Edvord closes the books he has been looking through. "I believe we have a few leads to follow before the day is over... what is our next step?"

You approach Blackstaff tower, the black walls blending in against the night sky. There are still wizards training in the courtyard, a flash of magic missiles streaking through the night against shield spells. 

You are greeted by a scholarly human male, who brings you to a waiting room filled with bookshelves lining the walls. Vajra appears in a flash of smoke before you. 

"Ahh, you've arrived. Late in the day, but you're here nonetheless. I hear you scaled the mountain. What wisdom did the monk impart?"

"Aaah! That was AWESOME! CAN YOU TEACH ME?!"

Aimee smiles and does a poor bow/curtsie to the Staff,

"Hi Miss! Lemme see!"

She clears her throat and says,

"A villa stained red with salt and iron, a thief but a shadow of their former self, a betrayal unseen! The four descend upon their prize! Evil’s twin hides it’s face for now, while another grows more paranoid and less patient daily! Nobody is who they seem and no matter deeds good or evil blood will spill on Founders Day!"

She nods happily at her remembering.

"So the shadow is probably Lyss's! This is Lyss, you didn't meet her did you? She can do magic too!"

She adds happily,

"He also beat the tar out of me, Cico and Lyss! That's wisdom, right? What do you think it means ma'am?"

The Blackstaff ignores your questions, only seeming to take real interest when Hlam's message is relayed. "There is much to unpack there. I shall put it to some of the best wizards Waterdeep has to offer and we shall see what we can dicipher. You have saved Force Grey valuable time and resources, I will ensure any current charges against you are dropped. If you are willing to swear to protect this city at any cost, we could onboard you to the Gray Hands, our starter programme for Force Grey."

Cico looks down at the girls when the offer to join the Blackstaff is made to see if they will say yes or not. These two are quite unpredictable and any response was possible.

Before they answer, Cico looks at the Blackstaff.

"We would like to hear any answers your wizards come up," Cico says and is about to turn away before he stops, takes a breath and adds, "please and thank you."

"Yeah! Can you also tell the people that were pressing they charges that they suck and can jump in the Abyss?"

She looks over to Lyss on the next question,

"Can I talk to Lyss before I answer ma'am?"

She will take a step back to asks Lyss in brain talk,

<Sounds kinda cool? Dumb name but then we're like official and stuff!>

Edvord considers the Blackstaff's offer privately before speaking up to the rest of the members of the group, "Perhaps we should sleep a night or two on this most generous offer... Unity does not come easily for our... whatever we are."

Vajrah nods curtly, "Very well, this oath is one to be taken seriously. You know where to find me when you are ready to take it on." In a puff of smoke, she disappears once more. As you take your leave, an elderly studious robed man brings you a pouch. "Your payment, 300 dragons. Thank you for your help, the Blackstaff is young and as talented a mage as she is, she is yet to learn the value of showing appreciation to those who may seem beneath her. I know more than anyone.... those are the people who's support you will need when your body and mind start to fail you."

(To the temple I believe?......) 

Lyss palms her bit of wire and brain talks back, <Yeah, not nearly as cool as Book Wyrms. But being official sounds maybe fun, as long as we don't have to do too much official stuff, like dress up and stand around while grown ups are being all boring.>

Aimee gladly takes the 300 gold,

"Why thank you! What's your name? You seem nice!"

To Lyss,

<Book Wyrms is too good to beat! I think they mostly just want us to show up and blow things up to save people sometimes? I can do that!>

<Professional badasses! I can do that!>

<With a license to blow stuff up for the greater good!>

Do the other characters see any hint of a telepathic conversation between Lyss and Aimee?

Lyss is holding her hand funny and she's concentrating while her lips are moving, but you don't hear anything she's saying.

The elderly man smiles and bows to Aimee, "My name is Gaskar. Thank you so much for asking." 

You make your way to the House of Inspired Hands, Aimee and Lyss strangely pointing at eachother wordlessly. On the corner of Seawatch and Shark Street you find your destination - a strange hybrid of a workshop and a temple. Above the dooris a large cog with four spokes. On the roof you spot a humanoid figure 60 ft away from you. The figure extends it's arm releasing a small sparrow into the air. It flits around in a wonderful display of loops and figure eights before veering in your direction. The bird accelerates through the air directly at you.

Lyss has her sling out and twirling in case it's an attack sparrow.

Cico watches the bird as it approaches trying to determine if it’s a real bird or another creation of the temple.

Perception? 11  

((Regarding see stuff while the telepathic conversation is happening - Aimee is waving her arms and gesticulating like she does when she normally talks and her facial expressions change with varying degrees of happy.

Aimee doesn't need to point for her stuff to work though!))

"Birdie!"

She readies a blast just in case.

Kerri moves to put herself between the girls and the bird. "That's not natural," she mutters to herself.