"So this is how the other half lives," Briga says, somewhat filled with awe.  "Half isn't right, there's way more poor people.  That phrase makes no sense.  The other, what, 5 percent, one percent? Anyway, this is impressive.  I'll take water, please.  If I spill wine on something here I think I'd be working for a decade to pay it off."  

"Water it is," the manservant responds.  "The master has just popped out, so if you don't mind waiting for him, he has said he was expecting visitors and that if they were to show up to let them know he would be here shortly, he has official business that he had to attend to, he should be returning in about 10 minutes from now," he said before disappearing to get you each your drinks.

Arlon will make himself comfortable. 

"Walls might have some ears." he says, " Let's wait."  

Tyrus makes the rounds of the room inspecting the craftsmanship of the furnishings. He will also take a professional interest in the lock on the front door; he is a locksmith after all.

While he is doing this, he might also notice anything unusual [OOC: Here's a roll for a Perception check, if it is relevant: 14 ]

Apart from the fact that Mirt is rich, there's nothing out of the ordinary in the house, at least in the room you have access to.  The locks are some of the best Tyrus has seen, and the location also means that almost every house in this ward is always watched by at least one member of the city watch at all times, this one is no exception.  There's obviously no space for trouble, and so it makes the work of the Black Viper even more impressive with the high number of city watch on duty in the Sea Ward.

After 15 minutes, the door opens to the rotund, red-cheeked man that you have met as Mirt.  "Ah, Tyrus, and the rest of the dragons, how can I be of assistance?" he asks.

Tyrus puts down his mead and gets to his feet. "Good morning, Lord Mirt. Thank you for seeing us."

If the servant is in the room, Tyrus will conspicuously look at him and then ask, "Can I be speaking freely?"

Otherwise, or if Mirt says to go ahead, he will then say, "I have spoken with the wondrous Maxeene, and she be telling me that she has seen a number of people that she considers suspicious. One was being a half-elf with an odd tattoo—something we be seeing ourselves in connection to this Xanathar group—and two others, that she said she be dropping off near the Yawning Portal."

He then adds, "I know this be sounding a bit vague, but there were being too many people around to talk freely, perhaps I could have a proper chat with her after hours."

"Oh of course, Maverick here is one of us as well," he says with a wink as Maverick turns his collar to show a harper pin, with a golden harp on a black background, suggesting a higher ranking member of the faction.  One similar to that Mirt has.  "Go ahead," Mirt says.

As Tyrus revealed the information, Mirt nodded and once completed looked over to Maverick.  "Speak to Threestrings at the yawning portal, he might know more," Mirt replies with a nod as Maverick nods and says "Sure thing, Mirt - if anybody has seen anyone matching that, he would probably have seen them.  You know, I'm finally coming around to the idea of placing him there.  His terrible, but somehow his managed to keep his place there.  I mean, why don't you give him a new string so he can play that lute properly?" Maverick asks.  

"He plays it well enough as is, Mave," Mirt laughs "besides, he turned the offer down," he says as his joyful laughter lightens to a soft smile.  "You did well, Tyrus.  I think I'll have something more for you soon, and I think I can get some excellent writers to help improve your already fantastic storytelling skills.  Entertainment can be key to diplomacy, after all," he said. "I'll have Mave let you know more soon. If you ever need to share anything with me from now on, please feel free to speak to Mave, his one of my wise owls. You can trust him. And he will be available should I not be should you need any further assistance from the group," Mirt adds.

"I didn't just want to say that I was, master.  After all, never know if the Zhents or the Xanathars are listening these days, they seem to have eyes and ears everywhere.  Well, a pleasure to meet you Mr. Mountson.  I'll see you at your tavern when we have more for you." he says simply. 

"Thank you, Lord Mirt, and likewise, Master Mave," says Tyrus, giving them both bows of respect, but with Mave's being really just a nod of the head. 

Then, after a moment's hesitation, he asks, "If I be wanting to talk to this Threestrings fellow you mentioned—or in fact anybody else I be thinking might be a Harper—what would be the proper way? Is just showing him my pin enough? I suspect the last thing I be wanting to do is show it to someone who might be an enemy of the Harpers."

"At the moment, we'll come to you. Once you've done some more work for us, then more of us will reveal ourselves," Mirt responds seriously.  "As you progress through the Harpers, you'll get to know more of us.  All you need to worry about knowing for now are myself and Mave," he explains.  "It's how we keep the organisation safe from other factions, everyone has their own contact and working on their own missions.  You may pass one on the street without even knowing.  It's important to keep it this way, for now."

"Now, have you all thought about my offer from the opera last night?" he asks, changing the subject to the monetary investment opportunity.

Arlon is still sitting when Mirt comes into the room. He listens to the whole conversation then gets up

 "Back to the Yawning Portal? Ever thought of making on of its tables you personal meeting stop? All this back and forth are hurting by feet and taking there tolls on my studies"

He laughs to take the edge of his comment. 

"You know, if we're all going to be in with this city's movers and shakers, having another place like *our* tavern isn't bad for this sort of off the books meeting," Briga mentions, adding some incentive to the bargaining (Help Action).  "When you need less obvious meetings than meeting in someone's home with your contacts, our tavern can work for that.  The Yawning Portal seems to be everyone's go-to, and I get that, but the YP has a lot of foot traffic, what with all the random adventurers waiting to die in the pit to Undermountain, and the gawkers who want to see the bones it coughs up.  Easier for a counter spy to blend in, there. Basically our place being less publicly known actually kind of makes it more valuable for this kind of Harper thing, doesn't it?"  

"Oh, you'd be surprised just how well known your place is.  When it was owned by Lif, people would go there all the time, pretty much any local from the Sea Ward to the Trades Ward.  The Dock Ward would typically stay to the more rough places nearer the docks, but your place was just as popular locally - if you wanted to know politics then Trollskull Tavern is where you would hear all the latest gossip," Mirt says with a smile.  "Besides, your tavern has a ghost who serves drinks.  The town is already talking about it," he adds.

Tyrus' first thought is: I hope they're taking the money as well.

Tyrus then asks, "What happened to this Lif? Might it be their ghost still working the taproom?"

Arlon listens intently to Mirt's words. 

"You seem to know a lot about the in and outs of the city's business. Care to help steer us in the right direction? Wait .. what ghost ?" 

(ooc: Not sure Arlon knew there was a ghost serving beer. He is pretty sure the halflings would have told him about it.) 

"In fact, there are rumours that his ghost did never leave that tavern, which is going to pull in a lot of adventurers just for the thrill of being served a drink by a ghost," Mirt laughs.  "It's not a malicious spirit, he just loves serving drinks," he adds.  "And, well, it's all about getting on side with the different guilds.  The first you would probably want for you all is the tavern and innkeepers guild, otherwise your going to find that you'll only be getting stuff from out of Waterdeep, which has ridiculous import taxes," he says.

Arlon takes careful notes of everything Mirt says. 

"I think ill do just that tomorrow at first light, " he looks at his drink and adds , " maybe a bit later." 

"Anyone I should talk too once there ? There must be someone better suited to answer our needs." 

"Well, If you wish to take me up on my offer, I can handle all the paperwork, otherwise you'll want to visit the guild office, and then fill out the relevant forms, and pay the fee," Mirt says.  "Once you've done that, you'll want to get links with the Brewers and Distiller's Guild - as they'll be able to provide you with the drinks from the city.  They won't accept applications for any inns not part of the innkeeper's guild though, and if you don't pay the Brewers' Guild, you'll be paying five times the standard price," he also says.

"I'm surprised we don't have to register our resident ghost with some kind of guild, in Waterdeep," Briga says.  "These are probably good ideas, though, doing all the guild registrations and all.  I'll let you guys decide, I just don't want to deal with the paperwork."

"Me neither," mutters Tyrus, whose eyes have strayed back to the fineries of the house. "It be a nice house you have here, Lord Mirt. Did you build or buy it?"

"Oh, I bought it.  Waterdeep has been standing longer than I've been alive," Mirt chuckles.  "It began as an elven city, you know, before dwarves came in, then... well we don't talk about between the dwarves and Waterdeep as we know it today," he smiles.