The midday sun had just passed its zenith, and lunch was being served in the Splintered Stair inn. Being located in the Dock Ward of Waterdeep, it was filled with sailors, gruff day laborers, the odd harlot and more ruffians than one could shake a stick at. As serving girls and boys walked and ran to serve drinks, food and to collect empty tankards and plates, the patrons of the inn called for ale and food, sang, debated loudly or laughed at a crude joke.<br/>A normal afternoon in the inn named for one of its three stairs. Two of them were off to the sides, going up to the second floor. The third was in the middle of the establishment, but only came down three or four feet. The rest of it, as the innkeeper was glad to share, was broken and ruined by a fight between two mighty warriors many years ago. The stairwell was boarded off, and a chandelier sporting a good number of candles hung from the remains of the stairs. The inn smelled of ale, roasted boar and hearthfire. Despite the generally unsavoury clientele, the atmosphere was largely amicable and relaxed.<br/><br/>As servers run by and patrons go and leave, a number of situations attract the attention of anyone paying attention to more than their ale or food.<br/>In one corner, a trio of Chultan sailors are playing a game of craps. They have a stack of coins in the centre, supposedly the money they bet. But there is also a curious brass cube sitting among the money, inscribed with strange patterns and markings. One table over, a halfling dressed in all black sits with a tankard eyeing the game and seems to look at the cube numerous times. He seems to have a sigil tattooed on one of his arms, but you have trouble making it out without straining.<br/><br/>Next to the bar, a city guardsman has just finished talking in a hushed tone with one of the serving girls. She leans on the counter and sobs uncontrollably. The guardsman awkwardly touches her shoulder, seemingly trying to console her. The innkeeper approaches the two, whispers something to the serving girl and nods at the guardsman. As the serving girl turns to walk out, she wipes her nose with the back of her sleeve, tears still running.<br/>At that same moment, a strangely wealthily dressed human enters the inn. He is followed by a bespectacled gnome, carrying a large tome. He stands for a moment, unsure what to do next. An old, gaunt elf dressed in the simple grey vestments and tabard of Ilmater waves him over. As he does so, the elf has a coughing fit and buckles. Two ruffians sitting nearby, a half-orc and a dwarf, discussing something in hushed tones look up and laugh.<br/><br/>On a notice board next to the bar, three pamphlets can be seen. One displays a crude drawing of a man, the word 'missing' and a reward of 200 gold dragons. The guardsman reaches out to it, tears it off and crumples it in his hands. The second pamphlet asks for able bodied people to join the Cellarers' and Plumbers' Guild, good pay and varied and interesting work. A third, strangely large pamphlet calls for adventurers of any kind to reach out to a Pholdric Relnam, details at the bar.<br/><br/>"Cheater!" one of the Chultan sailors calls out. He jumps up, and his chair clatters to the floor. He draws a jet black dagger, encrusted with green gems. One of the others tips the table, sending the money on it clattering to the floor. He attempts to escape as patrons around them scurry around to seize as many coins as they can in the chaos.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Please put OOC questions, comments and rolls beneath your post in an OOC spoiler like this one.<br/>Should you need any information prior to posting, feel free to shoot me a PM. Should I feel others would benefit from the information, I will find a proper way to share it.<br/><br/>The Splintered Stair inn is located on a side arm of Snail Street, almost in the centre of the Dock Ward.<br/><br/>Should you be interested in joining the fun, please inquire here: https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=288167.0<br/>Map of Waterdeep:<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">(http://oakthorne.net/wiki/images/Map-waterdeep.jpg)</div></div><br/>Our brave heroes:<br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Nepthys Sureen</div><div class="spoiler_body">(https://a.wattpad.com/cover/22343501-256-k166536.jpg)<br/>Character sheet: https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1614585<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Ip'Kak</div><div class="spoiler_body">Character sheet: https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1623001<br/>Sheet of Turok, Ip'Kak's animal companion: https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=1623099<br/></div></div></div></div>