Killilli’s Dragon Heist

Aimee yawns and gives a happy nod in agreement.

"Get her something good to eat! Like those pies! And the watch her eat it! Maybe have more people checking on her too would help!"

Petyr is relieved when you tell him of the scarecrows demise, gifting you with a package of peppers ranging from sweet yellow ones to a crinkly scotch bonnet he warns you only to use a little of.

When you tell the orchard taproom what you intend to do with the pies, they give them to you on the house. Mae is nervous at first, but warms up throughout the day, sharing pie with you and even sitting outside in the sun, watching Aimee clean in her chaotic way. "It's truly wonderful to see youngsters enjoying themselves here again. I've not heard laughter in so long." A small glimmer of hope returns to her eyes.

(Unless you have any further things you'd like to do out here I would like to fast forward back to Waterdeep where we may meet some new faces ;)

"Well if you ever find yourself in need of company you're always welcome at Trollskull Manor," Kerri says to Mae.

The halfling forces a smile, but laments that city life is a young persons game and she couldn’t handle the hustle and bustle. As you leave her, she shuffles back into her cottage, staring back at you with a tear in her eye. 

You arrive back to Trollskull alley in the early evening. The streets are bustling, with queues around the block for the lemonade stand and the cake shop. A huddle of well dressed young men are playing dice on the corner, showing off the wine they lifted from their parents cellars. A good number of people are standing around the Trollskull tavern chattering and trying to peek through the windows. 

Amongst them, a pair of humans seem to notice you….

As you approach, one of the humans appears to be lashing a horse to the inn's hitch post. The horse itself is massive, sable in color with a heavy saddle embellished with blue and gold cloth. Secured to the horse are a long lance, with matching blue ribbons tied just below the bladed tip, and a metal round shield bearing a sigil - a gold-trimmed blue and black patterened shield with the depiction of a golden lion on one half and white wolf on the other half. Saddlebags are attached to the back of the saddle. 

This human is tall and broad-shouldered, tan with a tightly-groomed mustache and pointed van dyke goatee, and is clean shaven otherwise. His dark brown hair is tied back in a pony tail, and his clothing appears made of expensive material - silk shirt, high collared jacket, and clean riding pants and boots. Secured across his back you see a massive sword in a long harness, the exposed hilt and crossguard made of polished bronze and ebony leather, the exposed section of blade a reflective steel. Several daggers and a small pouch adorn his belt, the dark leather matching the harness.

As the man sees you with his dark blue eyes, he grins and nudges the other human man with his elbow. "See, brother! I told you the coppers to that street scamp would pay off. And there they are!"

The other human is slightly shorter, pretty average for one of his race. His skin is weathered and leathery, eyes a deep black, same as his hair which includes a close cropped goatee. He is much leaner than his compatriot, yet his clothes are fine. Along the left side of his pants is an ornate holster holding a fancy rapier. There appears to be a symbol on the pommel of the rapier, but you can't make it out from here.

The second horse looks of higher breed than the first, though it is noticeably smaller. Standing in contrast, this horse is carrying next to nothing. Only a single backpack is secured next to the saddle. As he is nudged, the man speaks to the one who addressed him as brother. "Hmmmm. I guess the young rascal's counsel was worth the meager coin. But before we can conduct your business Aldrik, make sure to tie up my horse so it does not scamper off. Unlike you, I have a reputation to maintain with father and I will not be responsible for the loss of one of the family's steeds."

Looking over to the party, the man waves towards you and speaks. "You lot... must be Mirt's... friends." Weirdly the man is now speaking much slower, though his speech pattern was normal a moment before. It feels very condescending.

Kerri grabs both of the girls by their shirts/coats to keep them from running up. "And you would be?" she asks, unimpressed by the man's attitude and mannerisms.

"Bah, Edvord, don't give away the game before we've even had a chance to talk with them!" Aldrik mutters as he ties the other horse to the post, and then speaks to his own horse. "Now, Mouse, should anyone attempt to mess with you or Butterbell over there, you have my permission to stomp them." He gives the warhorse a pat along the head, the horse giving a whinny in response, before Aldrik turns to regard the rest of the group, flashing a wide grin and keeping his arms spread in a more welcoming manner.

"You'll have to forgive my brother. He's spent so much time with his nose in books that he sometimes forgets how to talk to anything more lively than an old monk's illustration. I am Aldrik Reinholdt, scion of House Reinholdt, and this is Edvord, my elder brother." Gesturing to the other three, he gives a nod of the head. "And you are the group who saved Ranaer Neverember, are you not? I'd like to personally thank you, as that scoundrel of a man owed me a few coins from a game of cards. More importantly, though..." He takes a look at the inn's front, and the people milling about. "I'd like to discuss certain opportunities with you!"

"Mhm..." Kerri says, still very guarded and unimpressed. "And those opportunities would be?"

"Why don't we discuss this inside? No good business deal is made in the middle of the broadway, even if certain people enjoy blurting out half-remembered names for all in the streets to hear." Aldrik shoots Edvord a quick glare, before returning to the girls with a smile. "Back alleys and back rooms, sure, but even those should not be needed for what I'd like to propose." 

((Lyss tells Mae to buy some candy to give to the local kids to make friends with them, and in their free time before heading back, tries to repair the maze as best she can so she and Aimee can do a run though without the map.))

"Mouse and Butterbell?"

The two humans see the tiny halfling girl's eyes light up at the horses as she exchanges glances with the older girl as they both are anchored by the grown up.

She is small, and shabbily dressed, her dark hair a tangle (though a clean one) pulled back on the sides. Somewhat incongruously, she has a quiver and short bow, and a keen eye might spot a dagger or two.

"What's a Mirt?"

((Age is 10-13 year old, halfling, only a couple feet tall.))

Aldrik catches Lysslinn's expression, and beams a smile. He bends down into a squat, to be as close to eye level as he can with the small halfling (it's... still not that close).

"A fellow horse lover, perhaps? What is your name?" Glancing back, he continues, "Mouse is that big strapping one, strong as an ox and smart as a fox. He's the truest and most loyal friend I've had. And..." he lowers his voice a bit, almost conspiratorially, "would you believe he was a runt when he was a foal? The horsemaster called him a little field mouse. The name stuck, but we all learned that wonderful things sometimes start in small packages." He gives the girl a wink, and reaches into his bag, proffering two large dried apple slices. "As for Butterbell, well, I think her full name is about ten words long and includes princess at least once... Edvord could tell you for sure."

"You and your friend can feed Mouse and Butterbell, if you like. Just hold the apples in your hand like this." He shows them an open, flattened hand, the offered apple slices resting in his palm.

"As for Mirt, he's a person. Someone I know, who could maybe be of help to us all."

At the mention of his horses name, Edvord grumbles to himself before speaking to the halfing. "Her name is Princess Irulian Butterbell the Third. Still can't believe father let Amelia name all of the horses. Even as a grown woman she seems to take nothing seriously."

Now that the three of you are closer, you notice that the pommel of Edvord's rapier contains the same chimeric depiction of a half golden lion half white wolf that is emblazoned upon Aldrik's shield. There is a bit of a resemblance between the two characters, but their demeanor could not be more polar opposite.

Sensing a bit of hostility, and wanting to ensure that he isn't responsible for ruining his brother's schemes, Edvord speaks up to the entire party. This time his voice pattern returned has returned to a normal tone. "My brother may appear flippant, and his schemes convoluted, but he has the Reinholdt knack for catching opportunities." Muttering in a much lower tone under his breathe to himself, Edvord adds, "He just can't keep coin in his purse for more than a day."

Looking around at the crowded street, Edvord states "I concur, let us leave these dusty and damp streets. The smell of this city is one thing I will never miss. This lot looks capable enough, but looks can be deceiving. Perhaps one of you could recount the tale of how you saved Ranaer Neverember before we get down to business."

"I still don't see how that's any of your business," Kerri says, the name suddenly ringing a bell. "Nor do I appreciate your attitude," she glares at the shorter of the two men. She walks past the two of them and opens the door. "You can come in... for now," she says shortly, "but one more rude word or action and I have no issue throwing the both of you out. Understand?"

Aimee, still wondering if she could join in that dice game. Or maybe just watch from an uncomfortably close distance, notes the next big newcomers with delight.

"Customers!"

Upon hearing that Edvord likes books,

"I like books too! I'm starting my own collect!"

Aimee is a young (18-22) dark skinned half elf of medium height. Her head was shaved but it's starting to come in, except a spot with a large coin sized scar. She has a perpetual grin that ranges from friendly to manic. She is wearing some increasingly tattered robes of an acolyte but is very, very clean.

Aimee squeezes past Kerri to be the first inside to see what the ghost did and yells happily back,

"We have a ghost! Oh my name is Aimee! We saved Ranear with stealth and guile! Huh Lyss? Oh, you two want a room?"

"This is business, business happens downstairs."

Lyss twists out of Kerri's grip and unlocks the tavern area.

"But if you're some sort of real estate protectors after our place now that we got it, you better watch your butts."

Aimee gives her most serious look to back Lyss up.

OOC: Going on some assumptions about the inn from talking with Killilli, can correct if wrong (but sadly going to be super busy the rest of the day so might not a chance to check back til late)

Aldrik shrugs and stands back up as the girl runs towards the tavern, still holding the snacks for the horses. He looks at Edvord and raises a finger as if he were about to say something to his brother, then closes his hand into a fist, placing it over his mouth. Shaking his head, he follows the woman and the girls, though he now realizes the half-elf isn't much younger than he is, being in his early twenties. Before entering, he feeds the two apple slices to the horses.

To Kerri, as he enters, "You are protective of you and yours. That's a good trait to have in this city. Keep 'em close to the chest, usually a useful strategy."

To Lyss, he smiles. "Consider our butts watched, though I do hope we've not put on the airs of such ruffians. That is most decidingly not our intent."

As Aldrik enters the taproom, he walks in a circle around the space. "Ah, the mythical Trollskull Tavern. You may not have realized it, but you are sitting on a true potential goldmine. The location, the mystique of this old place, the novelty of it. Let me paint a picture for you..." As he walks, he motions to various corners of the taproom area. To the northeast corner, "Imagine, just at eveningfeast. A trio of bards plays an upbeat tune there, a fiddle and a shanty. Every stool along the bar full with a patron, every patron with an ale in hand, half of them singing along with the bards, and the barkeep working hard to keep up with new orders." He wipes his finger along the bar, collecting dust which he pointedly brushes off. "From the kitchen, wonderful aromas. Perhaps today was the day for an Amnian curry? Or maybe a blackened grouper like they do down in Baldur's Gate? Luskan crablegs?" He inhales, noting the stale vinegar flavor to the air. He walks between the broken tables. "Two barmaids, maybe three, are needed to keep up with the full house. The food is worth the wait, as is the ale, afterall. An article came out last week that this tavern could very well be the next Yawning Portal!"

As if he was caught up in his own illusion, Aldrik slowly spins around in the middle of the room at that last part. Finished, though, he continues, now looking at the trio. "But... this is the City of Splendor, and one does not make coin or business without spending coin first. And one does not get a good line of coin without having some connections first. This is where I can help you."

"To get this inn to its potential, it will need work. A lot of work, in fact. I know a person at the Guild of Brewers and Innkeepers who can give us an assessment of about how much it will cost to get this place up and running again, who can swing by tomorrow morning."

Pausing to glance at Edvord a moment, he then continues, "And more importantly, you need a good line of credit, a loan to start getting workers and staff, initial stock, so on. Now, while you could go to some back-alley moneylender, that's the kind that would send thuggish brutes to break your legs for being one copper short. The good sort of lender, the more noble kind whose politics don't allow that sort of barbarism, often won't give common petitioners the time of day. But, my family's name is known to several, and I have shared drinks and games with Mirt, the Old Wolf. Alternatively, if old Mirt is not to your liking, we could speak to Lord Cassalanter or Lady Haventree, though I only have met the both in passing."

Heading off a potential question from Kerri, Aldrik looks at her directly, "And what is in it for me, you may ask? Partnership. I would love to take part in running a tavern, having spent much of my days in them already. As a partner, my successes would become yours, and your failures would be a burden I would share, and vice versa. My father has... insisted I begin my own ventures in Waterdeep, and I intend to."

Glancing back at the kitchen, he continues. "And besides, every good tavern needs someone brawny enough to toss out an unruly drunkard, and I have some delightful dish ideas."

Turning to face all three, "So, what do you say?"

((Aimee cleaned that bar herself so there was probably only some dust between immaculately clean stretches!))

Aimee leans in to Lyss and whispers,

"I spaced out for a while... I think he said he wants to start a business venture by taking part of ours?  So he can work as a bouncer?"

She then says,

"Hold on, you'll have to repeat that for Lif!"

She then yells,

"LIF! People here want to tell you a story about the inn!"

At Aimee's shout, Aldrik cocks an eyebrow, but waits for whomever Lif might be.

(will assume he didn't hear the whisper)