Chapter 3 - HQ Interlude

Utes
You window shop idly, not really looking at much in particular. After you see Aelar enter a general goods shop, and see Xadira enter the tailors, you see one more thing of note. It's Green, the front desk gnome from the Daggers. He scurried along the street muttering to himself. He seems to be heading back past the end of the merchant hall. The only things you overhear him mutter are the words 'monstrosity', and something about not being paid enough for this.

Intrigued Ütés yells out to the gnome, "Something I may be able to help with?"

Green jumps at the sudden call, Oh. Uh. Ular? Right? Actually, there might be. You see as we are connected to Neverwinter we are also connected to the sewer system. It allows us to move around the city in secret. Well those tunnels sometimes find themselves filled with undesirable things. We've heard tell of something crawling around the east tunnel. Usually it just turns out to be rats, but once again I'm called on to do the job nobody wants. Would you mind escorting me to the east tunnel, it's just up ahead. I'm sure it is nothing though.

Ular mumbles with a chuckle. It's not the worst pronunciation of her name that she's ever heard, after all, Close enough.

"I'd be happy to offer my help. Lead the way!"

I feel a blush creeping up on me. "It's quite a fine robe, truly, although a very strange color and in a size that is a bit too snug, but the design and quality is impeccable. Even so, I cannot accept this! This level of gift exchanging is not appropriate at this point in time. We've known one another for but a moment and I'm not familiar with these customs. I do not wish to rush into any sort of arrangement that neither of us is prepared for. I still have so much to learn, to study... my books..." Panic. Mild panic. This is strange, unfamiliar territory. Perhaps I should leave. I look towards the exit and consider how quickly I could run. I still have my cape. I quickly consider my options.

Aelar
Well, that's okay, I underst...wait, you will?, he asks, quite surprised by your reticence to help. It's just up here

He leads you down to the end of the market hall and you see an iron gate that he unlocks and enters. The tunnel starts out fair enough. He lights a torch and it seems just like a hidden passage. Soon you start to smell something a little rank in the air. You remember that he did say sewer system.

After heading down this tunnel a ways it finally opens up to an intersection of tunnels. A small 15' by 15' cavern that connects into 3 other tunnels. A small channel of water cuts down each of the three tunnels and the smell is absolutely horrid. You see Green has covered his mouth and nose with a small square of cloth. He hands you one as well.

The reports came from around here, look around see if you can find anything, he says as he moves around to check out the space.

Taking the cloth Ütés quickly places it to her face with her left hand and rests her right on the hilt of her blade. "I've been in nicer sewers" she states in a serious tone. "I'll look off to the left, don't get too far away."

Normally in a situation such as this Ütés would crouch down a bit to help conceal herself, but not wanting to get any closer to the source of the smell she moves ahead slowly, while standing as tall as possible.

You make your way over to the left tunnel and Green moves to the right tunnel. You investigate down a bit, not doing a very good job of being silent with your new armor, but you eventually notice something. A small amount of ash scraped across the ground. Looking up you see what looks like a darkened area where maybe a smoke trail may have went. There is even a scent. Almost entirely masked by the scent of the sewer, but you still pick it up just faintly. It smells as though a small fire was here recently.

This is obviously a small campfire that had been made up, and hurriedly destroyed and hidden. Nearby you even find some loose cloth that looks to a normal person like a pile of refuse, but you see it had been laid out as a form of makeshift bedroll. One of a very small nature.

You suddenly hear a shout from back the way you came and hear a tell tale sign of a magical spell going off.

Xadira

An uncomfortably long silence ensues. Oh...you don't...oh..., he says, visibly deflating with every word. If you say anymore you think he may just flatten completely. I just.. uh... thought maybe... I mean... yes... books..., he says.

He takes the opened gift back and looks at you one more time, opening his mouth to say something, but not sure what to say back either. After a brief moment, a moment that seems to last at least 3 eternities he moves quickly past you and rushes out of the store without another word.

Relieved, I take a moment to catch my breath before approaching the seamster. "Good day to you! I am in search of fine robes in a shade or green or blue. Or perhaps turquoise. Do you have anything in that color palate?"

The elf looks you up and down. Well, finally they bring me someone of some taste around here. Normally I get to design plain brown robes, one just like the last. The last guy that just bought something chose the most awful and dreary orange color I've ever seen before.

He pauses and thinks for a moment. I think I have just the thing. Something to really bring out your eyes, he says as he leads you by the arm to the fitting area. You see dresses, tunics, and robes of all sorts. The colors are magnificent and the craftsmanship is quite ornate and detailed. He gestures at the wall of clothes, Tsk. I've designed so much and it will probably never see the light of day around here. These agents wouldn't know style if it stabbed them through with a longsword.

He grabs some measurements and brings forth robes of exquisite nature that span from a deep blue, to a deep green, as well as turquoise that is truly beautiful. These are some of my best. You will find no better in all of the Sword Coast. Only 800 gold each.

"Green!" Ütés mumbles as she makes haste back the way she came. She'll stop at the edge of the right tunnel and see if there are any signs of Green. If not, she'll continue down the tunnel to look for him.

As you make it back to the connecting chamber to these paths you see Green hunched over and puffing. Around him lie about 10 kobolds, some singed by fire, one twitches are electricity crackles from his skin. A few more have been badly mangled. All of them lie dead.

Well, nice of you to show up, he huffs out as he catches his breath.

"Doesn't look like my assistance was needed!" Ütés says, thoroughly impressed at the site before her. "Well done!"

After taking a few moments to look over the corpses she tells Green what she has found, "Someone has been down here recently, found evidence of a camp site not too far in the other direction. If you're done here, perhaps you can accompany me."

"My word, these pieces are simply stunning! Perhaps a coordinated set is in order. But where do I begin?" I peruse the shades of blue, pouring over the detailing on each article of clothing. Do I want the classical or neo-classical style, tailored, structured, free-flowing? I shake my head, unable to decide. "I believe that I am lacking in turquoise in my limited wardrobe. Yes, turquoise it is. As for style, the options are simply overwhelming! Perhaps I should defer to your professional expertise?"

Utes
A campsite you say? And these as well...this is unusual. Kobolds are not native to this region, and have never been found in the city sewers before, he ponders for a moment as he catches his breath. Yes, let's go see this campsite of yours, he says and follows you off to the other sewer.

As you look over the campsite you lead him to he silently ponders on it for a moment or two. You both hear at the same time a skittering sound further down the tunnel, and what sounds like small whispering voices.

Realizing there is still some time left for exploring after the group receives their items from Ruven, Nix turns to Phina curiously. "What WAS that thing? A tinker's dream, you say? No, don't tell me, lemme guess!" Nix scrunches up her face as she tries to picture what her tinker friend might wish for. "I know, a travelling workshop! No, wait, a tool that changes into the shape you want! No, a flying backpack! Oh, oh, oh, a mechanical, two-man, submersible with retractable lobster pincers!"

Xadira
Vasalis looks you over a bit. Lifting your arm, putting it back. He brushes your hair back a bit and looks over your face. Hmmm... I think I have something in mind.

He works for a while pinning up the turquoise and soon he creates something akin to a mix between a sundress and a robe. The shoulders are open, with cloth wrapping your upper arm. The neckline swoops, but modestly, and is rimmed with very decorative threading. The waist is tied with another cloth used as a sort of belt and then the bottom splits out in four overlapping sections. When standing it looks much like a dress, but when you move you don't find yourself hampered in your movements either. You get the feeling that, though this robe looks decorative, it would also definitely not slow you down if things get hectic.

He seems to be assembling this as he goes and yet within the span of less than an hour you are in a finished garment. The stitching, the decorative threading. His hands expertly craft them all with incredible speed and dexterity. Standing back and looking in the mirror the robe is absolutely dazzling. It's both pretty, yet distinguished. It compliments your figure, but doesn't try to show anything off in that sort of way. This is a robe that is just...you.

So, what do you think, he says as he smooths out some of the material and stands back to look it over.

Nix

Phina grins at you. Nuh uh. No spoiling the surprise, she giggles. Then she taps you on the head, and you hear in your mind, And no cheating!

I'll meet you down at the train, she says and skips off after the gnomes that are carrying the strange object.

Lacking any need for anything else beyond his personal belongings, Firn makes his way to the Sub Way Station.

Unfortunately, he gets lost in the complex and needs to ask for directions. He looks to flag the first person he sees for assistance.