Working their way back through the second and then the first levels of Undermountain is much easier than it was coming the other way. The quartet stand in silence as the "bucket" is lowered down to retrieve them. It is a long, rickety ride to the top but one they have made before. The warmth of fire and candle light strike them as they emerge from the well. But the greeting is far from warm. Normally there is a buzz or even cheers as delvers return from Undermountain. This time, the Black Blades are met by the City Watch. A lot of them.

"Bronx," says the head watchperson. "You are under arrest for aggravated assault."

The watch person holds up a boot that is stained brown with dried blood. "Come quietly," says the watchperson with an edge of anxiety to her voice. "There's no need to make a scene."

When Kaltent, Shift, and Zinn find their way to the Dock Ward that evening, their fourth is squarely in prison. It certainly takes some of the punch out of payday as they receive their coin from Byrat. As evening turns into the dead of night, the trio part ways to do as they will with their newfound coin. But all three know that they haven't seen the last of Undermountain...

Chapter 3: The Help

Laniel's shoulders relax as he sees the walls of Waterdeep casting long shadows over Undercliff. It has been a long, hard ride from Riverdam in which they have fended off bandits not once, not twice, but three different times. And that is not to mention the traps and golems that Krennic left behind, as well as Laniel's former brothers still under his sway. And for all of that, they have very little to report back.

So seeing the walls of Waterdeep is very welcoming, if only for the promise of a warm bed and friendly faces. Unfortunately, Lady Blackstaff is waiting to meet them at the gates. For a moment, Laniel gets the sinking feeling they are being sent out again. Instead, she summons them to Blackstaff Tower.

"Atuan has been reassigned," she says but offers not further explanation. "But one of my former students will be taking his place."

They enter the tower, the first time Vajra Safahr has admitted them into the building. She leaves them in what is obviously a classroom, where Laniel, Morph, Rethan, and TItus plop down their dusty gear and sit on wooden benches in front of small wooden desks.

Nobody says anything for the 15 minutes that Lady Blackstaff is gone. When she returns, it is with a young gnome. "This is Saralyssa Lorridan Adredar," Vajra says. "Your newest partner in the tavern you all own. Make yourselves known to each other while I retrieve your next assignment."

And the powerful wizard departs again, leaving the 5 heroes to stare blankly at each other before the awkward introductions begin.

A half-elf smiles at Saralyssa,

"So your the one who now owns Mal's share of our fine tavern? Nice to finally meet you, my name is Morpheus Fable, but you can call me Morph."

Morph gives Saralyssa a polite bow.

Morph is a nice looking, pale skinned half-elf, with black hair and a kind smile.

Morph reaches up to the collar of his shirt and a large spider crawls out onto his hand.

"This is Lucy my familiar. She helps me with my medical work, creating silk thread for stitches or allowing me to get a closer look at a wound."

Morph lets Lucy climb onto his shoulder before turning to his companions.

"I will let the others introduce themselves."

"I'm Laniel," says the fair-skinned, bald human. "Former brother of the monastery in Riverdam."

He is not dressed like a monk, maybe more like a farmer in his finest or a cleric in casual clothes. He moves like a cat, though, with a powerful build under his loose clothing. His expression darkens slightly. "I would still be there if not for my former master betraying us all."

Saralyssa has heard a little about Master Martus Krennic. The monk master is up to something in Undermountain. The what seems to be all that anyone knows, however: Krennic is bringing a powerful relic called the Clockwork Dragon deeper and deeper into the maze below Waterdeep. It carries enough magic to control, for a time, the motivations of thousands of citizens of Waterdeep. The why...that part is still unknown. And this young monk appears to be no more in the know than anyone else.

"Anyways," he says, "It is a pleasure to meet you. I have a feeling a talented mage might be what we need if we are going to go any deeper into Undermountain. Do you have any idea on what this next assignment is?"

Saralyssa is a red-haired gnome with a slight green tint to her otherwise fair skin. She wears a tunic, belted at the waist, with a cloak over it. At her waist is a component pouch, as well as a wand in a sheath. On her feet are a pair of elven-made boots that seem to make her steps completely silent.

"Well met all." Saralyssa says as she glances after the Blackstaff, then turns to face the group. "First, yes, I did buy out your old partner in the tavern, as I was impressed with your setup when I visited it recently." She shrugs then as she is asked if she knows the newest assignment. "No, I have not been informed about the latest task, but I am sure we will be filled in shortly."

"Name's Rethan," says the large brown-haired human.  He carries a quarterstaff in a comfortable grip and looks like he knows how to use it.  A long cloak hangs down his back over his plate armor, and the boots on his feet have little wings on the sides.  A cat rides on one shoulder.  "This is Midnight," he adds, pausing to pet the cat for a moment.  "I'm part of the City Guard here in Waterdeep."

A large and imposing Dragonborn stood to greet their new companion. His plate Mail was polished and meticulously maintained, and the emblem of the city was embossed upon his large shield. He spoke with crisp military precision “I am Titus Vorenus, First Shield, Third Legion of the Waterdavian legions. Glad to have you with us, any friend of Blackstaff is a friend of ours. So, is this your first time in Waterdeep?”

Before Saralyssa can respond, Lady Blackstaff returns, studying a sheaf of parchment. She begins speaking before looking up. "I assume everyone is acquainted now," she says. "So I'll give you your assignment and set you on your way."

"Lady Safahr," Laniel says, causing the mage to finally look up. "Does the urgency of this assignment outweigh a nights' sleep?"

Lady Blackstaff looks back and forth among the road-dusted travelers. "Oh my," she says and then shakes her head as she says it again. "Oh my, oh my. No, of course not. Let me give you the assignment and then you may go home and take this up tomorrow."

The mage invites Saralyssa to sit and, once comfortable, Lady Safahr reads the team in. "Martus Krennic has help. He has hired some mercenaries to guide him through at least the first part of Undermountain, if not further. We have reason to believe they are a small-time operation called the Black Blades. So I have two leads for you to pursue. The first is a member of the Black Blades that was arrested two tendays ago named Bronx. He was arrested on assault charges as he emerged from Undermountain. But, we haven't gotten much out of him about his team or what he was doing in Undermountain. See if you can do any better.

"The second," Lady Blackstaff says, plowing on before any questions can arise, "Is a merchant we think might be working with Krennic. His name is Helsin Byrat and he operates a small bait shop in the Dock Ward. See if he has any connection to Krennic and what he knows.

"I have tried to be quick with the details but I may have left some things out. Any questions?"

"Do we have any more details on these Black Blades? Any names of the other members, previous history, any other known contacts?"

"And this Helsin, do we know any of his history? Is he an above board small business owner, or are there any links to crime or suspicions of it?"

Blackstaff shakes her head. "No, which is one reason I am sending you out to investigate. We've tried with the Black Blade in custody but have gotten nothing. We have not approached Helsin Byrat at all and he has never been mentioned before now."

Morph nods his understanding and then looks around at his friends to see any of them have any questions to ask.

Saralyssa shakes her head thoughtfully. “I cannot think of any questions I have at this point in time. “She says. With a glance to the others she waits to see if anyone else has any questions.

Quote from MindDetective >>

 

The mage invites Saralyssa to sit and, once comfortable, Lady Safahr reads the team in. "Martus Krennic has help. He has hired some mercenaries to guide him through at least the first part of Undermountain, if not further. We have reason to believe they are a small-time operation called the Black Blades. So I have two leads for you to pursue. The first is a member of the Black Blades that was arrested two tendays ago named Bronx. He was arrested on assault charges as he emerged from Undermountain. But, we haven't gotten much out of him about his team or what he was doing in Undermountain. See if you can do any better.

 

Titus smiles a bit at the prospect of an interrogation, he had questioned prisoners during his time with the legion, and criminals while he was with the guard. "What he knows, you will know Lady Safahr." He declares coldly. "Where is this Bronx being kept?"

The quintet head back to Trollskull Manor, Saralyssa's new investment and potential home (if she wants it). Morph and Titus immediately set about tidying up their healing clinic and have a drop-in patient within 20 minutes of arriving at home.

Mal, surprisingly, is still behind the bar, having chosen to stay on despite having sold his share of the business to Saralyssa. He serves as entertainment and bartender as well as a trusted eye on the place while the owners are away. Thankfully, his debts, which forced him to sell his share in the first place, are mostly paid off. At least, things are manageable now...or so he says.

Mal has also introduced Saralyssa to the resident poltergeist, greeter, and mischief-maker. Not knowing his or her name, Mal has settled on just calling the entity "Ghostie", which has been met with mostly more mischief.

Rethan and Laniel take some time to check the books. (116, 96) The healing clinic has broken even, managing to cover its operating costs. The tavern has seen some success, generating 160 gp for Laniel, Rethan, and Saralyssa and 80 gp for Morph and Titus.

The group goes their separate ways for the rest of the evening, agreeing to meet and set off on their assignment in the morning.

Last chance to buy/sell/anything else.

Once at the tavern Saralyssa would speak with Mal a bit, having only spoken with him briefly during the exchange of ownership. She would ask about his debts, and would be happy to hear they are mostly paid off now. Upon being introduced to the ghosty she would be a bit unnerved, but find the prankster attitude of the ghosty amusing.

Once done with her chat with Mal, Saralyssa would head up to find her room. She would want to make sure all of her stuff arrived in good order, and then spend some time getting the room situated for her to do some spellbook studying, and other things as needed. When the room was arranged to her liking she would head back down, spending some time helping out in the tavern and listening to gossip and anything else going on in the common room.

Morph goes about his work in the clinic along side Titus, tending to the needs of their local community within Waterdeep.

Afterwards as the pair are finishing up, Morph lets out a sigh,

"It is rewarding to be able help people in this way."

Morph stretches his arms over his head, letting out another satisfied sigh.

'Time for some food?"

Titus sees the last patient out after expending the last of his lay on hands. He turns to Morph and nods in agreement as he pats his stomach and walks into the tavern wing of the Manor. “It certainly beats slogging through the mud in all that heavy legionnaire armor from the old days.” said the big Bronze Dragonborn to his friend “This clinic and the tavern is the best gig I’ve ever had, that’s for sure.” 

"Yeah I can imagine. I only had to deal with the mud myself."

Morph gives his friend a smile as they walk down to the tavern.

"Being support, I didn't have to go toe-to-toe with hostiles to much."

Morph pats the door frame as the pair duck into the tavern.

"Yeah we really lucked out with this one."

Laniel rises just after dawn, as usual, and trains for an hour before coming downstairs to the tavern. The place is closed for another 5 hours still so the monk helps himself to the kitchen, which turns into an involved production as more people come down and either place an order or pitch in to help. By 9am, a large, satisfying breakfast is packed away and the team are ready to decide on which way to proceed with their mission.

"We could split up," Laniel suggests. "Or just tackle each of these interviews one at a time."