that somebody went to the trouble of crashing through a wall, and making an enemy of one of Waterdeep's most well-known citizens, the same night of this performance.  That does not mean it was the Cassalanters, and in fact I doubt that it was - they had their own plan in motion, after all.  But 500 thousand gold pieces is a strong motivation, and it would defy reason to say in all the City only the Cassalanters were so moved.  In other words, I have no idea what your friend is holding, or who would be interested in it.  It may not involve Dalakhar at all.  But either somebody risked a strike at Durnan's establishment, in public, to steal something from your friend because of tonight's performance -- or the entire affair we just endured was a coincidence."

Dekket chokes with his drink. 

" 500 thous.. come again?" he says trying to recover from the surprise. "where is this room you wanted us to look for? I am very concerned about good and nature and destroying evil... " he says to both " always have if you know what I mean... And I can be very stealthy and discrete if you need that... " he turns to the others " I mean... I would surely enjoy the company if you want to come, as she said we did pretty well working together, but if any of you don't want to be involved, I understand... " he then listen to the other questions and the answers and he repeats. 

"Time is of the essence, we must find what these nobles wanted.. do you know the number of the room? " 

Aerys almost drops his mug when he hears 500,000 gold. "Do you know what this gnome looks like? Any defining features or clothes? Maybe some mannerisms?"

Orynn catches Dekket's eye. "I may be of some help. I'm fairly good at keeping out of sight."

Blossom sighs.  "It's always coin that grabs people's attention. As for Dalakhar's room -- Sarva can show you to it.  She and I will remain down here and watch the main room.  As well as you have worked together, I would suggest you all go - even if you have one enter the room first, far better for the rest of you to be in quick response distance than two floors away.  Remember, we do not know who the Cassalanters' agent is, so we do not know who will you find." 

"Or, since they commune with devils, what you will find," adds Sarva.

Cassie turns to Jun...

"What do you think?"

...before suddenly turning to Leilani as well.

"And you?  You've been awfully quiet in all of this, despite being implied to possibly be involved somehow..."

She hesitates a moment, realizing how accusatory she sounds.

"I mean...yer not involved in devil worship or anythin' like that, are ye?"

Jun mimics Blossom's sigh.

"Personally, I find your plea for assistance a bit too heavy on conjecture for my liking. No amount of coin would convince me to look into this. I will, however, go along with it for my own curiosity." 

Jun takes another drink, and looks back in Leilani's direction to await her response to Cassie's questions.

"You misunderstood me! " Dekket says to Blossom " My motivation is to prevent that Cassalanters to acquire such sum of gold... Only Tymora knows what a bunch of degenerate devil whorpshipped nobles could do that... nothing good that's for sure... " he pretends to be slightly offended, but it's too obvious that he is pretending. It's like he is making fun of himself.  " Who would want to have 500.000 gold pieces for himself? Not a single one beign that I know! " he winks at her.

" Shall we then? " he asks to the others and Sarva, standing and smiling.

Rue was already bright with interest well before any gold was mentioned.  Aside from some raised eyebrows, the money comment doesn't seem to affect him much.

Rue glances around for the water pitcher, and finally pours himself a cup of water.  He couldn't remember why he'd wanted it, but he sips from his mug as his eyes grow distant, trying to pull everything he'd learn that evening together.

Leilani has kept her face on the stage, but turns to the side and grins at Cassie.  "No, I'm not a devil worshipper.  Thank you for stopping those two thugs, but I am not a part of this, and I want to stay no part of this.  I just want to take in the show."

"Excellent," Blossom says to Jun.  "Curiosity is the wellspring of any investigation.  Whether my conjectures are borne out by your conclusions or not, I would be happy to see the truth brought to light.  As for 'ze price''", she adds with a smile, "we can offer you assistance from our factions, or if circumstances permit membership, - neither of which are small things in a city like Waterdeep."

Sarva stands and matches Dekket's smile.  "If you have further questions, we can answer them.  If not, I can point you to the gnome's old room.  Yes, old room.  I should have mentioned - he stayed there through a few days ago, when it was rented by one of tonight's performers."

Jun shakes his head slightly at Leilani's response to Cassie before taking another drink. He raises an eyebrow at Savra's last comment.

"One of tonight's performers? Dare we ask which one?"

Rue has concluded his mental note-taking.

After searching for a few moments, he pulls out the handbill for the evening - the one he'd entered the tavern with - and examines it.  

 As he looks it over, Rue begins to recite what he knows.

"So...  Zis evening, Leilani entered zee tavern.  She did not seem afraid zen.  She was distracted by Cassie when zee two Attackers arrived.  She attempted to stay unnoticed by pulling Jun in closer.  Zee Attackers were sent to take a parchment Leilani has by some unknown but magical party.    The carriage crash was a distraction arranged for zis purpose.  You do not believe zee Cassalanters are behind zis."

He looks between Blossom, Sarva, and Leilani for confirmations.

"Zee Attackers were stopped by Jun.  Zey were willing to murder zee shoved victim for zis cause, but zey did not attempt to harm Leilani, only to steal.  Zee second, Dwindlejoy, he was not disturbed by zeir failure, however, nor his injuries.  He took a coin into his hand, for what, I do not know.  Leilani is not willing to discuss zis attack, nor associazion wiz zee Attackers, nor what zey were trying to take."

This last part is stated as fact, rather than an accusation, and Rue nods at Leilani peacefully.

"Zee Attackers, zey are well-known and have not been previously stopped.  Zee good Sergeant believes zere is enough against zem in zis case.  However, zis seems unlikely to be true.  If zey have not been stopped already, and if zey are being supported by strong patrons.  Zey will likely be released in time.  Zey know zat I, Jun, and Cassie gave testament against zem.  Zee victim was unwilling to do so.  Zerefore, I suspect, zey will come to us for revenge."  

Rue glances at Jun and Cassie, looking a bit down at this realization.  Then he turns back to Blossom and Sarva.

"However, you believe zis is unrelated wiz zee nobles you fear.  So zis is some ozzer involvement."

Rue thinks for a few moments.

"So, zee questions are...  Why would two parties be so interested in a legendary vault right now?  Zee vault is known enough to be written about in my old books, so why now?  Sarva believes zere is danger here, because of zees nobles, because of zere devilry.  But why here, in zis tavern?  Why is zis Vault involved?  Why is zis Gnome involved?  How does Sarva know zis person?  Who is zis person?"

Cassie raises an eyebrow in Rue's direction.

"You definitely ask a lot of questions," she says with an amused smile, "it's kind of cute. Almost."

Turning back to Blossom and Sarva, the smile fades just a bit.

"You say that 'assistance' from your factions is a possible compensation for assisting you with this matter?" she says slowly, thoughtfully.  "What sort of assistance do you mean?"

"It's an excellent question," Sarva responds, "but one we cannot answer.  We know that entire hall has been rented by the performance troupe -- it could be any of them.  Well, not Threestrings - he's a regular, he has his own place.  But it could be Bighat's, the mouse act fellow, or any of the Mummers."  She pauses to take a drink.

Blossom follow along with Rue's recitation, nodding at the appropriate moments, before saying "A fair summary.  If i might add two points.  On revenge -- Grady and Dwindlejoy are known street thugs.  They will not seek you out.  Oh, sure, if they find you drunk and passed out, they'd happily stick a knife between your ribs, but they are no schemers -- they do the bidding of whoever pays them that day.  If no patron pays them to come after you, they will not.  As for tonight's patron," a twinkle reaches her eye, "it would be mere conjecture to say the Cassalanters are involved, or not involved, or if these events are related.   My gut tells me they are both related to the Vault, if not each other, but we simply do not know."

"As for potential compensation," Sarva says as she turns to Cassie, "the favor of our order can be twofold, if successful.  Most obviously, you would have the opportunity to join our ranks, with all the rights and responsibilities thereof.  Even if not, should you fall - either tonight or in the future - one time you may be brought to our headquarters in Waterdeep for Raise Dead, free of any charge or obligation."

"How much ..." Orynn sits up a little, in a curious, but slightly uncomfortable sort of way, "protection does your order provide to its members?"