_{by jaymamma.}

Lilvari woke to the sensations of heat, and the smell of smoke. Momentarily, she feared the possibility of fire until she locked eyes with Droop. Droop the tinkering goblin, who was just doing what he had been doing since arriving in Helms hold tinkering.

“Morning Droop, I especially don’t want you to blow the place up with me sleeping within.”

He grinned toothily. “Sorry, the ingredient burned up quicker than I thought.” “I am thinking I have almost nailed down what you requested.”

“Something that could protect us from poison or at least more resistant?”

“Yes, he responded with more glee.’All it will cost is…?”

Lilvari held up a hand. “Let me guess, Bacon?”

“Maybe some sausage too?” He folded his hands together in front of him, as if praying for a favorable response.

Lilvari smiled appreciating his bartering. “Of course Droop.”

“Yay!! he shouted and returned to his works.

Lilvari yawned, stretched and slipped from beneath the blankets. She reached into the haversack and pulled out a small bundle of cloth. 

She rolled it out over the bed, put one hand on it and….

It leapt from the bead and encircled around her, incasing her lithe form beneath its free-flowing threads. It took the form of a longsleeved day gown. 

She admired the dress in the mirror.

“Best gift ever” She said aloud more to herself, she knew Droop was not paying any mind. 

Lilvari focused on the mirror, thinking of what color she wanted today. Her eye color changed first, manipulated by a minor glamour. Clear cloudless skies surrounded her pupils. She appreciated her handy work and then thought of the dress. The others were going to attend the holy watchers funeral. Lilvari however had her own plans. Black was customary for funerals and she knew that. She just shrugged to herself and went in the most contradictory way she could. The dress fluttered as if twitching with life of its own, thread by thread, and inch by inch. It became as pure and pristine in color as freshly fallen snow.

She twirled and spun in front of the mirror more times than most would. 

“Love it”, she said

“She turned to Droop. “I will be back in a bit with your food request. I will see if I can pay Lillian a visit.

The mention of Lillian swiftly ripped his focus from his experiments. 

“Yes, I will let her know you are here. I am sure she would love to come visit, as long as you won’t blow her up.” She smiled as she said it.

Humor and good will flowed more freely between her and the goblin than most others she had encountered. 

“Thank you Lil. I don’t think I have ever seen you wear white.

“Not usually feeling up to it, I suppose, what do you think?”

He smiled mischievously. “Color doesn’t matter, you are always beautiful.”

So damn smart that goblin, Lil thought with pride. Who didn’t want a companion that always knew the right thing to say. 

“You are shameless Droop”

“I have a good teacher, and I know she is proud.”

Lilvari opened her arms to invite a hug. Droop did what he always did and wrapped himself around her leg.

“I’ll be back in a little bit”

“Stay safe Lil”

“No issue there, tell the others I will meet them later. I have cavorting to do.”

With that, Lilvari passed through the door and waited for the latch to lock behind her, which it did.

It was still early, but a few patrons were about on the tavern’s first floor. Lilvari reveled in feeling their eyes drawn to her. It was the best part of normal everyday clothing. She preferred her armor and would wear it always, if not for such adoration and gawking that accompanied her in finer wear.  

She stepped out into the street smile on her face and a gleam in the eye. As eyes fell upon her she gauged where they fell. All looked up towards the horns gifted to her by her demonic heritage. That was a noticeable feature, of course, especially in Helm’s hold. As expected though, and much to her pleasure her other wares drew much longer stares and more careful attention. She curtsied, bowed, blushed, and provided every other subtle action of greeting and endearment to everyone she passed. After asking around for a few minutes, she easily found the information she sought, the way to Lillian’s.

Lilvari admired the beautiful home before she gently rapped on the door, and after a moment it slowly and cautiously opened. The hired help that answered was clearly alarmed by her horns.

“Is Lillian or her parents home?

“You know them how? The help asked.

“Yes, tell them Lilvari is paying a visit we met in Phan- nevermind it does not matter just tell them Lilvari is here.”

“One moment” She closed the door, and Lilvari heard it lock in many places. Lilvari smiled. 

Before long, the locks reversed course and the door opened. The gentleman who opened it was father to Lillian, a younger girl who for a time due to an untimely death became Lilvari’s to care for. 

“Well hello Lilvari what brings you to Helm’s hold?”

Lilvari curtsied slightly and smiled. “Well, we are here mainly in our investigation of the poisoning in Phandalin. I of course though would not pass on the opportunity to visit Lillian if that is OK with you?”

“Of course, come in, come in, sit and have a drink while I send the housekeeper to fetch her. 

Lilvari followed him into the house and bid her to sit. 

She admired the fine fabrics and softness of its touch. One of these would look lovely in my room in Phandalin she thought. 

“What would you like to drink Lilvari?”

“A glass of wine would be nice, thank you.”

“Red, white?”
“She smiled. “Surprise me.”

He came back after a few moments with two glasses of red and sat down across from her.

“I thought the investigation was finished and they had found the poisoner?”

“They think they have, I think otherwise. Such an elaborate plot one would surmise it would not be so easy and obvious to find the culprit. The culprit conveniently fell into our lap practically, and was murdered along with her guards on the way to Neverwinter.

He gasped. I had no idea, why did you not mention this before? 

Lilvari took a deep breath. “I thought you should have some closure on your way home, and for Lillian’s sake.” Plus, I can not be certain either way, and until I am, we kept it hush hush. I will certainly inform you if we find anything.

“I appreciate that and your continuing to look out for my daughter.”

“You’re welcome, I have grown fond of her, she reminds me much of a younger me. I would not see her suffer as I had too. My primary reason to come here was to say hello, but I do have a favor to ask if it becomes necessary.”

“Go on, if I can assist you in any way, I certainly will.”

“Currently Droop is here at the inn”

His jaw dropped. “Droop? Is here in Helms Hold? How the hell did you get him into town?”

“Magical disguise, I have been doing my damnedest to keep a low profile, so as to not potentially put him in danger. Dare is also here though, and you have seen how that goes.”

He frowned. “Yes, yes I have.”

“We have a newcomer, a dragon-born as well, who also seems to be a loose cannon. So here is my request. Should we need to relocate droop, I can think of nowhere safer.”

“Yes, I can do that. I would arrange a carriage to pick him up. For his safety and ours, harboring a goblin could be dangerous gambit in Helms’ Hold. I am frankly surprised you were let in at all. The holy watcher is not fond of Demi humans.”

“I know, but we used Dare’s credentials and I am affiliated with the Town speaker. Provided we prove ourselves helpful and behave in town, I think we will be fine.”

“You carry yourself well, but still be careful.”

She smiled. “I will do fine with my looks and natural charm, but thank you for your concern.”

“I can see that yes”, he responded. 

“So what do you think of the new Holy Watcher?”

“I think he will be going out of his way to make his mark, which could be bad for non humans in Helms Hold”

“On that we agree. I understand not every goblin is a Droop. That still doesn’t mean you should hang every one of them.”

“Agreed”

The sound of running feet echoed into the room as Lillian was full on running into the sitting room.

Lilvari stood to greet her and was almost bowled over by the running hug she had to absorb.

“You came to visit!!!” She cried out excitedly, and with a slight whimper that forecasts a few happy tears might be on their way. 

“Of course I did”

“How’s my horse?”

Lilvari laughed. “She is good, the stable is complete. I think when I go riding, Mystic or Mercarri may ride her along with me, if that’s okay with you. So she gets her exercise.”

She frowned. “Yes, that would be fine.”

“What have you been up to?”

“Not much bored really, when can I return to visit you?”

“Well, that’s up to your parents. Just give me advanced notice so I can make sure I will be there. There is much to be settled in PHandalin for safety’s sake though.”

“What do you mean Lillian asked?”

“Well, with the mine reopening, there will be more passers through, who knows, in a few years, it could be as large as Helm’s hold. There will undoubtedly be growing pains, and the elections are coming up not too long from now.”

“Oh, have you made up your mind about running for town-master?”

Lilvari cringed. She had not wanted that to get out yet. She might just get the chance to murder Halia long before then, and not have to run at all. At least she hoped.

“Oh I didn’t know you held aspirations to run for government?” Her father responded.

“It was an idea.”

His brow furrowed as if in thought.

“I don’t think that is a bad idea, honestly. You know the people, you can be rough and tough when necessary. If you would like, I can arrange for Harbin’s personal notes that he wrote during his run to be delivered back to you in Phandalin if you like. There is likely good information to be gleaned from within.

“I would really appreciate that, that could be most helpful.”

“Ok, just let me know when you are ready to head back to Phandalin and I will have them delivered to the manor.

Wonderful. Lilvari thought. The opportunity to absorb Harbins notes and how he made the decisions could be most helpful. It also probably made note of Halia and that information could also be plenty useful. Lilvari could not help but be pleased with herself, and her maybe protege.

Lillian smirked up at her. Yes, the girl was crafty. She also knew she was crafty. Well, Lilvari thought a little ego never hurt anyone.

“Did you want to tell her?” Her father asked Lilvari.

“Tell her… Oh yeah, I wasn’t sure. Lillian?”

“Yes?”

“Droop is here in the inn secretly”

She jumped up and down ecstatically. “O my god, can I visit him dad please please please?

He smiled. “Of course, but you have to be careful, no one can know that he’s here.”

She jumped up and down even more excitedly. “I knooooow”

Lilvari stood. She wanted to stay and silently promised herself she would at least spend a day with Lillian while she was here. 

“I am so glad I got to see you.” Lilvari said, pulling Lillian in to squeeze her tight. 

“Are you going already?” she asked, squeezing tighter as she did.

“Yes, sweetheart, I have business to attend”

“You will come back and see me again before you leave town, right?”

“I promise” She looked towards Lillian’s father.

“I thank you for the drink and your willingness to help Droop”

“Oh, don’t mention it, we will always be indebted to you. I will walk you out, I think you make the maid nervous.”

Lilvari was greatly amused by that, so much so that she smirked and winked at her on the way to the door.

Now there was one more place to visit before meeting back up with the others. The temple of Mystra. Lilvari did not know what to expect there and what she would do there once she arrived. She felt for lack of a better word drawn. Her patron, the Raven Queen, as she knew it was at odds with Mystra and according to the lore that she knew this had always been so.

The robed women inside just smiled as she passed, and she didn’t feel the same sense they knew her as had the women from the other day.

The first thing to catch her eyes were the brilliant white flames that burned all across the open floor of the temple’s interior. Peculiar was that they just burned from nowhere. No fuel, wood coals, nothing the flame just burned, each large white flame housed within a circular arrangement of stones just large enough to sit on. That is exactly what the sparse parishioners in attendance were doing. Some seemed joyful, others sad. Unsure what to do with herself, Lilvari took a seat near a flame and marveled at its beauty. Then her thoughts turned to how this was achieved. Along the far wall, a newly sprouting flame grabbed Lilvari’s attention. 

It started about three or four feet tall, and then erupted into a searing white bonfire. Its flames billowed outwards like strands of cloud attached to a flagpole. Then it wasn’t moving like a flame anymore, and more like an actual cloud. It shifted and took shape. Lilvari glanced around to see if anyone else was noticing this. Nope. Everyone else carried on as they had been. 

The shape shifted and twitched until a face appeared in the flames. For a log moment, the face stared at Lilvari, Lilvari stared at the face. 

Then the realization came as to whom the face belonged. More appropriately who it “had” once belonged to.

Lilvari sneered, and her blood felt like it was beginning to boil threating to explode in a devastating display of fire and shadow as it had so long ago.

ILBIS

That cunt faced whore. Lilvari stood and began the incantation that would summon Cursebringer. She barely stopped herself. The flame faces expression seemed wrong to Lilvari somehow. She had hardly ever seen her face in anything other than a hateful sneer or malice. The face seemed sorry. Arms now formed, and the flame shape beckoned Lilvari closer.

Lilvari took a step the rage within her dipping down to slightly below boiling point. 

“LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!!”

The scream echoes inside her skull. 

Lilvari obeyed without thought or question. Once outside, she can shake the shock caused by the scream of her patron inside her head.

“I thought the flaming effigy was you my queen? I am confused.”

No response came. Before Lilvari could think on it any longer. She felt a hand on her shoulder.

She spun, but it was only Mystic.

“You okay? You look like you saw a ghost?”

Lilvari shook her head. 

“I think I just did”

“Why were you in Mystra’s temple?”

“I I just wanted to take a look, I guess. I can’t remember why I wanted to go in now that you ask.”

“Probably your patron messing with your head again I am almost certain she would not want you to go in there. 

A hand clasped her other shoulder and squeezed, not in a reassuring way, but trying to cause pain and make her flinch.

“Sup Lilvari I tink we got a job” Dare said.

Lilvari swatted his hand away.

“That’s great, but no reason to fucking touch me. What’s the job?

“Sewer monster”

Sigh. 

Great Lilvari thought. The day began with such promise. I do have a few other errands to run if you would care to accompany me. I am sadly absent my usual cavorting companion. 

“We have only so much time to brave the warrens and our meet tonight.” Nazzeth said.

“Yea, I got some meat for our meeting.”

“Ugh mystic groaned. “Shut it both of you and Dare you are disgusting” She linked her arm in Lilvari’s 

“Come lead the way” 

Mercarri, not one to feel left out, took Lilvari’s other arm.

“I like the white on you” She whispered.

“Me too” Mystic added. “Very crisp and pure” 

Dare started to mumble something about girls on a shopping trip.

“Mystic turned around and smacked him. Then pulled her hand back, like she was going to backhand Nazzeth too.

“Did you have something to add” She asked from beneath a sneer that Lilvari thought was starting to come out more often.

“No, no I don’t”

Mystic relinked her arm and the party began to walk.

“You two are much finer gentlemen than those two idiots.”

“I am inclined to agree,” Mercarri said.

“It is too bad Droop has to say in the inn, it’s the only way we have a true gentleman in the party.”

Nazzeth and Dare walked a few feet back, making obscene gestures and mocking the ladies in arms.

“Ultorin is not too bad” Lilvari said.

Mystic gasped.”Really?”

“Yes, and I mean no more than that. We had a nice chart and walk, he was a gentleman.”

“Yeah, and now he’s sick today. What kind of disease did you give him?”

Beore Lilvari could respond and fling the eldritch energy she gathered at her fingertips, a root shot up through the cobblestone and gripped Dare’s ankle, causing him to fall.

The girls laughed while Nazzeth helped Dare up. Before long, Lilvari’s destination was found a small magic shop.

“What do you need from here Lil” Mercarri asked.

“I need a crystal vial filled with tears.”

“WHy?”

Lilvari thought about it. She didn’t know why she wanted or needed it. She just knew she should get one, call it premonition.

“I also need more vials for Droop’s experiments.”

Lilvari purchased her needed items and then noticed a sign that read “Spell Services”

She leaned in and whispered to the Firbolg who had sold her the items. 

“Would a spell of greater restoration offer any relief for an addiction to the sight?”

“Yes, yes it would. I am getting a lot of business for that spell, and for that specific purpose.”

“How much?”

450 gold.

Lilvari glanced back at Dare. She took note of his somewhat leaner form due to his one encounter with the drug. True, the moron just snorted a vial of it to see what it was. He almost died on the spot. Since then, he had been slowly declining, almost wasting away. He was annoying, aggravating, rude, and just a straight out pain in the ass. She still recognized that he was also her front line mate.

Together they were the bulwark that held back physical assault on their less sturdy and less armored companions. His stoutness and health were of the utmost importance. At least that was the primary reason she told herself to expend her resources to help him. There was care in there, something she loathed to admit, but found herself far too often considering. He was like an annoying big brother, you just hated to love and loved to hate. 

“I’ll take it on that one” She pointed to Dare

“Have him step up please”

Asshole, I mean Dare sorry, get over here, stand right here

“For what?”

“To remove the withdrawal from the sight”

“I don’t have that much gold left, I loaned Nazzeth money for armor.”

“That is another discussion” Lilvari responded. “I will cover it, I would have you at your best, not wasting away shitting yourself.”

“I am not shitting my-” He took a deep breath. “Ok, maybe there’s a little shit”

Mystic and Mercarri pushed him forward.

The Firbolg began to utter the words and trace out arcane sigils in the air. A white light washed over Dare and then dissipated in a bright flash.

“There he is, that’s the full version of Dare”

It was true. His skin had tightened over his musculature, and the slight hunch he had been afflicted with the last few weeks disappeared. His eyes grew brighter, and he seemed to stand a full head and a half taller.

He grinned from ear to ear.

“I feel great, we have time for a drink.”

A long and loud sigh came from the party in unison.

“Well Mercarri said. “That’s our Dare.”

INTO THE WARRENS

What the hell was I doing down here? I looked around to take in the surroundings. A river of shit, check. Horrible smell, check. Having to spend a small fortune on various oils and herbs to get the god awful stench out of my hair, check. 

“Ok, what in the fuck am I doing down here, whose dam idea was this?”

Mystic crinkled her nose.

“It smells, and is revolting, but don’t be so prissy about it.”

“It’s just poop, I poop you poop, we all poop” Mercarri added with an obscene amount of misplaced joy.

I just glared at her.

“WHat, it’s true.”

Dare loaded a bolt into his crossbow and shot a pile of stool on the walkway across the shit river.

To my surprise, or shock, nope outright disgust, it stood up with the bolt sticking out of it. \

A rat. Great. A three foot tall rat.

“You see that. I got that fucker.”

“That’s great Dare, wonderful.” Mystic said.

“Really, I said to Dare what is the story with this so-called monster.”

Nazareth as usual chimed in when his words were not wanted, or maybe I liked him a lot less after acting like an idiot back above ground. More, maybe that he was dumb enough to get caught doing something. 

“It’s some sort of spider creature, if you believe the traumatized survivor.”

“How much is the bounty?”

“Depends what we find I suppose” He replied. We came to a grate and amidst the shit buildup against it, Nazeth saw something. He began to sift through the shit with his mage hand. Now it had two uses, the first we all knew, the second it was good for sifting through shit.

Finally, after a few moments, it pulled free a scroll case. He seemed excited about it. I couldn’t have cared less. He wiped it off and reached out like he wanted to stick in my bag.

“Are you fucking insane? Don’t put that thing anywhere near me. You found it, you can carry it.”

He frowned.

“Oh did you think I was going to carry your shitty prize for you? No, all yours does not apply to the house loot rules. You keep it, why don’t you put it in your pocket or in your backpack? Can we move on please, thank you?”

We followed the walkway. Nazally followed behind, sulking carrying his shitty scroll case. We passed a rickety bridge, if one could call it that. It was a few boards that crossed from our walkway to the one across the shitty river. 

“Nope, I am not crossing that.”

“Theres still a path forward” Dare pointed ahead.

We continued to follow for a few minutes before we hit a wall.

Now I was truly afraid. I had faced some horrible things in my life. Werewolves, gargantuan minotaurs, vampires. Crossing a shit river on a dilapidated bridge, that I could not handle. I was strongly considering climbing my ass back up the ladder we came down. The spider monster can keep this shitty sewer.

Dare, instead of making good use of his boots, decided to show off and make a running jump. It should have been easy for him, even without the boots. If we were not in a sewer I would have been rolling on the floor laughing my ass off. Not only did he slip and fall in, but as he came up, his mouth was wide open. Literal shit fell from his mouth and was stuck to his teeth. What a horrible thing to happen. I still kept laughing. Nazzeth reached out and helped him out.

After much laughter at his plight. He just stared menacingly across the shit river at me.

He smiled a true shit eating grin. “I can’t wait for you to cross.

“I am not jumping thats for sure lets see if the bridge will hold weight.”

Nazazette in his infinite stupidity just hops on the planks as if they were solid ground. They bow and for a moment looked like it would hold. 

CRACK, went the boards and he too went into the shit river.”

This was the funniest shit us girls had seen in a long time. They did deserve it. Now though, we had a problem. No bridge.

Mystic though looked back at me, smiled and leapt across and landed gracefully on the other side like nothing. She put the boys to shame.

“Easy as pie,” she said smiling. Both Nazzeth and Dare groaned. Mercarri went next, and she landed on the other side and slipped, but caught herself. She got some shitty boots, but it could have been far worse.

“What you don’t laugh at her Dare growled.”

I looked across. “Nope, she’s our healer, why would I want to piss her off?”

Mercarri looke a Nazass “Yea laugh” She held up a ogre gauntleted hand. “I crush your head like a grape”

After they quieted down, I found them all staring across the river at me.

“What?”
“Are you gonna cross?” Mystic asked.

“Hell no, I can’t jump that, I sure as well uh shit ain’t swimming across” I may well just head back to the inn”

“Cmon Lil” Mystic said a little annoyed, “It’s just shit.”

“Easy for you to say you didn’t fall in it.” Dare said in a not so happy tone.

“That was your own fault idiot”

“Nasshat levitate me”

“When you can say my name right, I’ll consider it.”

“Nazzeth levitate me”

“Nope, you have been nothing but a bitch to me since we met, and now you want a favor. Nah, I think I would much rather watch you fall in.”

Sigh. This was going to cost him. 

Thunder crashed around me and teleported me across. I brushed some dust off my shoulders. “Let’s get on with it assholes.”

The jaunt in the land of shit continued to be horrible. We found a secret room that led nowhere. I did find a necklace like the one we saw at the magic shop. A necklace of fireballs. Imagine a fireball being let loose down here, the whole city could go sky-high.

We wiped out a contingent of shit rats and pressed on. Eventually, we began to see ridiculously large spider webs cast about. Maybe there truly was a spider monster. There had damn well better be something, and it had better be useful.

Eventually, after crossing a shitty pipe in which Nazeth fell in again. We came into a room with a large hole in the middle of it. Webs and cocoons were strewn all about. 

We looked into the hole and there was a pile of armored bodies. The survivor’s compatriots no doubt. I felt something in the air. Magic. It washed over us, I shrugged it off with a little mental effort. I could not tell what I had felt or what I had willed through until Nazzeth started glowing. Faerie fire. I looked up in time to see the creature before it loosed a volley of arrows. 

It would be the most adequate descriptor for it. It was not a man, nor a spider, it was simply both. A drow to be precise was what composed the upper body. The waist down however was much akin in description to Mytic’s wolf spider form. It hung thirty feet up, glaring down.

The arrows all found a place in Nazzeth’s chest. He staggered and then fell to the ground. 

“Come my children, it’s time to feast.” It whispered. We heard pops and the twang of webs from all around us as enormous egg sacs exploded, releasing swarms of spiders that marched towards us. 

The goat head staff swelled with eldritch energy as I unleashed a volley of blasts at the spider. One sailed wide, the other hit home. It shuddered and then smiled back at me.

It wanted to play cocky. So be it.

The spiders swarmed at us and one over Nazzeth. Dare just dropped onto a swarm of spiders and rolled back and forth, squashing them beneath his shit encrusted bulk. The spider creature snarled.

Ah so it cared for its spider babies, good to know.

I lifted a leg and stomped down on the swarm, shuffling under my feet, as I yelled to it.

“Your babies are dying, like shit beneath my boot.”

“It sneered. “Always more where they came from.

Mercarri glanced back at Nazeth. Spiders were beginning to entomb him in their webs.

“Should we heal him?” She yelled.

I looked at her and then at him. I could not manage another response, but simply shrugged.

I was not vested either way. I could care less if he lived or died.

“You can if you want, he will just get shot down again.”

She frowned. Mystic now looked back to see. Her mouth dropped open. 

“Lilvari!” She frowned. Green energy lit her hands, and then up to her elbows. She released it a Nazzeth. 

He sat up and brushed the spiders away, and ripped frantically at the webs. Finally, he gasped in realization that three arrows protruded from his chest.

He ripped them out to his own screams. He immediately stood and swept his immediate vicinity clear of the spiders.

I smirked. Good for him. I turned in time to see the spider pull back his bow in quick deliberate motions. The first two got through, but I anticipated where the third would be and batted it down with my shield.

Still. It hurt. Probably not as pained as It would be trying to staunch the smell of shit from my hair. 

Clearly, the creature would not be coming down to melee with me. Pity. 

I loosed more eldritch blasts. Dare now done with rolling around on the shitty floor, took aim with his crossbow. A moonbeam sizzled into existence, and a familiar hammer composed of shit floated towards the giant spider. 

It could stay up there if it wanted. It just delayed the inevitable. 

The assault continued unabated. It managed to break Mystic’s concentration, she simply conjured another moonbeam. It hung mangled, legs broken, weeping from a thousand wounds it seemed. Finally, it came crashing down. Before I could move in, though, the shit hammer came calling. 

It slammed down on its head. It’s jaw came loose from its moorings. I saw its eyes for a moment, before they lit up brightly with incoming sacred fires conjured by Mercarri. It boiled and then burned into a solid shit and blood encased mass. 

Nazzeth to his credit recovered quickly and took my suggestion to look in the pit below. Mystic looked ahead and found the way out.

Dare cleaved the spider’s head and a leg to prove we had found the beast and laid it low. Mercarri was poking about the cocooned victims.

“Hey guys, I think this one is still alive.” 

She cut the webbing to reveal an unconscious halfling. 

She immediately began checking his pockets.

“Classy, Mercarri” I said.

“What I’m looking for something that may tell me who he is.”

“Oh, apologies” I said and meant it. I just assumed she was already looking for valuables.

She held up a vial of red granules this vial completely full. I immediately snatched it and went to put it in the haversack. I watched Dare’s gaze track the vial. He may try to get it from the bag. I then held the vial up for a long second for him to see, before placing it in my cleavage. 

“Classy, Lil” Mystic smirked.

“He wouldn’t Dare” I smiled back.

She then produced the note. This was a middleman set to deliver this street trash of a drug to Phandalin. 

“I say we kill him, Dare said.”

“I would like too. I think we should turn him in to the town speaker. It will only curry us greater favor in Helm’s hold.”

“What game are you playing Lil. You are very preoccupied with maneuvering in Helm’s hold.”

I smiled. “Would you not rather have the townfolk and their leaders bending over to support us in anyway we need, rather than trying to hinder us?”

“Personally, I don’t think they could deter us from our course either way.” She responded.

“I like that answer, you are correct. Maybe I am practicing.”

“For”

“Time will tell”

Dare carried the halfling out of the warrens, I the drow head and spider leg. We were given a wide berth as we made our way back to the town hall. Apparently, our reputation already began to precede us in helm’s Hold. Perfect.