Aimee waits for her honey ham pie!

Cico goes over to the booth Arquette is sitting in and sits down beside him.

”It will be easier to watch me if I stay close.”

He then examines the other man more closely, wondering at Arquette’s relationship with him.

<Hey Cico, it's Lyss! Are you making friends? Who're those guys? I saw the one come here with you, do you know him? He was the guy yelling, wasn't he?>

As you approach, the stranger starts to sway. “Officer, I’m not that drunk honestly. I’m causing no harm.”

Cico Insight: 17  

He’s a city watchman sent to watch us. But now he’s interested in someone who has drank too much.” Cico tries thinking back to Lyss.

Cico - This man was not swaying before you started walking over, and though it was subtle his eyes shifted slightly towards you before he did. Arquette seems to be looking to this man with a sense of respect, much like you would show to your masters in the monastery. As you take your seat, the watchman splutters and stammers trying to find his words.

Cico looks from the new man to Arquette and then back.

”He is not drunk but he wants to appear that way. Yet he did not before I arrived. Why do you want to appear drunk to me whom you do not know?”

"Pie! Huh, where'd Cico go? Oh, over there with a new friend! Lyss should we get more pie for Cico's friend?"

She then starts eating, it has been a long morning with only a pastry to run on.

Arquette's mouth is wide open as he stares cluelessly at Cico. The stranger shakes his head with a sigh, flashing a gold badge at Cico."At ease Arquette, our friend here is not so easily fooled."  He offers his hand to shake, introducing himself in hushed tones. "Jalester Silvermane. I've been tasked with keeping tabs on your group on behalf of the city, a job I feel is not entirely of great importance. If you would care to explain what you were doing at the scene of this tragic event at Trollskull alley, and why your companion felt the urge to attempt to pickpocket a highly decorated member of the Watchful Order, we could both save ourselves the headache." 

"Appearances can decieve, my dear! Come, we'll have a drink to celebrate the sport of it!" Aldrik beams, pocketing five of the coins. The sixth he holds in his hand as he nods to the nearest bartender. "A strong ale for my new friend and myself, if you will!"

"I am Aldrik, and who might you be?" he asks the half-orc woman.

Edvord is interested in anyone he would recognize as having connections to Candlekeep or through individuals that he knows through family connections would have access to libraries with arcane texts.

If Edvord doesn't recognize anyone he stands within earshot of Cico and the interesting conversation developing with Jalester and Arquette.

Cico shakes Jalester Silvermane's hand while cocking his head to one side, considering what the man has just said.

"I am Cico Silentleaf of the Harvest Road Abbey," Cico says. "We have explained what happened already. I think your internal citywatch communications are flawed."

He looks around the room to find the girls.

"They are children. They will do anything to see if it can be done. They will pick a pocket and then immediately hand over what they find to the owner just to show they can do it." Cico says. "It is not something to take seriously."

He then turns his attention back to Silvermane.

"The Troll Skull is there's. An explosion occurred outside of the front door. It was difficult for us to be anywhere else. From what we have gathered the bomber was a nimblewright. Do you know where they're from?"

Lyss takes a break from thinking about pie to wave at Cico then he looks over.

<I know it's not easy for you to make friends Cico, but you're doing great! Do you new friends want pie? I'm buying!>

<The Arquette one is not a friend. This other one, Silvermane smiles a lot. They likely enjoy pie> Cico thinks back to Lyss. He pauses for a moment before remembering something, nodding to himself. <Thank you.>

Edvord

Edvord sees two familiar Candlekeep dropouts.

A male halfling, Losser Mirklav, who always had a great enthusiasm for necromancy. He was a bit overeager to practise and was unceremoniously kicked out after raising a teachers deceased cat without permission. He know sits across from two brutish men, carefully trimming the meat from a chicken thigh.

The other a female human by the name of Havi Temlock, she was ambitious, and left the college out of boredom, not wishing to become another fossil gathering dust amongst the books. She sits alone, staring at the bar

Aldrik

"I'm Yagra. And I'll have the strongest ale there is!" The half Orc roars as she slaps you on the back " What do you say we make it a contest eh? I like you rich boy. What you here for? Getting smashed? Braving the Undermountain? Or are you the muscle for them weaklings over there?" She points overtly at Kerri, Threestrings, Aimee, Edvord and Lyss. 

Cico

"Harvest Road Abby?" Jalester strokes his stubble. "Can't say I've heard of it, is that Lords Alliance territory?" He leans in closer and lowers his voice further. "As you have been straightforward with me, I will show you the same courtesy.  It is foolish to believe that even a City Watchman is likely to report everything accurately. It is a very public role, ego, ambition and confirmation bias can come to the fore. For example, say a citizen or even a visitor to the city were to solve a crime, why that would take the glory away. Of course, their report would simply say that this individual was ' interfering' or worse, be a suspect. I for one, see value in people who investigate for reasons outside career progression, those who can work subtly.... and with nimble fingers." He glances across the room at Lyss and Aimee. 

"As for answering your question..." Jalester sighs, " We all know that the House of Inspired Hands makes Nimblewrights, worshippers of Gond are always making wild inventions. They often march in the Autumn parades. If anybody knows where one would be, it would be them." He slides over a [magic item] sending stone [/magic item] covering it with his palm. " Of course, you will likely run into trouble with the watch if you try to investigate. Keep me informed and I may be able to help." He looks down into his reflection in his cup. "Just be careful, we've lost.... good men. I don't need your blood on my hands."

Kerri, Aimee, Lyss

Your pie arrives, slammed down before you unceremoniously by Durnan. The pork has no honey taste and no gravy to it at all, it's pure pork mushed up almost into a paste. Theres maybe a hint of sage in there, but that's about it. Threestring's eyes lock with Kerri's darting over to Aldrik. "Well uh.. he's looking pretty friendly. Talking of friends...." Threestrings bites his lip. "You've met Bonnie right? She's been waitressing here for a hot minute. I've been spending a bit of time with her, written some of my best work. She's my muse. Her and her family have just moved to the City and I tried to get them in with our mutual friend. If you're visiting the Old Wolf, would you mind just vouching for me?"

Cico fidgets on the bench as Jalester leans in closer when he speaks. Cico leans back slightly, only keeping eye contact a few moments at a time.

Finally he nods when Silvermane finishes talking. Cico picks up the sending stone and looks at Arquette when Silvermane mentions running into trouble with the watch. He frowns at the young guard.

"I do not think I bleed easily," Cico says. "I do not think you will be troubled by my blood."

He stands, bowing slightly, wanting to get out of the close confines of the booth and to tell the others.

"House of Inspired Hands, hmm." Cico says. "We will tell you if we uncover anything." 

With another slight bow, Cico turns to leave but pauses and looks back at Arquette. "Do yo want us to let you know when we're leaving? Or should we make a game of it?"

Without waiting for an answer, Cico heads back towards the others. He stops when he sees Aldrik in conversation with the muscular half-orc and then Kerri, Lyss and Aimee talking with the musician. But spotting Edvord alone, the monk moves to quickly join him and tell him about the House of Inspired Hands and see if he knows anything about it.

Aimee digs into her pie then looks up at Durham and says in a plaintive voice,

"Durham! This is below the standard I've come to expect from the Yawning!"

She doesn't stop eating it as she listens to Three-Strings. Nodding and repeating with a full mouth,

"Bommy? Hoht minute! Moose!"

She swallows and smiles broadly at Three-Strings,

"Sure! I'd be glad to tell him all about you!"

<Aimee! It's me Lyss! Can you make this pie taste more tasty? It's kinda meh, but I just finished saying how all pies are great, so don't want to seem like I'm not enjoying it...>

Edvord walks over to Aldrik, "Brother mind spotting me a few gold pieces... There are a pair of familiar faces in the bar that might be more approachable if alcohol was imbibed. Unfortunately, I appear to have left my coin-purse back at the mansion... along with my fighting spellbook."