Thyrius is glad this teleport trip is more controlled! (not rolling CON this time.)

Despite Waterdeep being a city that is used to the foreign aspects of the many worlds that come to visit it, Thyrius is still not too comfortable with the idea of being surrounded by so many humans. Back in his world, humans are not so indifferent or welcoming towards Leonins. The black cat shows this discomfort by remaining mostly quiet for now. Thankfully, Xem seemed well aware of this, so Thyrius used his brother's confidence as a helping crutch for now.

The robust bar man nods to Xemnez, "Kit-kat is our afternoon server today. She'll be right with you." 

The group takes a seat at an old heavy table that looks like it's taken more than its fair share of knife wounds. Jezun scans the place looking for an eye. The tavern's walls and main bar remind him of an old rummage sale....with knick knacks and weird trophies scattered about thick wood framed shelving just above smashing height. His eyes scan along the various items looking for anything that looks like an eye...but...aside from several 'generally round' items, nothing sticks out to him. 

Thyrius, though sitting quietly, feels a shiver run along his spine. He feels a dusty, cold wind blow along the back of his neck. He glances around but can't pinpoint any particular source for the ominous feeling.

Kit-kat turns out to be a pretty, pale skinned half elf in a relatively clean serving smock, with pale white hair pulled back behind her head.  With a pleasant enough smile, but eyes that look rather bored, she points to the chalk-board with the menu on it and then goes about taking drink and food orders.  Her bored eyes scan the group and their gear as she memorizes their orders as they're made.  Simaal asks about the temple. 

She turns to him, "Oh...well, ya found it. This is Selune's Smile. This tavern IS the temple of Selune in Waterdeep. 'Fraid we ain't got no pews or dusty books for your to pray with. Just drinks and warm food. I'm an acolyte of Selunes, same as ere'one else who works here. Yer on holy ground."

"That's amazing, in all my travels I do not think I encountered such a wonderful thing. Certainly it's one way to bring in the crowd into the temple. Just so I don't step on anyone's toes as it were, would you might point me to the whoever is the highest ranking member here. I will try to pay my respects as it were, after all we're in their place of worship." Simaal smiles pleasantly, it's not a forced smile, it seems to come naturally to him now and then.

The girl gives Simaal a hard challenging look, "Oh, you just cruise on in here and ask to see the high priestess, the most holy representative to the wonderous goddess Selune in all of Waterdeep?"   She gives Simaal only a moment to squirm, before her face breaks into a smile and she waves her hand lazily at him, "Just jokin' with ya. We don't stand on ceremony here. You're lookin fer the owner of the Smile...Kyriani. Who's askin and whats this concerning?"

"Doesn't everyone?" Simaal responds looking perfectly innocent. He smiles as he she responds. "Well my name is Simaal, but I certainly hold no great fame to be known. I was just wondering." He smile turns to one of sadness. for a brief second before smiling and simply saying, "I look forward to tasting the food here, I hear it's divine."

Mentally to her only

She looks a little puzzled as Simaal talks out loud...nodding a welcome when he mentions his name....and seems about to respond about the food comment when she takes a step back and looks around, in the air as if looking for something, her eyes scanning about at the group, until eventually focus'ing on Simaal once again.

Her mouth opens and she says, "uuuuuuuhhhh." 

Then in Simaal's mind he hears her respond, "Um...can you hear me? Does this work? Um...yeah, I heard a couple rumors 'bout Candlekeep bein attacked.  Um..but...I don't really know what you mean about another city....that don't ring any bells fer me....maybe ya...maybe I'll go get Kyriani...."

Kit-kat wanders away to the bar. She puts in the groups order and then heads up a stairway near the back. A few minutes later she comes back, glancing once at the group before heading back to the bar. Soon enough drinks and food are brought out to the table. Frothy, yeasty beers, a carafe of deep red wine, and a platter of warm honeyed ham, cheese, bread and butter.  The group is around half-way through nibbling at the food when a woman descends from the stairs. She wears a looks to be in her mid 50's, an ageless beauty about her with long silver and brown hair that hangs about her face like a nest. She's wearing an unconventional green smock with frill along the top that reaches down to her knees, with a pair of plain brown slippers on her feet. A green bodice is strapped over the dress.  She reaches the table and looks about at everyone with interest, her green eyes digging into each of the groups eyes with a penetrating gaze.  

"Welcome to Selune's Smile. Kit Kat mentioned you had business with me? I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't recognize any of you...or indeed...what a couple of you are....I've never seen your type in here before..." she adds to the two Leonin's.  "What can I do for you?"

Xemnez raises a brow at Kit-Kat's claim, then gives the "temple" interior another once over. After a moment or two of thought, the young leonin chuffed and smirked. "I do not suppose your goddess is a Satyr, or has many followers of the like. For I find myself reminded of their revelries seeing this place." He admits as much with an amused tone to his voice. Turning back again to the waitress/acolyte, Xemnez opens his mouth as if readying to answer her question, but stopped short to look on worriedly at his brother. "All is well, Brother?"

When Kit-Kat responds, "Would there be an available private room so we can treat ourselves just once in a while?" He thanks her either way. If no private room available, ask Kyriani. If still not available get a large private room for the night and use that instead.

"Thank you for being willing to see us, we are travelers far and wide, please join us, and excuse our current state of travel and our hunger for the finer things." Simaal curses himself for forgetting change to more appropriate non-travel clothing but takes a sip of the wine. "Unfortunately somewhere along the way we've become intertwined with the fate of a lich who, and I'm sure this is shocking news to any, wants to manipulate the world in their favor. However and even more unfortunately this lich has been tapping into mythilars to achieve it, so they're that much closer to manipulating the world around them than others. They recently attacked Candlekeep and stole some books that talked about potentially remaining mythilars. Some we have already encountered, while others are in control of powerful beings in other planes as far as I understood. Sadly once my friends start talking about outer planes, they kind of lose me, that and I'm horrible with names. Nonetheless apparently Selune's realm encompasses a mythilar as well and there was a consensus that she needs to be warned and prepared for a potential attack. Additionally we're hopping to see if allies of Selune would be able to assist us to fight against the lich when the time comes. As well we can certainly understand that there may be a preference on Selune's part to have someone join us to ensure we're working against the lich rather than for." Simaal stabs at a sausage, rips off a piece of bread dipping into the sauce pan and eats hungrily. "This is very delicious."

The tavern naturally has some private rooms available. Kyriani has Kit Kat help carry mugs and platters as the group repositions themselves to a new private location. Toc, always the cautious one, takes a few minutes as the group gets settled to magic the room.  Eventually the sounds of the bar from outside fade away and the room feels truly sealed off from the rest of the world. 

Simaal launches into his speech, combining the longest string of non-story related speech that the group has heard from the man in months.  Eventually he completes his speech by taking a bite of sausage and bread and complementing the chef. 

Kyriani is given significant pause. Though clearly not easily surprised, the woman takes a moment to absorb all that's been said. Finally she responds, "You are talking about Selunnara."  She takes a few moments to mull this over and says mostly to herself, "The moon goddess is wise beyond all and can see the way of things long before mortals can make sense of such things. This moment has been portended to happen."  She takes another breath then says, "There is no need to travel to the goddesses domain. She has foreseen this moment. She has already provided me with a message for you. It has nearly been 80 years since I heard my goddess decree this. You are the group I was to wait for.  You must use Selune's Eye and take it to Elah'zad. There, you must perform the Ritual of the Waxing from the center of the alabaster palace." 

"We are Leonins" was all the answer Kyriani got from Thyrius when prodded. He was polite but brief in his answer not only because he trusted a high-priestess to be able to engage in her own knowledge searching studies when pointed in the right direction, but also because he was bothered by the dusty, cold wind that blew along the back of his neck. Looking around the room yielded no results, so the black cat looked within instead, hoping that a moment of introspection could help him form an educated guess as to the draft's origin.

-> Insight check: 4 

After this moment of introspection, Thyrius looked at his brother, intent on mentally sharing whatever he was able to piece together.

Before leaving the common room, still unable to shake the feeling, Thyrius scanned the tavern. No one there unduly stuck out, but the draft of the after world hung in the room nonetheless. No one looked up suspiciously, or hunched in the shadows, or even so much as gave any focus to him...something was there, he..just couldn't say what. 

Mentally: "It's nothing, brother, or at least I hope it isn't. Just a strange feeling that something otherworldly is among us. Not too odd if we are indeed in a temple."

To Kyriani: "Would you accompany us in performing this ritual?"

Seeing how Simaal was enjoying his sausage, Thyrius considers trying one as well. that said, the feeling on the back of his neck made it so he could focus on little else for now. Therefore, he reached for a sausage reluctantly, placed it on his plate, and waited until the conversation was over, even if it took some time. Eating in front of others who were not partaking seemed wrong to the Leonin's upbringing and all the lessons about sharing with the community/tribe/pride.

"The bane of my existence." Simaal says while smiling. "I have no idea what it is, where to take it, nor what to do, nor what will happen." That said, he wipes his greasy hands on a rag he's used for such purposes before while camping, and starts looking through his backpack pulling out a scroll case and a map. "That said, the name sounds like it's from the giant desert north east from here, and although I passed an oasis with an island which looked an awful lot like a half moon, I did not find out its name. Of course, still no idea on what the item is or where it is or who has it, nor details on the ritual, but we do have a few libraries we know about we can look at. That is of course unless you have more details." Simaal smiles at the patron lady.

Though a touch more accoustom to seeing protective spell weaving in action, Xemnez had neither the gumption or arrogance to even dare judge Toc's spellweaving, let alone question the extent of its power. He subconsciously began to relax once all is said and done, and had subsequently slipped into one of his quiet spells while everyone else handled "negotations"... such as they were.

Yet even as he absently teared into his meal with perhaps more grace than most expected of him, a flick of the ears and occasional glance at a speaker gave away an unwavering attention to the conversation at hand. Only the mental communication from his brother warranted pausing mid motion of raising a mug, and instead looking thoughtful. In Leonin, he spoke the command word asking for 'Sight Beyond Sight' from the faded ancestral spirit whose strength resided in his crown of bejeweled leather, and looked about the area with casual interest.

-Cast (2nd level)Sight Beyond Sight as a bonus action. (which includes the ethereal plane creatures, if read right)
-Perception: 18. (18)
If passive perception is 23 if adv on sight based perception applies.

Mentally back to his brother before the spell fully takes place: 'Could be one of -her- divine servants overseeing things, but... it never hurts to be cautious'. 

Nuzej nods to Xemnez, casting his own see invisibility and looking around (had meant to cast when we were waiting around the table with our food but didn't post, so hope this works. 

He also tries to think of anything he knows about Elah'zad.

History: 25

Xemnez and Nuzej both cast glances about the dining room before departing. Their magic imbued vision pierces the veil between reality and the ethereal. Their enhance site reveals no other worldly visitors though, nor anything out of the ordinary. Likewise, when they arrive at the private room, they glance around but see nothing untoward. 

Once they discussion with Kyriani begins Nuzej thinks about Elah'zad. Indeed, he is aware of this place. It is as Simaal surmised.  He lets everyone in on his knowledge.

"I studied the Bedine culture for some time in my past. Elah'zad means House of the Moon in Midani, which is what the Bedine people who live in the Anauroch derive their language from. How the Bedine people, who live in the Anauroch, derived their language from the land of Fate, Zakhara is a question of some interest to scholars. Anyway, Elah'zad is an isolated oasis in the Sword region, and is considered by the Bedine people to be a sacred place of great power."

Kyriani looks to Nuzej, then back to Simaal then around the room once more. "Do not fear for lack of knowing about the eye. Indeed, I have hidden it in plain view behind the bar for decades. I will go get it for you now."

After she departs.... "Well that seemed to go smoother than expected... unless of course there's tiny holes in these walls where thousands of crossbows are pointed... that would hurt..." Simaal looks suspiciously around but is ready to be smoke. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary he goes back to eating. "While I fully appreciate magical food, there's something to be said about the artistry without magic."

Nuzej finishes relaying his scholarly knowledge, and then offers to accompany Kyriani to the bar if she would have him. If she's hesitant or refuses, he acquiesces, but once she turns the corner he pops his oft-forgotten familiar into being next to him and directs him to follow her to just keep in sight, in case anyone or anything tries to harm the priestess-barkeep. His vision and hearing would then fade into the bird's, and he alerts the group mentally of what he is doing, "just to be safe."

There is no need for Nuzej to draw on his familiar. Kyriani shrugs indifferently and the two of them head out of the sound proof bubble and down the hallway towards the stairs. 

Simaal makes his note about crossbow bolts and holes, but....no such trap appears and he continues eating a piece of ham on a slide of bread with appreciation. 

Toc turns to the group, "Well. This is really going far better than I could possibly have hoped."

----------------------

Nuzej heads down the solid wood stairway, a groove worn into the middle the steps from age and use. He follows behind Kyriani who heads behind the bar. He takes up a post at the end of the bar, leaning casually while he watches the priestess move past the bulky bar tender.  She picks up what, to all accounts, appears to be a smooth round rock. She holds it there in her hand, looking at it for a moment with consternation. It's clear the object is important to her. After a few moments of consideration, she turns to Nuzej and holds the stone up towards him and says, "Here it is." 

An explosion of rock and fire tears through the room. 

----------------------

Even though those upstairs have magic isolating them from any sound in the world outside, they FEEL the rumble through their floor and all around the building as something terrifically destructive happens somewhere close by. 

----------------------

Zhuti had come into the main tavern room not too long ago. Something was nagging at her and she didn't know what it was. She could feel the presence of something foul...there, just out of reach....like hearing a tune in the background of a noisy bar that you can't quite make out.  The Inn of the Moon, Selune's place of holy power here in the great city of Waterdeep had stood for almost a hundred years. And it had stood for almost a hundred before that. Of course the total destruction of the building hung in between those two time periods. In the time of troubles, when the gods had chosen to make Faerun their playground, so it went that the avatar of Shar and the avatar of Selune had fought in this very place, leveling the building. Ancient history for most people. Still, even Shar's avatar couldn't taint this place, the land was holy and powerful. And that was why it was so strange to feel this. Like a cold dead hand stroking the edge of her spine.  

She'd been here at Selune's 'temple' for a several months. Ever since the tears in the weave had begun. Magical threads that hung behind the veil of the universe, the source of all magic, and something was causing them to break. You would see them, everywhere....strands floating in the air, their cut ends wavering about in the air...bright and colorful. She'd been sent to determine the cause and found her way here. Kyriani was a legend in Selune's priesthood....if anyone knew Selune's will in this, it would have been her. It would have been here. And so it was all the more frustrating when the seemingly out of touch tavern owner gave only cryptic stalling answers. She would walk around all day muttering about things being connected, about visions uniting. When news came in that the famous library of Candlekeep had been attacked, her response was a distracted curiosity. To Zhuti herself, Selune only spoke in annoying riddles, "We are in the end game now, the bishop must lie in wait." or "The pieces have been revealed, soon the knight makes its move."   Any threat to go elsewhere was forestalled with comments like, "The moon waxes and wanes, your time comes, but only if you have patience." 

And so she'd hung around this place, oddly stirred by the old woman's cryptic responses. But she was about done with all this nonsense.  And then she'd felt this feeling. 

She looked around the bar. A random collection of people. Nothing untoward. Kyriani came down the stairs followed by a bald man wearing monk robes and carrying a staff and went behind the bar.  Zhuti frowned, something was amiss. She glanced around the room. As Kyriani picked up some white rock from the myriad of weird decorations adorning the bars back wall she noticed a table of patrons take notice. Everything slipped into slow motion as Kyriani held the stone up towards the bald man with a smile on her face saying, "Here it is." 

People in the bar leapt into action and the image of one of the tavern men, someone Zhuti had seen here many times, shimmered slightly...the man had a staff....but...it was concealed by some sort of illusion. Then the room exploded. 

----------------------

Nuzej and Zhuti, please make a DC 20 Dex save.   Take 70 fire damage and 74 bludgeoning damage.  Half of both if you save. (or none if you save with Evasion.)

Kyriani save:  10

Everyone roll initiative. 

Xemnez chuffed and subtly nodded in amusement at his own paranoia. Yet even if he could dismiss his spell, the younger leonin hadn't bother as he'd returned to finish enjoying his meal. By then most of his fairly plentiful plate had been reduced to but scraps. Unwilling however to be rude to the cook in not finishing his meal, Xemnez had been in the process of languidly slipping some of the scraps into his toothy maw when the rumbling his him slamming a hand onto the table for stability. He looks then sharply to his brother, and the two share a nod before he rushes to stand up and begin donning his shield.

-Xemnez Initiative: 19. 
(Burnt a superiority die for Ambush(er?) battle maneuver added above)