Renaer nods to Elon and then looks back to Selinae, "Puppet?"

Wincing at Elon's reaction to Raener's derogative use of the word "Zhent", Vassa nods in a friendly way to the Elf as he walks from the room. Walking over to Raener, the bard leans down to whisper, "Elon is a member of the Zhentarim... not the crazy, murderous Manshoon mob, the other crew. He's understandably a little sensitive to some of our views on his chosen affiliation."

"Really? That's good to know. I had heard there was a faction split going on there but hadn't followed up on it. Perhaps I can pick his brain later. Anyway, having a member of the Zhents in your crew isn't surprising. After all, I introduced you to Silver and he's part of Xanathar's crew. Speaking of which, where is Silver? You didn't lose him did you?"

Xanathar's crew...they missed telling me that little bit of information but then again it does not surprise me. Grumpy thief. We are a collection of the best and worst* she smiles in Elon's direction *that Waterdeep has to offer.

Phaedra pips up. "I know a little about the god Gond and his follows in Waterdeep. I have not visited it but his temple is in the Sea War and is known as The House of Inspired Hands. His following all practice time-honored crafting professions such as smiths, engineers, architects and weavers, leatherworkers, jewelers and I would also think fletchers. Having a puppets with symbols of Gond on it does not surprise me, they have a reputation for attracting some unusual worshipers, they would call them visionaries, most other folk would call them mad inventors or even crackpots."

Quote from IAmButADream >>

Xanathar's crew...they missed telling me that little bit of information but then again it does not surprise me. Grumpy thief. We are a collection of the best and worst* she smiles in Elon's direction *that Waterdeep has to offer.

At the news about Silver Selinaes eyes went straight to Elon...then Phaedra, her face aghast.

Elon may be part of some 'good' faction of Zhentarim or at least fooling himself but everyone down at the docks knew that Xanathars group ran slaves for some of the worst people in Toril....selling children and young people into servitude as workers, pit fighters....playthings.....and ran most of the Ziran which had killed a number of members of her dock crew.

A Xanathar lapdog.....no wonder the hair stood up on the back of her neck whenever he was nearby...

" We go to the Temple of Gond. The Sea Ward, Now!", she said suddenly, her voice angry,  her long legs taking her to the door in a moment.

She pulled it open and stepped through without checking if anyone followed.

"No, we didn't 'lose' Silver... he just kind of heads out to do his own thing sometimes, which is fine by me, since he's really given us no reason to doubt his commitment to our common goals. If the Zhentarim can be splintered with both evil and goo... well, NON-EVIL members, then why not the Xanastafarians?

Vassa is about to continue when Phae speaks up with her knowledge of Gond. Nodding his head in appreciation of the priestesses knowledge despite himself, the bard is about to make a typically half-serious, half-disingenious comment when Sel abruptly gives the command to head out and marches from the inn. Raising an eyebrow in both surprise and puzzled concern, the half drow finishes his cold coffee and stands up to follow the goliath, saying,

"Sorry, Raener. You heard the lady. It seems like we're off to see the temple... the wonderful temple of Gond!"

"Maybe this place is where the Cobbler White's resides.  We should definitely go there!  But...we're supposed to stay in the Manor here until the Watch comes and interviews us."

After regaining his composuer, Elon walks back in to see Selinae storm out. "I didn't upset anyone I hope" looking to everyone but ignoring the Raener fellow, then goes after Selinae.

As you exit the manor you find 4 City Watch officers stationed directly in front of it. One large half-orc officer holds up his hand, "I'm sorry but we've been asked to make sure you all stay inside until our supervisors finish investigating the crime scene. Please return to your home. They will pay you a visit shortly."

Before any can react a pair of City Watch officers come up from the south escorting Silver. One of the officers looks to the other group, "Found this one at the south end of the alley. He claims no one had told him to go home yet."

The half-orc officer looks to Silver, "Well, you're being told now." Looking back to the rest of the group, "You're all being told. This is your last warning. Stay inside your home until you are told you can leave. If you attempt to leave again we have been instructed to restrain you. You're making this much harder than it has to be and drawing a lot of suspicion onto yourselves."

Selinae stood stock still, her fists clenched then turned on the spot seething and marched back inside ignoring Silver and almost knocking Elon aside in her haste.

She needed somewhere...basement!...she headed downstairs without a word...

Phaedra watches Selinae eyeing her before she add the information about Gond. The priestesses head swivels and follows the goliath as she storms outside and then coming storming back inside, dashing past Elon and into the basement.

"Ahh well I hope it was not because I mentioned something about Gond Elon...maybe it was all your usual yapping Renaer that upset her. Or maybe she does not like puppets? I know, she seems to have a connection to little people...it's probably about the halfing death."

Phaedra wanders outside on hearing the guardsmen, watching them escort Silver over. "Ohh thank you for returning him officers. You know every family has a "stray cat" kind of fellow and Silver is our cat. And don't worry, I have told them all to wait inside for your commander, whom I assume is the mage who can levitate. I can't not wait to meet him. Any mage is definitely a worshiper of Our Mighty Mother of Mysteries" she holds up her holy symbol and makes a pious motion with it , "and they are therefore a friend of mine."

Ohh it is remiss of me. You may have heard that we are setting up a tavern here in Trollskull Manor once again and I bet you are parched. How about I get you all a drink, free of charge as you will be our first customers. No no I insist, we have CrimsonBrow brew you know." She winks at the half-orc officer.

"Bason! Bason! We need some ale!" Phaedra starts to count off the number of guardsmen, pointing at each as she goes.

After almost being knocked over, Elon decideds to just give her space. He gives a nod to Silver when he gets up to the door then casually heads in. Once inside he will question Silver on any info or leads.

Silver just smiles at the half-orc "Yes sir - right away. Thank you so much." he just walks as fast as possible towards Trollskull.

As he walks through the door, he sighs walking over to the bar and pouring himself some ale, nodding to everyone in the room and waiting for the officers to disappear "Well that was exciting as always...turns out the guy running out of the hole was heading for our lovely manor from someone and then boom. Did you all figure anything out?"

Not wanting the Watch to hear, Vassa takes Silver by the arm and leads him to a backroom, nodding his head as Elon joins them, before quietly saying,

"Hey, Silver. I was just about to ask you the same thing. Wait... what "hole" did the gnome come out of? I checked the sewer grate in the alley and I'd swear that it hadn't been opened in an age! 

Questioning witnesses revealed there was a wooden puppet-like figure on a nearby roof when the explosion happened, Kes found a clue relating to Gond the tinker god on said nearby roof and Raener here has filled us in on a possible motive for the gnome coming to see us - apparently he was going to offer us a job to deliver the Stone of Golorr to Raener's father, but it seems likely his killers were either Xanathar or Zhenterim... and that one of them now has the stone which they can use to find the hidden lost treasure.

We are going to check out the temple of this Gond fellow, but first have to wait for these watch officers, who are taking their sweet time, I must say. Did a local donut shop get damaged in the explosion?"

Looking around the room and not seeing Sel, the bard will head down to the basement and, sitting on the stair to give his clearly upset friend some space, ask,

"Hey, Sel... Are you okay? If you want to be alone, that's fine, but if you want to talk about anything, we're here for you. I know I tend to talk a lot, but I'm actually a pretty decent listener as well. At least that's what my dear old nan used to say."

Vassa says the last bit with a friendly wink and a smile, but is also keeping an eye out for any cue that Selinae genuinely wants to be left alone.

[OOC] insight check: 14

Kestrell hollers to the people going down to the basement: "Watch out for Elsa while you are down there.  And let me know if any Gazers appear.  Phaedra's mount over the bar needs a friend."

Then he sits next to Silver at the bar, waiting patiently for the City Watch to come interrogate them, grumbling under his breath "last time my arse, I'll give them something to restrain!"

"Ahh, there you are old friend."  Renaer says upon seeing Silver. "I was just asking the others where you had wondered off to. Vassa is correct. Dalakhar worked for my father as a spy." Looking to the group, "Did you learn anything else? Do you have any other clues?"

A new voice speaks up, "Yes, we'd like to know the answer to that as well." Those of you in the room turn to see these two walking into the taproom:

The officer steps forward and says, "I am City Watch sergeant Saeth Cromley and this, as at least one of you already know, is Barnibus Blastwind, a member of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors. As I'm sure you are aware, we are here as part of an active investigation. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated."

Barnibus nods to the group, "We already know from speaking with the other witnesses that none of you were outside when the explosion happened. We also know that you've been asking questions. If you would be so kind as to tell us the results of your own work we will get out of your hair and you can go about your business."

"Barny!  Long time no see!" Kestrell waves, helpfully, at the Mage.

The mage stiffens at Kestrell's greeting but smiles and nods his head, "Pleasure to see you again sir. I didn't catch your name last time."

Quote from vassasunstar >>

 

 

Looking around the room and not seeing Sel, the bard will head down to the basement and, sitting on the stair to give his clearly upset friend some space, ask,

"Hey, Sel... Are you okay? If you want to be alone, that's fine, but if you want to talk about anything, we're here for you. I know I tend to talk a lot, but I'm actually a pretty decent listener as well. At least that's what my dear old nan used to say."

Vassa says the last bit with a friendly wink and a smile, but is also keeping an eye out for any cue that Selinae genuinely wants to be left alone.

[OOC] insight check: 9

 OOC: Vassas pretty sure its ok she's there.

As Vassa enters the basement there is a rythmic *thud,thud,thud* sound and they see Selinae punching the stone wall of the cellar over and over again with bloody knuckles, she turned as Vassa spoke and wiped her eyes which were red.

" I think I woke up Elsa.....sorry, Puss."

She smiled slightly at Vassa, " I don't know what I'm doing here.....wait, do you have  a dark secret as well?", she said in an attempt at humour but obviously tense in case there was one.

" I thought when I sent that letter to Zord I was doing the right thing.....I mean people are safe now....Mums safe....but maybe that drow should have been killed...or arrested." 

" And I know I'm just a moron who hauls cargo and crews merchant cogs so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with all this Lordships and secret meetings and fireballs.....and two of upstairs are folks that Dad would have a fit if he knew I was with.....not that he doesn't about sailors and dockers anyway..."

" Why are you doing this stuff?"

She cocked her head as the Guard arrived upstairs, the others could answer that they had more idea what had happened than she did anyway...

A little mipped that the guardsmen did not respond to her offers of beer, the priestess changes tac.

"Barnibus Blastwind, our friend Kestrell has already told me all about the powerful mage, yourself that is, that he became acquainted with this morn. I am Phaedra Starcaller, priestess of Our Mighty Goddess of All Magic, Mystra. May I ask sir, when was the last time that you did come to our temple and pray?"