Chapter 2: Trollskull Alley

The Goliath looks up from the bar with a scowl on his face. He looks in your direction, and anyone who looks back sees that his eyes have only white in them.

Butler just shakes his head "Well at least we can get a drink" he says before heading to the goliath behind the bar. "Whats good to drink here then?"

The Goliath is slow to respond, still eyeing you with that empty gaze. Eventually he speaks in a quiet, rumbling voice like distant thunder. "Gorgondy wine, from Lantan, is a favourite down here. Ever try it, little one?"

Butler grins at the figure "Can't say that I have, I'm always up for trying something new though" he says whilst slapping a few coins down on the bar

He pours a shot of bright pink fizzy liquid for Butler. "Anyone else?" he asks.

When you take a drink, something peculiar happens. Suddenly the bar disappears and you find yourself somewhere else entirely, but very familiar. Looking around, you see a younger version of yourself.

Alastriona ignores the goliath, boldly staring into the Dark Lounge whilst remaining near the party.

Butlers head jerks in surprise, he sees himself back in the old days riding with his company. He smiles as he hears the banter he remembers only so well but then a creeping sense of dread begins to settle on him. This is the day he remembers so very, very well. he keeps watching, unable to stop himself as he sees the men and women he server with, as he sees everyone including Peren slaughtered one by one. As Peren's dying scream tells him to run again his vision shifts back to the bar. He reaches a shaky hand to his forehead before muttering an obscenity. "Ok, that was....unique. You got anything less horrifying as a chaser?"

"Bad one? You need to develop a tolerance. Be glad I only gave you a shot.""How about some Samman ale? Kegs just arrived from Graklstugh two nights ago. Bitter and dark like a bad memory, but strong enough to make you forget it."

Meanwhile, the drow grow impatient with Alastriona. "You in or out?" they call out to her.

Prince tries the Gorgondy wine as well. The pink fizzy drink tickles his throat, and he can't suppress a soft giggle. He's 16, lying in the hayloft with Jamal, the huntsman's son, a boy two years his senior. They talk about seeing the world together, going on adventures, someplace nobody knows them. It seems an impossible dream - leaving would break Alexander's mother's heart. The king, on the other hand, would probably be glad to be rid of his recalcitrant son. But this day, in this moment, one can dream.

Prince shakes his head as the memory fades away, resists the urge to drink another shot. "I'll try that Samman ale now. Hit me."

Alastriona just stares, as though she hasn't heard the drow speak (or does not realize that she is the intended subject). After a few moments, she turns her gaze away to what the bartender is serving.

Butler takes a moment to steady himself, looking still really shaken before he responds to the Goliath "Yeah....bad doesn't quite cover it. I'll take one of the ales". As the goliath passes him the drink he nods in thanks before downing it in one swift move. Looking slightly more steady he simply says "Yeah, another one of those should do the trick"

The Goliath pours brown Samman ales into pewter steins for all who wants one.

"You just here to wet your throat?" he asks.

"Not originally but after that..." Butler says in response and shudders slightly at the still sharp memories. "We had heard this was a good place to go for a game of something but it looks a bit quiet in here at the minute"

"There's a game of dice going down on in 'The Swamp,'" says the big barkeep, pointing toward the sewer patio. "Group of Lizardfolk rangers from up north. Every few months they come to hunt the in the sewers of Waterdeep, as if the Mere of Dead Men ain't dangerous enough for them. Their tab is getting pretty long, so I hope they clean your clocks."

Alastriona nonchalantly checks her bag and pockets, then shrugs as she does not find whatever it was she was looking for.

Butler chuckles "Well if my luck with that drinks any indication they should have relieved me of my purse in fairly short order. Still, a games a game, I’ll go take a look." he slides a few coins over to the barkeep for the drinks with a couple of extra silvers as a tip and heads to the ‘swamp’

You head down a wide set of stone stairs and down a long, thin tunnel which eventually opens up into an expansive sewer complex. Despite the smell, the locale is surprisingly posh with its vaulted ceilings and tranquil waterfalls. There is a second bar down here (currently closed) and plenty of seating, including private rooms. Tunnels lead off into the sewer system. Currently, the place looks pretty empty with the exception of three lizardmen crowded around a big round wooden table rolling dice. They look up to see who is arriving.

Whilst normally Butler may have been a bit more cautious before approaching a table of Lizardmen the booze running through his system at the moment loosens him up a touch so with a big grin he approaches their table "Room for a little one lads?". As he approaches he casts a look about for anything that looks like it might be another entrance into the area.