Killilli’s Dragon Heist

Cico listens quietly as Lyss speaks. He knows this is part of the test that goes with being sent to Waterdeep, but the mental gymnastics of conversation is exhausting.

He nods, and then takes a breath and then says quietly to himself, "Smile, explain, thank, ask, continue." 

Then he smiles at Lyss, the same awkward half smile from before.

"The rooms above are on top of this ceiling. To make sure this ceiling doesn't fall down I have to look at those rooms. And then the rooms above those. And then the roof. Then below too. I would see it but unless you have space and air, I think it unlikely you will be able to make beer here. And why would you? This is a tavern not a brewery."

He pauses. Letting his own thoughts settle.

"You are correct. I should not sell or deal with customers," Cico says to Lyss. "Thank you for your perception. Now would you show me the rest of your tavern?"

He watches Lyss curiously to see if his attempt at conversation was correct. Then he remembers he did not answer the question of the other one.

"Aimee. I see your face," Cico says. "No I will not burn down other taverns. Unless it is necessary. But your competition will not like you opening. The guild suggested if there is room that I stay here to help diffuse tension."

He stops and begins to laugh, realizing the tension that has been in the room. The laughs are short intakes of air - awkward but genuine.

Turning back to Lyss he adds, "I do not need much space. A corner anywhere would do. Now shall we continue."

Edvord sits impatiently behind Aldrik as the argument plays out. Today he has a bulky cloak covering his fine attire. Clasping the cloak together is a small shield shaped red broach with a rune etched in yellow.

"Aldrk's taste in companions may be... questionable, but the beer is good. More importantly... without the brewer's guild where do you even hope to find the necessary yeast. Underneath a barstool...? Most establishments cultivate their yeast for generations. I once read that..." Edvord continues speaking on the chemical and biological properties of yeast for the next five minutes. It is quite boring for those who do not make such matters part of their living.

Edvord finally finishes his tale and returns to the topic at hand, "So I'd consider this as quite a valuable shortcut... In addition to the other perks of brewer's membership... and you avoid the unpleasantness that could come from not working with the local guilds."

Turning to Cico, "As for the apparition... he did draw a picture of the tavern with the windows busted and all of us dead. Or was it a picture of us robbing a bank to create a werewolf? You'd have to ask Aimee... she has a better eye for aesthetics. But a drawing phantasm could be quite the... draw."

"You're weird. We can work with weird. Makes sense to see the upper floors, they're all stacked up on this one like one of those fancy layer cakes I'm not allowed to buy yet."

"I'm a kid! I don't know anything about beer, other than that grown ups need it to forget that they're all grown up."

"Did you read all that in a book, Eddy?"

"That's only if Lif wants to be seen... well, you know what I mean. He doesn't need to perform if he doesn't want to."

"Fine, I'll show you the place... but no burning, and no crowbarring!"

She leads them out the front, around the back to the stairs and up to the entrance to the manor above. She leads them through the common room to the hallway, up the stairs, up the stairs to the attic bedroom.

"This is my room!"

She'll lead them through the other rooms, providing a running commentary.

Aimee points at her face when Cico says he sees her face again and grins extra hard.

"Lyss will let you know if you need to burn anything Cico! But not here!"

She goes back to her pastry breakfast and gets her book on different types of spirits to read.

Cico follows Lyss through the manor, still holding the pastry he received from Aimee in one hand.

As they go he begins to keep a mental tally of all the work to be done, creating a mnemonic as he goes.

”Bread and butter, jam on top, mead for three.”

As they continue, he points out rotten timbers and beams for Lyss to be careful of.

In the basement he runs his non pastry holding hand along the walls noticing they come away damp but not dripping wet.

Finally back in the taproom he closes his eyes for several moments, his free hand tapping on the pommel of his short sword.

He looks up and speaks to whomever is still present.

”Two weeks of work by guild craftspeople maybe a few days less. And it won’t be cheap. You’ve done some work already, maybe knocking a day of guild labour off and a 100 pieces of gold.”

He pauses and looks at the pastry for a moment then takes a large bite and chews slowly.

”1,200, maybe 1,150 gold to get this tavern open.”

He then returns to finishing the pastry.

Before Lyss and Cico leave for their tour, Edvord responds to Lyss, "Yes. Yesterday you spoke with great insight for one so young when you mentioned that books can take you anywhere and allow you to experience life as anybody. But books also provide knowledge, and knowledge when applied correctly leads to power and prestige. I'd wager for instance that contained within the more mundane books at the Book Wyrm there is knowledge of chemistry and carpentry. Such skills could be applicable to the current situation," Edvord gestures at the dilapidated state of the tavern around the party, "With sufficient time one could learn such crafts. There are many ways to achieve one's goals. Gold and knowledge are merely different sides of the same coin."

When Cico and Lyss return, Edvord listens in with mild curiosity. The figures mentioned by Cico don't phase Edvord, but it causes the man to dryly muse, "Maybe the apparition knows where this tavern's skeletons are burried... that has to be worth something..."

Cico finishes off the pastry while Edvord speaks, carefully removing any flakes from each of his fingers.

Once Edvord stops speaking, Cico quietly counts to three to make sure Edvord is really done before opening his own mouth to speak.

"The Innkeepers and Brewers also require you sell only beer and wine and other spirits from guild members. Really I think they just want a share of the profit. If you sell back alley spirits make sure you don't kill anyone with it and that you pay twice the monthly fees. No official fencing of stolen goods allowed but they do expect it goes on because apart from the Yawning Portal it is rare for any taverns in this city to turn a profit off of legitimate sales. They will expect a top up of the monthly dues as a share of the fencing."

He pauses for a moment as he goes through a mental checklist.

"And your competitors in the neighborhood will try to convince the guild you're bad for business," Cico says. "I can stay to help make sure they do not burn down your tavern before it is open."

Aimee is engrossed in her book!

"Anyone who tries to burn us out gets blasted or cut!", Lyss growls menacingly (adorably).

Aldrik nods along as Cico lays out the terms of the guild. "Good, good. About what I expected for the cost, and the terms seems reasonable enough."

At Lyss, Aldrik chuckles. "If we are partners, you can add 'sliced and diced' to that list of people trying to burn down Trollskull Manor!" He rattles his great sword in its harness. "Though with an official guild rep and some coverage from a noble name, and such fierce defenders of their home, no taproom will risk it!" 

To Cico, "What's left is the securing of funds. I plan on bringing the others to Mirt the Moneylender this afternoon. If you will accompany us, you can attest to the accuracy of the loan we request." 

After a bit, Kerri returns.

Cico nods his agreement to Aldrik.

"I will assist," he says to Aldrik and then looks at Kerri. "This tavern is sturdy enough to be fixed. It does not need to be burned down."

As the outsider, and needing time to process all of these interactions he's just been through, Cico moves to a corner of the taproom to let the others discuss who's going to see the moneylender. He settles himself quickly and easily into a crossed leg, lotus position. His physical grace and smooth movements the opposite of his awkward social gestures.

Lyss skips over to Kerri.

"The beer guy isn't too bad, just doesn't know how not to say things. Used to know a guy like that on the street, his name was Billy. He got beat bad a lot for telling people things they didn't want to be told. I tried to teach him how to lie, but he kept forgetting."

Lif chimes in with a cheery tapping on the bar as you make your plans, bringing out the remainder of Lyss’s pie on some white plates that you’re sure were brown yesterday. 

The journey to Mirt’s mansion takes you through the Castle Ward as tourists and day drinkers flock to The Yawning Portal. As the streets get sparser, you find yourself walking with Mt Waterdeep towering over to your right and the vast dock stretching out to your left. Nestled at the base of the mountain is hexagonal building, with four towers jutting into the air. 

As you make your way up the incline towards the mansion, a figure in a garish purple blazer with a golden ‘M’ on its breast twisted moustache waves at you. “Good afternoon, and welcome to Mirt’s Mansion.” he greets you through his pinned on smile. “We were not expecting any more appointments this afternoon, but I’m more than happy to assist with any queries you might have on behalf of the Old Wolf.” 

Aldrik gives the man a nod. "Hello to you. I am Aldrik, son of Lord Vendin of House Reinholdt." He motions an arm to his brother. "And this is Edvord, my brother and second in line to the house, along with Cico of the Harvest Road monastary and Brewer's Guild, and Lysslin, Kerri, and Aimee, all of Waterdeep. I have come here to seek an audience with the Old Wolf about acquiring funding for an exciting business venture at Trollskull Alley, and to pay my respects to him." He holds a silken bag in one hand that he bought along the way - a brandy he seemed to recall Mirt enjoying at one of his father's parties.

(OOC: can deduct some gold from my inventory to cover that cost, and lets roll to see if his memory was good enough to get the right brand: Intelligence: 9)

Aimee just smiles and looks around whispering to Lyss,

"You been here before? Why's he got a big M on his shirt about? In case people forget the guy's name is Mirt?"

Cico ignores the sentry and keeps his eyes on Mt. Waterdeep, letting his gaze linger on the peak.

Aimee's whispers to Lyss brings his focus back to the encounter at hand.

"Some lords like to mark their possessions," Cico says to Aimee and Lyss. "Some farmers in the valleys near the abbey put a permanent brand on their animals to keep them from getting mixed with others."

He turns back to the sentry and appears to focus on the M while he waits for him to respond to Aldrik. However, at the same time Cico extends his senses to take in the mansion behind the sentry, looking for other hidden guards, and traps.

Perception: 24  

"Rich folk are weird. At least I hope Mr. Mirt didn't brand your butt too.", Lyss comments.

(Yes, you can deduct 10gp for the brandy, you think it’s the right brand, you’d know better if they’d let you taste it though. You won’t easily forget the way it clung to your breath the next morning.)

Despite being slightly distracted, and unfamiliar with the household staffing of Lords in Waterdeep, Cico still can’t help notice that the place seems particularly unguarded. Figures tending to the garden and the horses don’t seem to be armed and even this sentry seems to be more there to greet you than any sort of guard. His clothes don’t seem to have any sort of protection on them, they seem flashy and expensive. The man himself, has the face of a cherub, as beautiful a man as ever you’ve seen. 

“A pleasure. I am Fenton, personal assistant to Mirt.” The host bows politely. “You must understand that with his moneylending business, my Lord is a busy man. Unannounced guests turn up often, hoping to secure loans, and he would prefer to spend his time on other pursuits. As his representative, I deal with those proposals that aren’t of a special interest to the Old Wolf. If you would care to follow me inside, we can discuss your request.” The man turns to the door, and you see that the back of his blazer is decorated with an even bigger golden ‘M’.

Fenton leads you into the mansion. A large luxurious banquet hall lies before you, adorned with portraits of a handsome man wielding an gleaming sword dressed in fine clothes in various heroic poses and situations. At the back of the hall is a grand staircase with marble statues of the same figure on the banisters, each one in a slightly different pose so that if you were to move quick enough, they would give off the illusion of animating as you use the stairs. 

“Bently, would you be so kind as to inform tour Lord of the arrival of Sir Aldrik Reinholdt and his companions.” Fenton asks a half-elf in formal attire holding a tray, before turning back towards you and gesturing to sit down. “If m’lord has the time or interest to hold audience with you, he will be down. Regardless, he lost his interest in the finer details of business years ago, so I’ll be hearing your pitch if you please.”