Derrikoth flexes an arm as Lydia’s magic empowers him, giving her a reappraising look, “That’s certainly some useful magic.”

He seems almost giddy as he takes off into the air with Nirzeg’s help, “Even better!”

The dragon cultists look surprised at a massive copper shield you've brought aboard. Delsephine ignores the fact that it's covered in red dragon scales. It's difficult finding a place for it, as placement of this shield anywhere would severely hamper some aspect of the ship's functionality. Eventually, the cultists suggest lashing it to the steel runners under the gondola. 

Once you're satisfied with the way the giant shield is secured, and Delsephine hears of your plans to travel to Mirabar, she barks orders at her crew to get the ship turned about and heading towards the coast. With one of the crew members at the helm and the other manning the furnace, the airship is propelled westward. 

You leave the mountain range, and the terrain drops off precipitously as the airship follows the path you originally took to get through the Valley of Khedrun with Harshnag. Of course, it looks a lot different from 1,000 feet in the air. The Mirar River snakes this way and that as it flows west and south, running between The Lurkwood and the Spine of the World. 

"Best settle in," Delsphine says, pragmatically. "The wind is at our back, but it'll still be tomorrow morning before we get to Mirabar. Just relax, and we'll be there soon enough. You already know where the bunks are."

// You can hit the long rest button if you wish. The skies are clear for as far as the eye can see, save for a few clouds far to the south. //

Nirzeg snorts. "I do my best relaxing with a good drink in one hand, and a fine Gis'rani like yourself in the other." He admits with a chuckle. "A shame neither the crew or your master can accommodate such on a vehicle like this. Yet perhaps Mirabar might." Nirzeg shrugs, and would at least start to move past to head for the quarters when a thought gives him pause. "That said, Delsphine, if you're ever interested  in a bit of a cultural exchange personally, you know where to find me. I and my people know quite bit about Red Dragons given a, how would say, shared history?" A toothy smile is soon followed by the Gith chuckling while making the rest of the way deep into the bowels.

Smooth Talking: 13(20 if able to use INT instead).

Delsephine gives Nirzeg the appraising once-over, then shrugs. 

"Man the helm," she says humorlessly to her crew, before dragging Nirzeg down to her quarters and locking the door.

It would seem she's very interested in a cultural exchange...

// Nirzeg, I'll leave the rest up to you! //

The next day, you make it to Mirabar. In order to avoid arousing suspicion, the dragon cultist crew members suggest that you put the airship down a couple miles upstream and walk the rest of the way into the city. However they ultimately follow your decision.

// Mirabar awaits. Are you wanting to spend some downtime here (as in a week or more)? Or just stop off and resupply? //

Having decided to stick around and see if you can discover the whereabouts of the infamous Worvil "The Weevil" Forkbeard, the dragon cultists tell you they'll see you back here in a week, after they resupply their stocks. 

Mirabar is a city of wealth and power, one of the foremost members of the Lord's Alliance. Having been here before via the Harper's Teleportation Network, you know a little about the city. (Info you've already discovered is below)

Since you have a connection to the Harpers already in this city, you have a strong starting point. Your contacts are able to point you towards a number of locations, most of them underground, where you might uncover any information about this "Weevil" character.

// I'll need at least 50 gp per character spent in carousing and information-gathering at one of many locations within the city of Mirabar. You can spend more for a higher rate of success. At the end of the week, you stand to have at least a good lead on where to find the Weevil. Each character should make an Intelligence (Investigation) check, with a +1 bonus for each 50 gp spent in your endeavor. The gold spent in this manner reflects drinks, bribes, room & board, and/or carousing with certain elites of the city—essentially the "total cost" of your time. //

// If you wish to use a different skill or ability, just let me know what you'd like to try and do, and we'll roll with it! //

Swiper was on the case to find out more information on this Weevil fellow! He was good at the sneaky sneaks and swipey swipes, not the talky talks, but he did his best to appease those he managed to speak with.

Investigation (using 100gp for +2 more): 12

Lydia learns that Worvil "the Weevil" Forkbeard led a gang of dwarf brigands that raided summer caravans last year traveling between Luskan and Mirabar. He also spearheaded several raids on the Mines of Mirabar, stealing food and drink mainly. The Axe of Mirabar coordinated with the Order of the Gauntlet and captured most of his gang a couple months ago, but Worvil disappeared into the mountains.

Lydia also learns from a loose-lipped guard that interrogations of the captives led members of the axe to discover the Weevil’s mad craving for Flamebeard’s Firebrandy, which comes from Bryn Shander, a settlement in the frozenfar; so they've sent one of their number north to the Ten Towns area on a stakeout. "But it's all very hush, hush," says the guard, asking you to promise not to say anything.

Swiper, meanwhile, learns that the Zhentarim are looking to recruit "the Weevil," and wish to undercut the Axe of Mirabar with a reward of their own, for a safe recovery and delivery of the brigand to an appropriate Zhentarim agent.

ALSO, after several nights of carousing and rubbing elbows, Swiper eventually overhears one of the members of the Axe of Mirabar speaking with a merchant in a topside tavern by the docks. Both are dwarves, and both are very drunk. The merchant is pointing to a document, going on about how he had seen a poor old shield dwarf cleaning stables in a place called "Xantharl's Keep" last week, and he swears by Moraddin's Beard that "thish pictshure, right 'ere, thish is the shpitting reshemblance of that dwarf." The document is a Wanted poster for the "Weevil," same as the one you encountered earlier. 

Lydia promises the guard that she'll keep it hush, hush before walking away.

Spoiler alert: She doesn't keep it hush, hush and tells the party this the moment they're back together.

After Lydia gives her report, Swiper goes next and uses his mimicry to act out entire scenes of the conversations he's had with the people he spoke with, then is sure to show everyone the wanted poster he had swiped from the drunken men. He points to it excitedly as he says, "Thish pictshure, right 'ere, thish is the shpitting reshemblance of that dwarf!"

Words are said, a certain body parts or two might be left sore, but after so long abroad, Nirzeg is very, very thorough during the cultural exchange in every way possible. By the end of which, though he is careful not to make any hard promises, some things are left teased and the possibility of more draconic infusions being offered, assuming all went well with a pet project... with some later "convincing" on her part.

One downtime and some bribery later, and Nirzeg is blinking owlishly at a certain Kenku. "Indeed... Though most importantly-!" Nirzeg pauses, and looks around, making sure the group had their privacy. "Knowing some compatriots of mines have an interest in this as well? Now that's /really/ something. Certainly we could get a better deal, and possibly even double dipping under the right circumstances... and Mirabar not minding him being dead. Will have to double check that, of course."

Chuckling, the Githyanki pulls out the closest thing the group had to a world map to search. "It should be.. about.. here. Hardly a few hours travel by the ship. Not bad, not bad at all. Either way, I'll need to make a quick stop back in Waterdeep using the network -- following up on some very important research, you see. One I hope to help Josephus. But come this time tomorrow, shall we make aerial sail?" He asked, and if all are in agreement, the Githyanki is sure to pay Delsephine and her crew a visit regarding plans.

Through his own channels, Nirzeg learns that there is a frost giant warlord who is also hunting for the Weevil. Some hobgoblins associated with the frost giant have made contact with the Zhentarim in the area, seeking information on the whereabouts of the brigand.

It's unclear what a frost giant would do with 5,000 gold pieces. 

Nirzeg keeps the last bit in his back pocket, but will certainly entertain the thought for things going south in a completely different way. But, he would certainly make contact with Zhentarim agents in the area, promising a precentage of whatever reward might come in doing a deal with the Hobgoblins in exchange of digging deeper into their goal. Apart from that, he left things be, and hopefully without further complaints, sees about checking up on the hirilings back in Waterdeep.

While Nirzeg ponders the information he found, Lydia donates money to the refugees. (10 gold)

(Sorry. Not sure how the heck I missed the post, but either way here goes.)

General Int Check: 18, if at advantage from Help by research hireling or Zeek: 19.
Plus Guidance: 2.

Nirzeg notes the new beggars, but hardly pay them more mind than absolutely necessary. Only the most determined to reach out for coin, or even perhaps dare threaten the Githyanki might earn his ire, before it fades away in a sly grin and an offer of "help"... in exchange for working for the Zhents in the future.

What such a job details he leaves to local contacts to manage there. His job, as far as he was concerned, ended at the introduction. Though all of that aside, the Githyanki meets with his researcher, and offers another twenty gold each for their time to help sort through the finer details of their work. /Just/ to be absolutely certain they not only did the job right, but for his own sake as well.

Even Zeek has a part to play, even if limited to only acting as a sound board of sorts.

Nirzeg can tell that his researchers are close to unearthing some secrets. What is clear is that the path he is on is something completely unnatural. It requires a strong connection to one of the Outer Planes, and possibly either a blood sacrifice or a blood orange. Ancient dialects are confusing. 

At any rate, from the research done, Nirzeg can enact a ritual that may yield desirable results. It will involve a painful transformation for the subject. There are very specific ingredients required for this ritual. 

• The feather from an alpha griffon's wing
• A bridle of forged starmetal
• Again, there is reference to "blood." The researchers are working with a language dialect that isn't altogether familiar to them, but they will keep working at it. 

The researchers will work on distilling the information required to perform the ritual, but are grateful for the extra funds from Nirzeg. They suggest that he work on procuring items from the list.

Once you are finished in Waterdeep, it's a simple matter to travel back through the teleportation network to Mirabar. Rasa has gathered the dragon cultists and has convinced them to put into the port and dock there. The airship draws some attention at the docks, but not as much as you might have expected—it's mostly just idle curiosity from passersby. Delsephine is ready to take you to Xantharl's Keep, having found it on the map. It's a short journey, which will give you just enough time for a long rest.

// Go ahead and hit the long rest button, prepare your spells, and we'll pick things up when you arrive in the morning at Xantharl's Keep. //

Nirzeg grins, and final to each researcher's shoulders, started to take his leave citing his intention to see to the materials! Just as he's about depart however, he stops, and after some hesitation, hands over the vials of White Dragon blood for them to see about perhaps using in future testing; if not as a viable candidate for the "blood" entry, then at least run test on its potential for similar rituals. He'll also asks about another collegue the duo trusts enough to handle research finding any and all reference to starmetal, its landings upon faerun in specific areas, and forging into particular items.

While a certain dwarf's suggestion about the special forges of Citadel Felbar aren't far from mind, confirming the existence of other options remained yet a priority for the gith. (Just need to know if Nirz paying another 240gp for the extra researcher(baseline and bonus to roll) or not).

After all said and done, Nirzeg takes Crackerjack (his new nickname for Swiper) on a night on the town as repayment for the company, and... maybe as a small bribery towards not waggling his tongue on anything overheard that could be misconstrued as concerning. >.>"And you know for a measly twenty or so dragons(gold), we could look into seeing if those parts I harvested from that Giant Fire Worm we fought could be put into making you some better blades, my feather friend. Or at least far more protective armor." He said, at some point during the misadventure, if not just before.

Though confused at the new nickname, the kenku does not say no to a night on the town! And promises to keep his beak shut about some of the things he's heard over a good pint of ale. Swiper tilts his head to the side at the offering of some new blades (or armor) with the harvested bits. Maybe they could do something with that opal he had...? "Sounds fake but okay!" He laughs. "Maybe both, aye? Or maybe the bow...? Hmm..." He looks to think hard at the prospect of upgrading his gear, never really getting the chance to do such a thing. "I'd like to do it, lad, but who do we gotta go to? A friend of yers?"

Nirzeg can tell that the remorhaz chitin could be made into a serviceable pieces of armor. The only question is, where to find an armorer who's up to the task?

// Crafting armor, even magical armor, is something that is totally in Nirzeg's wheelhouse. With access to a forge and some downtime, Nirzeg could fashion suits of remorhaz-chitin armor for the group, and could even enchant them if he had modest amount of money for the proper ingredients and components. //

The researchers are happy to keep working for now, since their curiosity has been temporarily piqued and they still have some funds leftover from when you first hired them. 

Nirzeg has himself a think for a moment. "Well... Potentially! I could do it myself too given enough time, which given circumstances we may or may not have. Just gotta reach Citadel ackbar, felben -- whatever it was called, and let'em know Ghelren sent us. Worst case scenario, I'll have to pass it off to their smith's to handle, but **** it at that point, right? Dwarves will probably do a clean job than I would. Certainly collected enough for at least a few pieces to be made and enchanted, so don't you worry there, my fine, feathered friend."

"But the may point... mmmmain point... yea. The main point is that we get our hands on the Weevil. Alive, preferably. Which when we do, I got a plan that aughta set us up better than just tossing him to the sharksin the long run. You get'n me?" He asked, already few cups in by that time."You just wait 'n see... heh... Be in and out in no time." And on that note(hopefully), the rest of the evening progresses without issues.

(Now onward to Xantharal's keep!)