Arlon shrugs. 

"I understand what you are saying Tyrus. No worries."

"I have no objection with you going to talk to the servants alone or to meet them at their usual watering hole. That said we really need to find which servant talk to."

So heading to find the servants entrance, Tyrus starts making his way there.

(If your intending to be quiet to find a suitable servant - then I'll need a stealth check first, then a perception check. If your not intending to be quiet - the perception check is all you'll need ;))

Griff is going to sit this one out and kind of hang back out of eyesight of the guards, he foolishly is wearing his armor and doesn't want to blow the team's cover. He keeps watch in case any unwanteds start heading toward his friends.

perception: 18

Presuming Tyrus is going to approach the servant's entrance alone, he will leave his handaxe with Briga and introduce himself as a tinker/fixit-man newly in town looking for work. Using his regular spiel, he will offer his services as a knife sharpener and a pot and lock mender (OOC: all of which I believe his background and proficiencies should actually allow him to do). He might even have some identifying symbol for his guild he can show to make this believable.

Because actual work is not his goal, he will reduce his prices to make them attractive (as an introductory offer) just to give him a chance to get inside the property and meet as many of the different servants as he can (so he and they can recognise each other later) and try to find out their regular drinking holes through casual conversation with the excuse of being new in town and being a dwarf (of course).

Presuming the above works and he gets given some work, he will excuse himself to go get his tools—which are back at the manor—and meet up with the rest of the party outside to tell them what he has found out.

His plan is to actually get his tools and do the work (to get paid and maybe gain more information), but this may change if the chances of him meeting up with any of the guards who saw him in the company of Arlon and the others at the front gate are too high.

[OOC: Here's the Perception check ( 7 ). Are there any other rolls you need me to make?]

[OOC: Dang dice. Any chance I can get advantage because of what I wrote above?]

[OOC: I'll allow it]

Thanks. Here's my second roll. Perception: 21.

Having a look around the servants quarters, all of the servants are tieflings so as you approach they look towards you.

"You do not work with us, what are you doing here?" asks a male tiefling as you look around.

Tyrus says with a rush, "I'm a tinker looking for work. I can mend locks and pots and sharpen knives. Do you have any work? I'm new in town and have a special introductory price as I'm looking for repeat customers."

He then stands there nervously wringing his hands and looking around while he waits for the tiefling to answer.

[OOC: Are there any similarities in the tieflings? Perhaps a family or clan resemblance?]

[Also OOC: It's way after midnight here, so there's no rush to answer as I'm about to go to sleep.]

Briga expressed agreement to the plan to let Tyrus approach the servants, and hangs back with Griff and Arlon.  "I thought about arguing with Tyrus, since I'm wearing a cheap dress I picked up in the peasants quarters for 5 silver, but he's right, most of the servants are a lot scrawnier around here, and the weapons are a little conspicuous.  I was raised in a culture where you'd stand out for being unarmed, but urban life is very different.  Weirdly it seemed like a huge compliment, saying we 'looked like adventurers.'  I guess we really do."    

The only thing the tieflings have in common is the uniform they wear which is of the Cassalanter uniform.  One of the tieflings comes over, a red-skinned male tiefling with horns that curve back like a ram's horns. "I would be the one that deals with hiring such members, so - let's see what you've got," he says as he throws you a lock.  "Try and get this thing unjammed and we might have a reason to use your services," the tiefling smiles.

For now Alton will wait patiently for Tyrus. 

He turns to Brigga "He seems to believe it can work and he has proven to us that he is a man of many ressources. I do wonder how he will manage to get the information. In my experience money, bribes or even blackmailing work rather well." he looks at the others before adding. "From what I have read of course."

Tyrus is feeling very nervous around so many demonlings, especially so because he has been put on the spot to show his abilities without his tools [OOC: His tinker/thieves tools are in his backpack, which is back at the manor (see character sheet)].

Putting on a brave face, he examines the lock hoping it is of a make or type he has some experience with and therefore already knows what the problem might be. If he does, he will explain what the problem is before he says the following, which he says in either case: "I do not be having me tools with me, master, but I think I be knowing what the problem be. If you would but allow me to take the lock away, I will return with it fixed within the hour—free of charge, if there be more work in the offing... Otherwise, I'll be asking for a few silvers for my efforts."

[OOC: Rolls I think might apply to the above:

1. Examining the lock (Perception roll: 8) You might like to take into account his background and proficiencies in this area.
2. Persuading the tiefling that he is actually an artisan and should be allowed to take the lock away to fix it (Persuasion roll: 21 ).]

"Of course, Arlon, from what you've read," she responds with a grin and a wink. "Actually, urban crime stories are pretty popular for literate types.  Reading those was part of what made me want to be an urban bounty hunter, actually. A hard boiled detective who doesn't play by the rules, but gets the job done.  It's just... so cool!" 

"The rain was hard and cold as a loaded crossbow.  I sucked in another lungful of pipe smoke and stepped into the alleyway, checking for goblins in the shadows.  When you've got a past like mine, there's always something in the shadows. Even if it's just the goblins of regret," Briga recites in a mock gravely voice.  "I love that stuff.  Turns out I'm kind of a s*** investigator myself.  In the stories they usually just stumble onto the right leads, or some leggy harlot with a heart of gold type gives them the clues they need, usually before they get killed, or betray the lead, or betray the lead and then get killed."  She goes on in this manner for some time, evidently a fan of genre fiction.  

"A craftman that doesn't carry his tools? You can go and get them and bring them back, until then - we have no interest in your services," the tiefling replies to Tyrus.  Looking over the lock, it seemed to be a well designed lock with some intricate details making some sort of markings in a language Tyrus doesn't understand - however the lock is jammed up and the key provided that once fit no longer does - using the key, you can also tell that some of the inner tumblers were jammed.

After studying the lock so he can possibly reproduce the markings on it, Tyrus will apologise profusely and tell the house master he will return quickly with his tools to try to fix the jammed lock. He will then leave the house and meet up with the rest of the group to tell them what he's seen.

"The servants all be tieflings," he blurts out to the others, still feeling nervous about being in the presence of so many of the creatures. "The owners of the house—the Cassalanters—be consorting with halfbreed demons. That's got to be suspicious at the very least."

When he calms down a bit, he says, "I be thinking it's not worth our while for me to go back... Or perhaps even necessary. I be thinking those hell-damned servants are not going to cooperate with any of us to tell tales on their masters."

"You may be right there. We're going to need another lead... maybe we can try back tomorrow to request a sit down with the lord and lady otherwise... we could stake out this place or start patrolling."

"Book and covers Tyrus." Arlon says. "Don't judge them because of their race."

"Now, I m all for patrolling the area. Do we have anywhere specific where we can begin?" 

"Ye probably be right, Arlon," Tyrus replies, "But 'twas unnerving to be seeing so many of them in one place. Could there be a reason, do you think?"

"And, it still might be useful to see where they go to drink... And even chat with one, if you be game enough," he adds.

[OOC: DM, Not related to current activities, but is there a taverner's guild in Waterdeep, and would one of us have to become a member of that guild to own and operate a tavern? ]

[OOC: There is a Fellowship of innkeepers which you should probably look into.  None of the guilds are compulsory, however buying supplies without being a guild member incurs a hefty price increase at best (your looking at 4 times the normal price), and suppliers not selling their supplies at all - so it's harder and more expensive to run without being a member of the guild.  There is also the Vintners', Distillers', and Brewers' Guild - which would be where you would get your supplies from, having a good relationship with them would be a good idea.  Then if your planning to serve food there is the Bakers' Guild and the Guild of Butchers for those supplies - you guys would probably want to look for membership in regards to joining the fellowship of innkeepers, for now as you guys are still talking - I'll post something up when you decide what you want to do next ;)]