Morgan gives Volo a raised eyebrow, but shrugs and follows the old chronicler to his table.

"And what would happen if those degenerates and villains were able to make the laws, eh?" Krivnaar replies to Rashar, becoming animated without seeming terribly upset - he appears to enjoy making this point. "Much as things are now! Protecting the interests of the lawmakers, and keeping the rabble in line. You know, assaulting a lord is punishable by death - nothing less! Whereas assaulting us regular folk, only up to ten days in the dungeon. Xanthar would approve such inequity between the boss and his minions, I'm sure."

Rashar shakes his head. "If those criminals made the laws, things would be different. There would be chaos! I know that our laws aren't perfect, but believe me, it could be much worse. Fights like the one that just happened would be commonplace- people would be scared to wander the streets at night. The city would be a battlefield where crime lords fight for control."

He had joined the Cavalry to prevent such a thing from happening. He braved the rage of combat so the people back home could have relatively safe and prosperous lives. Calming down, he says,"Believe me, you have never seen chaos like that before."

Mardak sees through Yagra her performance and gives her a wink as he leans back in his chair for the story to come.

“Those Xanathar thugs are a bad bunch” Mardak says nodding his head in disapproval. The moment Volo appears Mardak looks up, somehow surprised but also not. He never met the man but heard a lot about him.

Mardak looks at Yagra as he stands up “I think i should go listen to this proposition of his” he looks to Bonnie “Bring this lady a drink of her choice”

Volo's table is adjacent to one of the hearths in the tavern. He likes the warmth as he's studying, writing, and reading. As he sits down, he starts taking the books and setting them on the floor so that the table isn't cluttered. "Please, take a seat. Pull one of the lounge chairs up if you wish, they're quite comfortable." Volo exclaims as he rests his elbows onto the table.

"Before we get to business; I'm curious about you lot. Tell me about yourselves." Volo says intriguingly, resting his eyes onto the adventurers eager to hear their story.

Rashar looks back at Volo, the legendary traveling scholar. Not really an impressive sight- his flamboyant attire suggested he never did a honest day's work in his life. Rashar wondered then how he was able to learn so much about such deadly creatures. Perhaps he didn't do the heavy lifting. Nonetheless, Volo's books have a good reputation, and have helped many adventurers vanquish a deadly foe. 

"Me? Nothing much to be curious about. I spent a few decades in the Griffon Cavalry, until they didn't want me anymore. Went into the mercenary business, but I've spent more time slumming in the taverns of Waterdeep. Luckily, that's where I've met these men sitting around me." 

“Pretty much the same here for me,“ Jarret says. “Been picking up odd job all around Waterdeep for the past few years, and living off of what I make. I’m actually a practicer of the arcane arts as well, and would be willing to take whatever you have to give knowledge wise,” he says sheepishly.

"I am Morgan Amcathra, of House Amcathra." Morgan says with a scowl for the old chronicler. Was the man going senile that he couldn't recognize a noble of the city he called home. Figuring that was enough said on who he was, Morgan sat back, wanting to hear the story of the others.

Cath watched the arm wrestling contest with some interest.   There was no doubt in his mind a fellow dwarf could best the half-orc and wasn't surprised when it happened.   As for the Xanather guild he didn't care much for them.  A violent selfish lot.  

Cath laughed out loud when he heard the comments Krivnaar made about how if Xanathers were in charge nothing much would be different. 

"Yer a fool if ya think that Krivnaar.  The lords may not be perfect but if you think things around this town wouldn't be different, and more dangerous, if an overtly criminal organization was in charge you don't seem to be paying attention."

As Volo invites them over to his table he follows along with the others.   "This ought to be interesting." He quips.  

Krivnaar considers it prudent to be somewhat more circumspect around potential future clients, particularly the scion Morgan Amcathra. He opens his arm in conciliation. "Perhaps I spoke overly hyperbolically about the Xanthar guild." He then looks to Volo. "I am a counsellor, you see, and in my daily work I see the excesses and limitations of the law. Desperate folk whose lives are ruined by a single mistake, while well-connected foremen abuse their workers without consequence. I do what I can, but sadly there is only so much I can do with the time on my hands and the resources available, to ameliorate the most punitive measures. Perhaps, some day, I will have the means to do more." There is a flash of eagerness in his draconic eyes.

"Ah, now that there is something we can agree on Kriv.  The little guy does seem to get the shaft most of the time and the big fish seem to go free." Cath answers with a smile.  "Now lets see what ol' Volo here wants."

Mardak sits back in his chair and listens to the others. When it his turn he smiles and straightens his beard for a moment. "I am Mardak Smagt, i am a scribe for the Scriveners’, Scribes’, and Clerks’ Guild in Waterdeep. I enjoy reading about a lot of stuff and even scribe'd some quotes from you for students of a college. I also help in the Holyhand's House where i practice my divine skills and help people in need"

He looks to Volo "And what does such esteemed author like you need from us?"

Volo warmly smiles as he listens to each of them tell their story. "Quite a delight to have a nobleman among our midst, that's for sure." he nods to Morgan. "Former Watchman, a Scribe, Lawyer, and uh..." he looks onto Cath for a moment and ponders.

"Nonetheless, I trust you’ve noted the violence in our fair city these past tendays. I haven’t seen so much blood since my last visit to Baldur’s Gate! But now I fear I have misplaced a friend amid this odious malevolence." Volo's cheery attitude now grows sour. His eyes darting onto the table as he's unable to maintain eye contact.

“My friend’s name is Floon Blagmaar. He’s got more beauty than brains, and I worry he took a bad way home a couple nights ago and was kidnapped — or worse. If you agree to track him down with all due haste, I can offer you ten dragons apiece now, and I can give you each ten times that when you find Floon. May I prevail upon you in my hour of need?”

Rashar listens intently to Volo's proposition. A simple mission- rescue a missing man. Yet, he knew that underneath that facade there was complexity in the details. Immediately, he thought back to the fight that had just happened- to the Xanathar Guild. 

"Volo, you said your friend may have been kidnapped. Were there any people or organizations that Floon was affiliated with that would do such a thing to him?" 

 "Those dastardly Xanathar's must've kidnapped him!" Volo exclaims. He calms for a moment and ponders. "Floon and I were at the Skewered Dragon - a bar in the Dock Ward. Two nights ago, Floon was helping me on my project. Y'know, I get writer's block some times. We gambled soon after, and it lasted hours. I eventually departed, and Floon stayed behind. That was the last I've seen of Floon. He was supposed to meet me here, but he no showed." Volo says uncomfortably. You can see the sadness brewing in his eyes.

"If it wasn't the Xanathar's, then it was probably the Zhentarim! I know they run the Skewered Dragon."  Volo finishes with taking a sip of ale.

"A missing persons case, eh?" Krivnaar considers the proposal thoughtfully. "Not my usual sort of employ, I confess. But a hundred and ten dragons is an order of magnitude above my usual billing rate! And I could use some new reference books. So yes, I would gladly accede to your request."

“I’m in as well,” Jarret says as he raises his glass. 

"The Skewered Dragon, eh?" Rashar has been in taverns all over Waterdeep. He tries to remember anything special about this one, and whether it was true that it was under the control of the Zhentarim. 

History: 4

Then, he will respond to Volo. "This type of work is right up my alley. Still, you are asking us to potentially deal with two vast criminal organizations. The payment is too low. Fifteen dragons now, ten times that upon completion, and I will accept this task."

"There's some dangerous enemies for sure.   But I'm with Kriv, kinda hard to say no to that kinda cash.  I'm in also.  I've been getting itchy feet and be tired of the same ol' same.  This'll give me something better to do with my time." Cath answers.

Rashar isn't aware of the ownership of the Skewered Dragon. He knows it's a popular place for thuggery and gambling.

Volo looks onto Rashar with contempt. "I'm afraid I cannot offer that much. I'm still waiting on my royalty checks from my book 'Volo's Guide to Monsters'. My offer is all that I can muster."