The inkeeper prepares your drinks and hands them to you. Clara looks around, but since your arrival no additional guests arrived. It was still only the orc, the halfling and the human woman. Must be the early time, you think. After all it is still only early afternoon.

Clara approaches the halfling, bringing one beer for the patron.
“Greeting master halfling. I’m Clara and I’m new around here. I’ll trade this beer for the newest rumours in town. What do you say ? I heard it is not safe to be in the streets at night these days. Is that right ?”.

Without waiting for the answer, slide the mug of ale in front of the halfling.

(rolling persuasion if needed  - advantage in case my beer is enough to make a new friend)

persuasion: 11

(The check is not needed. I will give an upvote when I use it)
The halfling, wearing a colorful cape, replies: "I was just listening to Whaul's story here, ..." he nods at the strong-jawed half-orc, who is enthusiastically chewing a meatloaf. "But I won't say "no" to a free beer. If that is ok with you, Whaul."
With a still full mouth, the half-orc answers jovially, tiny bits of half-chewed food splattering out of his mouth: "Ipf's ok. Fee feems nife enouf. I'll finif that ftory later."
The woman sighs:" Please, Whaul. We have been over this. Don't speak while you are eating." "Forry" 
"Anyway," she continues, "I don't remember a time when the streets have been safe at night. You are not from here, are you? Sure, there are places it is worse, like down at the docks, and places it is better. But to many people seem to be willing to do just anything to get what they want in this city. Including theft and murder." She woefully shakes her head. "I guess it is better in the upper city. That part of town has the city watch to take care of crime. At nightfall, everyone without a permit is thrown out of there."
"And it surely didn't get better in the last tenday." the halfling joins in. "The Flaming Fist is decapitated. The captains have already started bickering over who should be in charge with Ulder Ravengard gone. The crime scene knows that too and they have started getting bolder."

Leshanna smiles as Clara moves over to sit with the other patrons. She glances to the others and nods. "I am heading on upstairs, if anyone wants to go with I won't object to some backup." She turns then, her knee-length tunic swaying with her motion, and walks to the stairs. Her ale is in one hand, and she takes a drink to keep it from spilling as she reaches the stairs. She heads on up, with whomever is going with.

Briar quickly stands up from her chair and follows Leshanna.

Quote from Ascolom >>

(The check is not needed. I will give an upvote when I use it)
The halfling, wearing a colorful cape, replies: "I was just listening to Whaul's story here, ..." he nods at the strong-jawed half-orc, who is enthusiastically chewing a meatloaf. "But I won't say "no" to a free beer. If that is ok with you, Whaul."
With a still full mouth, the half-orc answers jovially, tiny bits of half-chewed food splattering out of his mouth: "Ipf's ok. Fee feems nife enouf. I'll finif that ftory later."
The woman sighs:" Please, Whaul. We have been over this. Don't speak while you are eating." "Forry" 
"Anyway," she continues, "I don't remember a time when the streets have been safe at night. You are not from here, are you? Sure, there are places it is worse, like down at the docks, and places it is better. But to many people seem to be willing to do just anything to get what they want in this city. Including theft and murder." She woefully shakes her head. "I guess it is better in the upper city. That part of town has the city watch to take care of crime. At nightfall, everyone without a permit is thrown out of there."
"And it surely didn't get better in the last tenday." the halfling joins in. "The Flaming Fist is decapitated. The captains have already started bickering over who should be in charge with Ulder Ravengard gone. The crime scene knows that too and they have started getting bolder."

 
Clara presses on "yes, I also heard also of follower of the Dead Three are becoming bolder everyday... Is that true ? Any place I would need to avoid the most ?"

The woman and the halfling give each other a concerned look. The halfling says: "I heard a rumor from old Berta about some elder woman they found dead in the street in the mornin' with a dozen stab wounds in her chest. But she's a gossip sort of person. I didn't think much of it... Actually, now that you say it, they also found a young patriar. Some young gnomish aristocrat. Alwin? Alwas?... Hmm, I forgot his name, no one famous, but anyway - they found his body in an dark alley a block or so from the upper city gate near the market square, his head almost hacked off. Burrrghh.", he shudders.
The woman continues: "It would definitely make sense for these wretched cultists to be the culprit. But you seem to know more about this than we do. It has been a long time since they were active. I thought they had learned their lesson when they were wiped out 50 years ago. You know, we Baldurians love our freedom. We don't restrict any religious worship unless they overstep their bounds."
The half-orc, who seems to have eaten up, iterates: "With that, she means when a patriars business is hurt."
The halfling adds: "... or they cause too much public unrest, but that is also bad for business, so yes."

Lokat would just smirk, looking around the bar at the regular patrons and sits with his allies, he'd go to the bartender, "A flagon of some decent ale!  I wish to see what Baldur's Gate has to offer for this dwarf!"   He laughs and listens to the conversation going on with his allies.   

Quote from Ascolom >>

The woman and the halfling give each other a concerned look. The halfling says: "I heard a rumor from old Berta about some elder woman they found dead in the street in the mornin' with a dozen stab wounds in her chest. But she's a gossip sort of person. I didn't think much of it... Actually, now that you say it, they also found a young patriar. Some young gnomish aristocrat. Alwin? Alwas?... Hmm, I forgot his name, no one famous, but anyway - they found his body in an dark alley a block or so from the upper city gate near the market square, his head almost hacked off. Burrrghh.", he shudders.
The woman continues: "It would definitely make sense for these wretched cultists to be the culprit. But you seem to know more about this than we do. It has been a long time since they were active. I thought they had learned their lesson when they were wiped out 50 years ago. You know, we Baldurians love our freedom. We don't restrict any religious worship unless they overstep their bounds."
The half-orc, who seems to have eaten up, iterates: "With that, she means when a patriars business is hurt."
The halfling adds: "... or they cause too much public unrest, but that is also bad for business, so yes."

 "Hmm... Our friend, a noted gossip is late, and there is a gossip of a woman found dead. I should hope she's not our friend. But a murder either way needs to be investigated."

While Clara talks to the locals, the inkeeper pours Lokat a dwarfen ale from a keg under the counter. Its high alcohol content gives it a bitter taste that only dwarfs can truly appreciate. Lokat sits down next to Clara and listens in on the conversation. Alaster, intrigued by the gossip, joins in.

Leshanna focussed on advancing their objective heads upstairs, closely followed by Briar. They arrive in a windowless room illuminated by lit lanterns hanging from the rafters. Rugs cover the wooden floor and help dampen the noise from patrons gathered around one of two large tables, eating and playing games of Baldur’s Bones. There are 4 of them, two tired looking men, a seemingly ever smirking woman and a large, lumbering tiefling. They probably notice you, but do not pay you any interest.

Note: Although Clara is downstairs, she tries to keep her pointy ears open for any sign of commotion upstair (passive perception 15).

"Tarina I assume." Leshanna says, moving directly towards the ever-smirking woman. She nods to the others though, letting them know she is aware they are there as well. "Zodge sent us to collect information he says you have for him." Leshanna keeps her eyes on the woman, figuring she is likely the boss in this room and others will take their cues from her.

Lokat lifts his flagon and takes a mighty gulp and sighs, lowering it to the counter.  "Cultists too...  just seems to be getting more an more interesting the longer I stay in this city."  He smirks once again, taking a drink.

The woman gives Leshanna a surprised look that quickly turns back into a cocky lopsided grin. "You are straight to the point, huh? I like that. But let's talk somewhere more private. Not everyone here needs to know everything." She looks at the other players at the table: "I fold. This won't take long. I'll be back shortly.", she says, pushes a few coins in front of her into a coinbag, she had on her belt, and stands up. She struts over to one of many doors in the room without giving you as much as a second glance, unlocks the door, opens it and gives you a glance over the shoulder "You comin'?"

Briar walks over to the door.

Lokat also walks behind the group with his ale, drinking as he walks.

As Lokat goes up and follows the group, Clara nods at him and says "Give me a shout if you need me, I'm staying here for now"
While  having a good chat with the locals, Clara keeps an eye out on the different patrons and on the front door of the tavern (passive perception 15)

The room is a small, plain guest room only furnished with a bed, a wooden chest, and curtains on the window. Tarina winks all of you who want to join in, then comes in and closes the door behind her. "So, Zodge finally sent someone. I have the information you want. 'Thing is, the price has just risen. I'll need a tiny favor from you and it is all yours."

"What do you need done?" Briar asks.

"Well, I have been informed that some old ... let's call them acquaintances of mine will be back in town this evening. They'll surely want to pay me a visit, but I really do not want to see them. I don't want to see them EVER again, if you catch my drift. Don't worry, they are BAD people. Once you have dealt with them, I'll tell you where the people you're after are hiding."