Chapter 1: A Friend in Need

As Stitches requests the gold, Volo responds: "Ah, very good! This means you accept?"

Volo struggles to find 60 gold dragons in his various pockets and pouches. He asks Bonnie to trade in the nibs, shards, taols, and some Chultan coinage into convenient gold dragons. Durnan mumbles about not being a money changer while Bonnie completes the transaction, counting out the exchange at a dizzying speed.

"That was just so brave what you did back there, fighting that troll." Bonnie whispers to Prince, even though he didn't really. "I have need of your services too, whenever it is convenient."

Once the 10 gp is in your hands, Volo provides a bit more information.

Volo describes Floon as a handsome human male in his early thirties with wavy red-blond hair. He was dressed in princely garb when Volo last saw him two nights ago. Before Floon disappeared, he and Volo were drinking and merrymaking at the Skewered Dragon, a dark, bawdy tavern in the Dock Ward. He hasn't been seen since. Volo recommends that you start your search there.

As the money is handed to her, Alastriona looks at Volo and gives him the severed troll foot. With a nod that evidently signals her agreement to the exchange, she returns to her place behind Prince and Xelia.

Taking the money, Vatra places it within his pouch and begins to ponder their next move. The Dock Ward? Haven't been there yet, haven't been many places within this crazy city yet.

Lets take a little rest and let Xelia catch her breath and then I think a quick visit to this "Skewered Dragon" will make for a fine finish to our evening. ANyone disagree?

Stitches give a low growl, like a big dog, as he eyes the disappointing stack of golden coins. He flicks through them like he's searching for something, then looks under his ale mug and place setting in turn. With a small sigh, he scoops the 10 dragons into his moneypouch with a quick sweep of his talons.

He nods at Varta's suggestion, then looks to Xelia and makes a snoring sound while patting her hand.

As the others rest and relax before setting out to find Volo's friend, Stitches seeks out Obaya. As usual, he engages her with an odd, occasionally endearing ritual. First he peeks around a pillar until she spots him and beckons him over. He then walks around her table in a few wide circles pretending to ignore her.

After a minute or two of these antics, he approaches her, gives a low bow, and places the silken handkerchief stolen from the Kara-Turan on the table. He spreads it flat with nimble fingers, points to it excitedly, and makes the sound of a large man blowing his nose.

Obaya can barely suppress her smile as Stitches engages in his adorable ritual. She had been deep in prayer in her private suite on the third floor, and had only come down during the commotion with the troll.

Obaya might be one of the few people in all of Waterdeep that finds this summer heat bearable. In fact, the Chultan priestess is wrapped from head to toe in thick robes and still runs her arms to chase the chill away .

When Stitches puts the kerchief on the table, the follower of Waukeen fails entirelybto hide her smile.

"Stitches, this is the most beautiful trinket you've shared with me yet!" she exclaims.

Volo spies Stitches' Kara-turan handkerchief and cannot help but comment.

"A fine piece of silk you have there, Master Kenku! If I am not mistaken, its origins lie in the harsh mountains of the Tabot nation far, far to the east where the sun rises. Tabot is a nation of spiritual monks; I would not at all be surprised if this simple kerchief is more than it appears; you may wish to investigate this further!"

To which Obaya adds:

"Stitches, I'd be happy to identify the kerchief's magical properties for you. I am an expert on magical artifacts. It is why I have traveled from Port Nyanzaru, to procure magic items from this City of Splendours. Clearly my employer was correct about Waterdeep - if even thugs walk around with wondrous items, what greater artifacts can be found here?"

Alastriona leaves the troll foot with Volo and returns to the group's table on the second floor, where she sits to wait out the evening.

Shall we make our way to the Dock Ward?

At Obaya's offer, Stitches presses his hands to his beak and makes kissing sounds at the priestess, then settles in for her identification.

Alastriona does not budge. She casts a concerned eye upon Xelia and Prince, knowing the two bards exerted themselves not only during combat, but also during the performance. Her impassive and neutral expression still indicates some question about their condition.

Prince contrives to have Bonnie run into him leaning against the wall in a more or less private corner. He catches her deftly as she nearly falls over. "Here I am, dear, he purrs. "You said you had need of my...services?"

Volo examines the troll foot that Alastriona has given him, holding it as if his goal is to make sure as little skin as possible touches the severed limb. Despite his revulsion, he is clearly fascinated.

"Alastriona, was it? You honour me with this ... remarkable gift, certainly." He sets the foot down beneath the table and wipes his hands with a dishrag.

"I often have people giving me such oddities, probably on account of the fact that I am a monster ecologist of considerable esteem. In fact, I have recently added a new title to my long list of works - Volo's Guide to Monsters."

He produces a leatherbound book from his satchel and places it on the table.

"This might come in handy for someone in your line of work. I'd be happy to sign it, if you like. There's even a chapter about your people - the Aasimar. Page one-hundred and four!"

Obaya prepares the ritual with Stitches, retreating to a dark, quiet corner in the taproom. She produces a very large pearl and a long brown owl's feather, and arranges the space just so, adjusting the table to a precise angle and arranging the kerchief just so. Over the next 11 minutes, she pulls and teases the silk with precise movements, but it is not it's physical threads she is exploring. Instead, she pulls at kerchief's connection to the Weave that she explores, which become visible as threads of ethereal blue light as the ritual progresses. Stitches gets the opportunity to observe the Weave the way a magic user sees it.

By the end of the ritual, the kerchief reveals its secrets. Floating above the silk, a vision of its magical property unfolds. Stitches watches as Obaya speaks to the vision, and the words she speaks appear in writing on the surface of the silk. Then, precise lines spread across the silk, which begins folding itself along these lines like an origami sculpture. By the end, a tiny silk bird takes form and takes the sky.

"A fascinating item Stitches! I hope it serves you well. Once my loans come through, I would be interested in purchasing it. I assure you that you will not find a better offer than what my employer is prepared to offer." She makes the sounds of clinking coins with the Thaumaturgy spell in an effort to communicated in Stitches' natural language.

Alastriona tilts her head, regarding the book and its writer as if pondering the capabilities of a person that can conjure tomes out of thin air. She reaches out to grasp the cover and opens the book to a random page.

Looking at the image of the specimen on the page, Alastriona points to it, then at Volo. Her eyes question the man silently.

Bonnie looks up into Prince's eyes, lingering longer than necessary. She speaks quietly so that you have to come close to hear.

"Prince, I have a very pressing need for a change in my life. A new direction, in careers specifically. I thought you might be able to help on account of you and your crew being members of ... "

She mouths the last two words: the Harpers.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Astriona points to page 171, which includes the title "Mind Flayer" and the following illustration:"Ah yes, the Illithid or Mind Flayer! The scourge of sentient creatures across countless worlds! Psionic tyrants, slavers, and interdimensional voyagers, they are insidious masterminds that harvest entire races for their own twisted ends."

"One of their most disgusting habits is the breeding of Intellect Devourers, creatures resembling a walking brain on a set on bestial clawed legs. This foul aberration feeds on the intelligence of sentient creatures, taking over a victim’s body on behalf of its mind flayer masters!"

"This particular creature pictured here is an Alhoon, a Mind Flayer that pursued arcane magic, which is deeply abhorrent to these creatures. They are exiled as deviants. Excuse me, are you still paying attention?"

At that moment, Meloon returns through the front door...

Meloon Wardragon, famed retired adventurer of Force Grey walks through the front door, bumping into Vatra.

"Hey how was the show? And, uh, where'd everybody go?"

Something suddenly dawns on him, and he looks over at the well.

"Aw shit! Did I miss something good Vatra?"

Durnan is pouring the leftover beers from the patrons that fled into a big keg called "Second Hand Ales - 50% off". He calls over to Butler.

"You make sure you don't get it in your head to go down there," he says, pointing at the well. "Nothing but trouble ever came from that place."