Usul is able to steal 1 gold and 10 silver and 196 copper from the assorted coin purses he lifts while distracting people on the street with sudden flashes of light and unexpected sounds. He has not yet acquired a harness for his dog yet, as it is still getting used to its new family.

It is now very late in the evening, the party is back at the Saving Point, we'll say everyone is back to full health and ready to go. Where to?

Quote from Draconiclast >>

It is now very late in the evening, the party is back at the Saving Point, we'll say everyone is back to full health and ready to go. Where to?

 ((There were a couple votes for the Keg, so I'd say there.))

Usul will give Muad a bone, and play with him for a few minutes before leaving. Trying to teach him 'sit.' ANIMAL HANDLING 6

Muad does not sit.

The party heads out into the city, making their way to the Empty Keg, located in the Southern Castle Ward, a few blocks away from the Saving Point. It's a short walk, but nervewracking - Waterdeep at night is very different from Waterdeep in the daytime (Does Usul bring Muad with them or does he stay behind? It might not be a good idea to bring him, but it's up to you).

The Empty Keg is a large, loud building - you can hear the singing and yelling from a block away. The party passes a sleepy tavern called The Red-Eyed Owl and turns left and are greeted by a huge crowd of people streaming into and out of one of three places situated all in a row: The Empty Keg, Mother Salinka's House of Pleasure, and The Yawning Portal.

The party stands amidst the crowds going to both bars and the brothel. How do you want to proceed?

((Usul did not bring Muad. He'd pull out one of the bigger bones left (I'll buy more later), set out his sleeping mat, put the bone on it, and after giving some puppy love will pat his head and tell him we'll be back. Gnome "Speak with small animals"?))

Usul, being small, will head into the Keg and just dart around between people listening for anyone taking about adventuring into the Underdark, or specifically with young adventurers. He'll then head back and report to the group. PERCEPTION 9

((Bah. Low rolls today. Ok. Someone else try something~))

I think we could grab a seat at the bar - if they have a bar - get some drinks and ask the bartender or the owner if they know anything.  They might not know Anna, but maybe there’s someone or somewhere that adventurers go to.  I dunno.  I’m not going alone though. Sen looks uncomfortably at the large crowds and is very tempted just to bolt, but sticks with it.  If anyone else in the party agrees to go with him, he will find a seat at the bar or a table in the Empty Keg, get a drink, and look for a chance to talk to someone who works there. 

Veryes is happy to go in with Sen. I'd like to take the approach of asking the bartender if they'd be open to me playing a little music for their patrons.

Crush will push his way into the tavern, his chainmail clinking with every step. The orc would pause for a moment and look around, hoping to find whoever might be the biggest and most threatening person in the room. Pulling out his pipe and exhaling a large plume of black smoke from his nostrils, the orc would then make his way towards whoever he finds.

Aria has always been a bit awkward in big crowds. She keeps her left hand clutching to her quiver as she scans the area and will follow Crush just to make sure nothing goes horribly wrong..

PERCEPTION: 7

Usul will stick with Veryes and Sen as we enter the bar.

Veryes will use Crush's bulk to her advantage getting into the bar and follow him while clears a path but will then break away and look for someone important looking to talk to about playing some music.

The Empty Keg is a single massive Great Hall with a very high ceiling to try to contain all of the noise. You are facing three long tables - probably 100 feet long with benches instead of chairs. The tables and benches are all bolted to the floor. There are smaller tables around the perimeter of the room, and a massive bar at the far end that has approximately 25 stools in front of it and a row of kegs stacked two high behind it. Two women and a man are working behind the bar. There are swinging doors on either side of the bar, and staff are rotating empty kegs in and out in an almost constant circuit. The room is lit by several chandeliers suspended by heavy chains and illuminated by magical means - they are high enough in the air that no one could use them in a bar fight. Besides the small stage setup to the right of the bar (your right), it would strike you that the Keg is very sparsely decorated - nothing can be stolen or broken if nothing is there. Dwarven Barmaids, some beleaguered by the crowd, others having fun with it, make their way up and down the space between the long tables and the perimeter tables, refilling empty beer steins, collecting abandoned ones. There is a very large man in heavy armor that has seen better days wielding an impressive greatsword hanging out next to the bar, facing the crowd - he is clearly security. 

The party enters and is immediately overwhelmed by the noise and the overpowering beer smell. Aria and Usul are unable to hear anyone talking about anything that sounds like it would be related to Anna, though plenty of people are talking all at once and maybe a lot of them are exaggerating their successes in the Undermountain and elsewhere. The party is able to secure an empty table along the wall, but there are only four stools. Moments after you sit, one of the barmaids approaches you all and asks how many beers you want. 

Usul hears the barmaid, looks down, and somewhat under his breath mutters "I don't think I'm old enough for beer..." ((he's only 17))

Veryes "Greetings fine lady! Who can I talk to about playing on the stage? I know I may look all cute and innocent but I know many bawdy drinking songs that I'm sure will encourage all to order another round!"

"Good Music!" Crush will grunt while pointing to Veryes and looking to the dwarf before leaving the table and approaching the large heavily armored man. "Good armor and sword... You know undermountain?" the orc will grunt with a smile on his face as he examines the mans gear.

Aria raises her hand in response to the barmaid's question. She keeps her eyes scanning the entire hall, trying to see if she can notice anything. But also keeping an eye out as Crush makes his way over to the security guard.

PERCEPTION: 6

Sen sits down and closes his eyes for a few minutes, trying to overhear the conversation at the next tables:  Perception: 10

After a while he gets up, after the waitress has gone, and heads over to the bar.  He takes a stool, sitting near to, but not directly next to, another patron if he can.  He waves to get the barmaid's attention.  An ale, please.  He keeps an eye on where his companions are, nervously glancing around as people move around the room.

She shrugs at Usul. "OK, if you say so." she says. She signals that she's got Aria's order.
To Veryes,  she says, "That's nice, but that's not my call. Someone's coming up soon, I think. But it's not my call anyway, so."

Crush goes up to the bouncer and asks him about the Undermountain, and the bouncer signals for him to move out of his line of sight. 

Veryes will turn to the rest of the party "So what do you guys think? I was hoping if maybe I could get in good graces here playing a couple tunes maybe information would be easier to come by. We could also just ask folks if they've seen her and show her picture around?" Eying the crowd "I don't want to get into a fight here though, that's for sure"

"Agreed" Usul will say, also looking around at the crowd, adding "though do you think showing her picture would find us anything? I'm not sure how helpful the people in here will be..."

Crush would move around to the side of the bouncer, so that he was no longer blocking his line of sight. "You know girl Anna?" Crush would ask, holding his hand out about the height Anna was supposed to be. "Her missing, she explore undermountain?" The orc would ask.