Killilli’s Dragon Heist

With a quick stop off for pastries you make your way through the trades ward, bustling with shoppers towards the river gate. There is a build up of wagons heading in and out. City guard stop each vehicle as they are questioned by black robed individuals sitting in booths. There is an archway each side of the road for pedestrians, with their own booths built in for the black robes. A tall human guard calls out to you as you approach. “Departures from the city, please stay on the left hand side. Keep things nice and orderly.” He gestures towards a queue, where another guard is questioning and searching people as they approach the booth.

((Does this all seem to be normal procedure, or are the guards looking for something someone?))

Aimee lines up, chatting with people in the line with her.

Kerri stands near the girls, trying to get a better look at what's going on.

(Yes it seems to be normal procedure, just a case of border control.)

((Just waiting in line then.))

"Hi mister! How's your morning been?", Lyss asks when they get to the front of the line.

After a while queuing, you approach the booth. A white bearded man in black robes glances down over his glasses at you. “Please state your names, addresses, magical ability and your business.” He sighs.

"Hi! I'm Lysslin, I am a part-owner of the Trollskull Manor, I live in the attic, and I don't have any magic ability, but hope to learn someday, and we're going to help the Pepperman!"

"Aimee, part owner of Trollskull manor too! Haven't decided where I live there yet! Somewhere with a window though! I have magic, fire and stuff!"

She prestidigitates sparkles around herself and changes her appearance to look like a badly drawn version of herself.

"Stuff! Oh and I'm trying to leave to help the pepper guy too, but I'll be back soon!"

The black robed wizard merely rolls his eyes. "And this one?" He gestures toward Kerri as his book flips pages magically in front of him. Glancing down, he seems flustered. "What in the nine hells?" He glares at Aimee. "What could the Blackstaff want with a low level caster such as you? Typical.. I knew such a youngster taking up such a high position would lead to this. Elders such as I know more about magic than you could even imagine, and she wants this child." He seeths. 

Aimee smiles back at the man,

"I'm sure you're great! Which child does a staff want?"

She looks up and down the line.

"Do you know how to make a horse out of pastries?"

"Oooh! Or the other way around?"

“Unbelievab....” The wizard buries his head in his hands, his face growing redder and redder. “Just go.“ he waves you on, grumbling to himself.

"Bye! I hope you find the child, see you soon!"

“You twerp! She’s after you! Expect summons from the blackstaff herself, must be some sort of error, but she’ll see for herself how unremarkable you are.” He shoos you away.

The journey to the Undercliff is all downhill, the path winds down the plateau the great city stands upon, granting views of rolling grassland, split up with patches of farms and orchards. The path leads through the picturesque countryside to a small village with thatched houses. Children play out on greens, and the local tavern is bustling with people sitting out in the sun of their beergarden as halflings scurry around with hearty meals and ales.

"I knew his magic wasn't bigger than our imagination."

Lyss approaches a likely looking halfling child.

"Hi! I'm Lyss, we're here to help the pepper man, if you can tell me where to find him, I'll share my pastry! It's a bit squished, but they're real good.

"Kerri," Kerri says, "I reside in Tollskull along with these two. My magical abilities are disputed by both arcane scholars and the acolytes of Mystra. I'm just here to keep an eye on those two... Blackstaff?" Before she can ask anything else Kerri chases after the two of them. "You both need to calm down, just a little bit."

"Nope, don't know Blackstaves! Have a good day and keep practicing your horse/pastry magic!"

To Lyss as they walk briskly out of town,

"Imagination is bigger than any magic! I haven't been outside the city in...13 years! It is so big and green out here! Kerri! Come on!"

Aimee sits in the grass that kids are playing in and then starts rolling around in it, happily.

(Kerri, at least, would know that the blackstaff is the head of the order of magists and protectists, she is also responsible for the security of the city.)

The halfling children look at Lyss and giggle, with the older of the pair speaking “Petyr’s place? It’s up by Snobeedles orchard and the Maze, have you seen the maze? I bet you you couldn’t find me in there!”

The other child starts rolling next to Aimee, “You’re fun! Most grown ups are all serious!”