The Silver Horde:
The Rogue realises that they will first need to deal with the Fighter before he can deal with the Halfling Rogue and collect is Silver Horde.
The battle continues for some time as the Fighter is tougher that he looks.
The Rogue and Bard subdue the fighter, Zarek using another of his dwindling Hand Cross-Bow Bolts and Alley uses her Rapiers hit to know the poor fellow out cold. Alley bends down and checks the Fighter for information and booty.
Zarek: “Tie him up and gag him for good measure Alley.”
Alley does as Zarek suggests and uses her old rope, now that she has kept the Silk Rope from the Fighter, Aranat.
The Rogue the turns his attention to the Halfling Rogue, but not before Alley moves over to the southern window and checks for the City Watch.
Zarek moves stealthily over the moved crates and over to the Trapdoor.
Zarek lowers his ear to the Trapdoor and listens out for the Halfling Rogue. The Rogue can hear the sound of cloth or material being cut or torn but not the sound of the Silver Horde being moved.
“What’s that noise?” Zarek asks himself.
The Arcane Trickster cleverly casts his spell ‘Message’, in a bid to communicate with the Halfling Rogue and strike a deal for the Zhentarim, sorry Zarek’s Silver Horde.
Zarek takes a guess on where the Female Halfling Rogue would be standing in the basement and whispers his offer to the Halfling Rogue.
Zarek: “We can make a deal and share what’s down there, we have your friend Aranat.”
Female Halfling Rogue: “I only want the Painting and you can keep the rest.”
Zarek moves over to the Secret Trapdoor down to the hidden Cell Vault and finds that it had been closed. He opens the Trapdoor and can hear the Female Halfling Rogue walking towards the ladder.
Alley then catches Zarek’s attention, points outside and then she tugs at her ear or earing, was it?
Alley: “I can hear the City Watch at the gate congratulating each other, be quick.”
Zarek: “The Rogue just wants one of the paintings, do you trust her.”
Alley shakes her head vigorously and rolls her eyes at Zarek.
By the time Zarek looks back down into the vault, the Female Halfling Rogue was at the top of the stairs and not carrying the Silver Horde.
Zarek: “Take care I have you covered.”
Female Halfling Rogue: “That’s very forward of you young man, I don’t even know your name.”
Alley: “Don’t give them your name Pike.”
Zarek: “My name is Zarek and what’s yours?”
The Female Halfling Rogue walks over to Aranat and checks that he is alive.
Zarek: “Don’t think I won’t fire stay there while I get the Silver.” Zarek attempts to intimidate the Female Halfling Rogue.
Calphina: “My name is Calphina and you would have shot first and asked questions afterwards if you were the person you’re pretending to be.”
Alley: “Be quick.”
Zarek dashes over to the Trapdoor and down into the vault. There he quickly looks about the Cell and can clearly see that Calphina had indeed cut-out the Painting of Baldur’s Gate.
Not trusting Calphina, the Rogue checks the Cell for Traps, allowing Calphina time to revive her comrade Aranat.
Zarek is happy that there are not Traps and so checks the chests next.
Zarek: “EMPTY….”
Zarek checks the second chest.
Zarek: “EMPTY….”
The Rogue dashes back upstairs as fast as his legs can carry him and find Calphina standing next to Aranat, who had already removed his 2 Scimitars.
Alley: “We need to go, the gates opening.”
Alley turns to see the way out blocked and they need to do battle once more. The Bard moves to engage with Aranat, while Zarek and Calphina match each other’s actions precisely.
Calphina draws forth a Light Cross-Bow, from behind her cloak where it was hanging hidden, and firs at Zarek just as he fires his Hand Cross-Bow and her.
Zarek is hit by the Light Cross-Bow bolt, but Calphina is mortally wounded by his deadly aimed Bolt. The 2 Rogues then Dash off and up to the doorway into the office with the Lading Door to the street below.
Alley masterfully dispatches Aranat, who thankfully had taken a beating before and he falls unconscious once more.
Alley: “The City Watch can deal with you Aranat.”
Zarek then suddenly realises that he doesn’t know where the Silver Bar had gone to. Calphina must have them unless she has used Magic.
Zarek and Calphina continue their silent combat at the doorway of the office and Calphina trusted too much on her Fighting Skills and was found wanting, as the Rogue knocked the Halfling Rogue out cold.
Alley then Dashes up to the office and closes the door as the City Watch can be heard in the yard.
City Watch Sargent: “Continue out here you two and Sam and me will check the inside of the warehouse. Very well done, carry on.”
Zarek searches Calphina quickly and takes her pouch, which was nearly empty, backpack and a potion bottle. The potion’s red liquid glimmers when agitated and Zarek knows it to be a Healing Potion but not what Strength of Healing.
Alley grabs the Painting from the floor as they did not have the Silver Horde.
The Rogue and Bard both manage to escape from the Zhentarim Warehouse by, using and then taking, the coiled Silk Rope. Once in their hired cart Zarek and Alley drive back to Trollskull Manor still in the guise of two Waterdeep Human Works.
Once inside Trollskull Manor, Zarek and Alley head to the library.
Zarek attempts to speak with Lif but there are no messages scrawled for the Tiefling.
Zarek investigates the Backpack of Calphina and finds:
Silver Horde & Items:
- Potion Of Healing, unknown type.
- Forgery Kit.
- Thieves’ Tools.
- Rope, Silk (50’ feet).
- Soap (Much needed).
- 5gp Dragons.
- 2pp Harbor Moons.
Alley then show Zarek what she had found on the Fighter:
- Potion Of Healing, unknown type.
- Potion? (Orange liquid flickers, and smoke fills the top of the container and wafts out whenever it is opened).
- Rope, Silk (50’ feet).
- Thieves’ Tools.
- Disguise Kit.
- 5gp Dragons.
Zarek: “Obviously, a Thief of some sort and also capable of Healing Aranat too. No sighs that they are from any Waterdeep faction here that I can see.”
Alley: “They can be either Xanatharian Guild or Zhentarim, that’s true.”
Zarek then finds a Black, Leather drawstring sack which appears to be empty. Zarek asks Alley to use her Purple Crystal and they find it is in fact Magical.
Zarek puts his hand inside the Bag and pulls out one of the Silver Bars from the Silver Horde.
Zarek: “My very own Bar of Holding.”
Alley: “I think I should have that.”
The Silver Horde is taken out and they realise they have a painting that depicts the city of Baldur’s Gate and fifteen 10-pound Silver Trade Bars, all black from corrosion but still worth 50gp Dragons each.
Zarek and Alley both sleep for the rest of the day and wake later so they are both fully refreshed.
Alley: “I think the order of the day is to first thank Corellon’s Crown for their welcome basket.”
Zarek: “Yes and we can invite them to our Grand Opening, which isn’t yet we need to fix the place up, get staff, a menu etc.”
Alley: “I think you need to clean that up if you want to make it sound interesting, trust me.”
After some waiting and an embraced Dwarf with a skin rash problem, Zarek and Alley can speak with Fala Lefaliir, thank them for their kind gift and invite them to their upcoming Grand Opening.
Fala Lefaliir appears to be a very nice person and offers a discount on the Potions that Fala Lefaliir sells.
Corellon’s Crown:
Fala Lefaliir, an Herbalist and a member of the Guild of Apothecaries and Physicians, operates out of this stately, three-story town house, the 3rd floor of which has been converted into a greenhouse. Its translucent glass walls allow anyone on the street to see the rainbow of flowers blossoming within.
Fala Lefaliir is an outgoing Wood Elf with long, braided hair. Like the Elven God Corellon Larethian, Fala Lefaliir is neither Male nor Female. If referred to as “he” or “she,” Fala Lefaliir gently requests to be addressed by name or as “they.”
Services:
Besides non-magical herbal remedies, Fala Lefaliir sells potions and keeps several vials of each potion in locked cabinets behind the shop counter.
Zarek and Alley are drawn to the next business Steam and Steel. Inside they meet with AVI and Embric and they are also shown their wears and are also offered a discount for fellow business owners. Zarek invites AVI and Embric to their upcoming Grand Opening and wish the two a good day and leave then to their work.
Embric: “Though I can see these two lasting any longer than the others.”
Avi: “Oh shh, we haven’t been out in ages, sound fun.”
Steam and Steel:
During daylight hours, smoke and steam billow from the many windows around this indoor forge where metal weapons, armour, and tools are made. The forge is owned and operated by a married couple: a fire Genasi named Embric and a water Genasi named Avi. Both are members of the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers. As an armorer, Avi also belongs to the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, and Finesmiths.
Embric tends the forge and is an expert weaponsmith. He claims descent from the Efreet of Calimshan.
Embric is seen to cast produce flame at will.
Avi worships Eldath, God of peace, and uses his magic to quench hot steel. He is an expert Armour smith. Avi is laid back and speaks plainly.
Avi is seen to control the flow and shape of water in a 5-foot cube
Services:
The Genasi couple sells all metal Weapons, Armour, and Shields at normal cost.
Zarek and Alley stand in front of the Bent Nail and look through the window to the shop and workshop inside.
The Bent Nail:
A small wooden sign above this shop’s main door is bare except for a large, bent nail sticking out of it. The front room holds displays of Ornate Wooden Furniture, as well as a variety of Bows and Crossbows. The wall behind the counter is lined with rows of finely carved Wooden Canes, Quarterstaffs, and Shields.
Talisolvanar “Tally” Fellbranch, the owner and chief artisan of the Bent Nail, is a Male Half-Elf carpenter and woodcarver.
Services:
Talisolvanar “Tally” Fellbranch sells Wooden Weapons and Shields at normal cost. He also crafts and sells Furniture and Wood Sculptures.