(OOC: You are free to read the spoiler from post 5064. I'm assuming that Hildigrim will soon tell the details to the others.

We will see how DirtyDogP wants to handle Hildi's recent traumatic experience. Fortunately, he is wearing an Amulet of Health to bolster his constitution.)

Soon after the halflings run away gagging, Quillary and Jorin hear their own halfling friend whisper, "Brilliant! I'm going to follow them to see what they're up to next. Come along, but stay back a ways so they don't see you. If they do anything unexpected, I'll be in touch."

Remaining invisible, Hildigrim will tail the halflings.

(OOC: Hildigrim is a true friend. Despite standing right next to the gang when they got blasted, he doesn't complain to Jorin at all.)

You are currently near the west end of the Alley. The gang of halflings travel all the way to the east end of the Alley, about 400' as the crow flies.

Along the way, they make 2 stops.
At a general goods store, they walk out with 3 empty burlap sacks (a little larger than a pillow case).
Near a local grocer, rather than walk in, they glance about to make sure no one is watching (Hildi is invisible, J & Q are well back and duck behind cover), then go dumpster diving. They fill one of the sacks with discarded vegetables, breads, meats, fruits, etc. The other male in the group (Dasher) starts to eat a rotten apple and a chicken leg that still has meat on it, but gets a slap up the back of his head. "Idiot! We need that as bait."

At the east end of Trollskull Alley, they noisily slide a removable metal grate that covers an opening in the street. Below the grate, a ladder descends 20 feet into the Waterdeep sewer system. They enter, sliding the grate closed behind them.

"They are collecting rats, perhaps? Has this Frewn hired them to eliminate any competition to his tavern? That would be us." Quillary is very matter of fact. "We should visit this Frewn, these wererats are just conducting business."

Jorin eyes the sewer and grate and says, "If we do not continue to follow them now, we may lose them.  But i also do not want to go back into the underground..."

Quillary gives a little shudder. "The sun has not yet worked its way back into my body, I would not go down if we do not need to. Hildi," she addresses the empty space where she thinks he might be, "Do you think we should question this tavern keeper?"

Hildi becomes visible again, looking only slightly disappointed — more interested. "Let's do that. But we should hide our hand. One of us should go solo and in camouflaged. I can handle that." He eyes both Jorin and Quillary. "While our scaled friend is clearly the most charismatic among us, he will be the most difficult to disguise. I think it should be you, Jorin. One human looks the same as any other human." He smiles. "No offense."

Hildi is proficient with disguise kit, so +3 to whatever roll the DM decides needs to be made.

Quillary just smiles.

(OOC: I haven't mentioned what race Emmek Frewn is.

With Hildigrim's family having ties with other businesses, he would have heard of "Frewn Tanners" in the Trades Ward. Except it is run by a pair of Illuskan (human) sisters, no mention of Emmek.

I'll need to hear how Jorin and Quillary are approaching the situation, assuming you all decide to walk back to that building to face Emmek.)

If Jorin agrees to approach the tavern himself, Quillary will use her Wild Shape to take the form of tressym, and sit perched on Jorin's shoulder, wings folded.

(OOC > I was as surprised as anyone to see the Tressym on the list of Wild Shape compatible creatures, but it is a low CR and a beast. Not gonna turn down a winged, invisibility-and-poison-detecting cat!)

Ya, Jorin is totally into this.  Are we going into a tannery or a tavern?  I thought it was a tavern, but Quasi's post mentioned a tannery.

(OOC: In post 5077, there is a tannery in the Trades Ward with the same family name, but it might be completely independent of the pub being built here in the North Ward.
I was pointing out that you don't know if Emmek is human or not, but came up with a reason why Hildigrim would assume Frewns are human.)

Jorin has the shapeshifted Quillary on his shoulder, pretending to be asleep but keenly observing. In particular, she glances at Hildigrim's (invisible) location so that Jorin knows where the halfling is walking.

You are standing outside the incomplete pub.

OOC > An unfinished tavern, even. I think Hildi popped back into visibility, unfortunately... though we could retcon that... and cats never sleep, right? They just pretend so they can mess with us.

(Ah ok, i was thinking a tavern, which is perfect for Jorin)

Jorin will walk into the tavern and proclaim, "Finally, an ale house!  Friends, my thirst for life is matched only by my thirst for ale!  Please tell me someone where might lighten my coin pouch and laden my belly with drink?"

Quote from Mingofaust >>

OOC > An unfinished tavern, even. I think Hildi popped back into visibility, unfortunately... though we could retcon that... and cats never sleep, right? They just pretend so they can mess with us.

(OOC: I figured he would cast it again with his remaining 2nd level slot. That leaves him short on spell slots, but he will be leaving before noon to visit family for the rest of the day anyways...

Or instead of invisibility, Hildigrim could find a quiet spot in the bookstore that is close to the pub, and observe through Volo's senses. Jorin would have to be creative, why this rough looking barbarian has a flying cat on one shoulder and an owl on the other. And Hildigrim would have to buy a book so the store owner is okay with him sitting in a corner staring off into space.

I've never had a cat, but play Call of Cthulhu with people who love cats. The cats enjoy napping in my lap, and allowing me to pretend to be Spectre #1 plotting James Bond's demise.)

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

Jorin will walk into the tavern

The front door is closed and latched.
It would only take a small effort to force it open, but it isn't as easy as turning a handle and walking in.

(Will retcon the situation as necessary, after it is decided if Hildigrim is invisible again, or observing through the owl.)

(Ohhh, hmm, well that throws a wrench in my plans. lol)

Quote from Guiltysparc >>

(Ohhh, hmm, well that throws a wrench in my plans. lol)

(OOC: Well, being a barbarian, there is nothing to stop Jorin from bashing through the door. "I didn't realize it was locked. Oopsy."

He could still pretend to be a normal bar patron. There are a variety of other roles he could play: bill collector, money-lender, building upgrader, health inspector, gangster looking to collect, looking for a job, etc.
And Hildigrim hasn't decided if he wants to be invisible or watch through Volo's eyes.)

Jorin is inclined to kick the door in, with the previously submitted proclamation, but we'll wait for the others to weigh in on that plan.

The winged cat does not prevent Jorin from kicking in the door, though she does flap her wings to maintain balance at the violent action.