The team was given a much needed rest, after all of their hard work. Over the course of the next tenday, any remnants of the enemy factions left over were killed, routed, or captured. Even Noska Ur'gray, Xanathar's chief enforcer, tried to slip back into the city using the Yawning Portal entrance from Undermountain, but was caught in a sting by Jalester, with help from the tavern's proprietor, Durnan, who simply stated he owed Mirt a favor. It seemed all the loose ends had finally been tied up... Laeral had collected the magic items that belonged to Jarlaxle, the team electing to keep the Hat of Disguise, which seemed a fitting prize for Ray. She had also followed up on her promise and handed over the finder's fee to the tune of fifty thousand gold, in the form of five astral diamonds worth ten thousand a piece, in an attempt to handle the transaction as discretely as possible. One was given to each party member, as well as to the Song and Spirit Tavern, which Lif claimed. They would be able to convert the diamond at the Palace of Waterdeep or any other financial institution that accepted the rare currency. Over the course of the following days, many meetings would take place... Yuan received visitors from the Zhentarim, once again coming face to face with Arrigal, the Vistani assassin from Barovia. He had said it had been a while since they last met because he was busy on an important mission - that is, sacking slaver caravans out in Thay and assassinating caravan masters as part of a Zhentarim hit squad. As it turns out, Yuan's people were being sold into slavery out there and Arrigal was able to free them. While most of them were being held in a secret location only known to Driette, Arrigal mentioned that one of them wished to come back with him to Waterdeep. It was then Yuan met one of his former villagers, a wolffolk by the name of Anka Wind-Fist, although she was given the nickname Gale. She explained she was one of the prisoners on the slave caravan that Arrigal's team had taken out, and she had the fortune of meeting Driette. However, she also met someone else, and she asked them to step forward to reveal what he knew... Nero, one of the people from the village, and someone who had been working under Driette for a while now, explained that he saw that Kannion, the son of the tribe's chief, had been seen talking with Red Wizards of Thay before the attack happened! Yuan was shocked, and Driette explained that while she doesn't have any proof that he was involved in the attack, she believes he must at least have answers about what happened, as he was not found amongst the prisoners - perhaps some kind of deal was struck. It was important to not jump to conclusions, she said, but the possibility that Kannion had betrayed his own people for some reason was undeniable... Yuan realized that this meant he would have to leave Waterdeep, as freeing the rest of his civilization was more important than anything. He would be given time to settle accounts in Waterdeep at least, and fortunately he would not be traveling alone. Phames Goodhill, the halfling farmer who had taken him in several months ago before he arrived in the city, stated that he couldn't very well leave Yuan running off and potentially lose the best farm hand he's had in years, so he offered to come along as a special request from Driette. Yagra Stonefist, who had been Yuan's partner in crime up until this point, also stated her intentions, as Davil had approved of the plan beforehand, and she explained how Yuan was a source of inspiration for her to do better and work harder. Finally, the foxfolk performer, Fjällräv Frostfur, had asked Driette if he might tag along to protect Yuan, despite not being affiliated with the Zhentarim, and after a brief interview was accepted into the ranks by her. Apparently, this fox had developed a relationship with Yuan while no one was looking... Finally, the Doom Raiders came to show their appreciation to Yuan. Davil Starsong started off by explaining that he unfortunately would have to relinquish him from service into Driette's care for now, and that the Zhentarim here in the city would have to start fresh - and clean - but things were still looking up, and Yuan seemed like he would be well taken care of. Davil was thankful for all the hard work and effort Yuan had put in up to this point and if he had need of anything, all he had to do was ask. Ziraj the Hunter showed his appreciation for Yuan taking the hunter's trade up so well and that he hoped the skills and crafts he taught him would continue to be put to use and tested. Tashlyn Yafeera approved of Yuan's strong warrior spirit and jokingly stated that he looked good in booty shorts! But(t), she relented and said he wouldn't have to do anything like that anymore (unless he wanted to of course...), and that while she was sad to see him go, she knew his incredible strength and skill would see him through. Istrid Horn lamented that she had to close her lending business down due to its 'legally ambiguous' nature, but she'd still remain the chief accountant for the Zhentarim all the while, and if Yuan had any need of funds she'd be happy to help. He made her promise not to find herself in any more kitchens or serving roles, which she did apologize for, but mentioned that she was extremely grateful that Yuan helped her in a time of need, and that's not something she would forget. The Black Network is a family - you look out for it, and it looks out for you in turn! Next up was Enigma, and the Lord's Alliance... Laeral Silverhand expressed her gratitude once again to Enigma for all of his hard work. She mentions that she went ahead and got in touch with some of his crewmates from Star Wagon, expediting their visitation to the city! Sure enough, Kayne the dracowolf and Koi the dotter would appear, bearing the marks of Karnage much like Enigma and Patayan do. While the Lord's Alliance members were a bit confused at Koi's bro-ness, they welcomed them in and shared greetings, also expressing gratitude to Enigma for his accomplishments. Laeral also explained that she and a few others were curious about life amongst the stars, and that she expressed a desire to see them the way that Star Wagon does. With their blessing, she, along with Hlam, Patayan and Jalester would be allowed to visit for a few days and see the world from their massive space cruiser! Exciting! However, Jalester explained that he had received permission from Laeral to take a leave of absence from his work in Waterdeep, as he explained that he wanted to travel with Enigma for a while, having enjoyed his company during their work together. Enigma gave his blessing and Jalester would be allowed to accompany Star Wagon for the long term, which meant that the two of them would have to return their Badges of the Watch (as they were city property), but Laeral explained that they could reclaim them any time they were back in Waterdeep and serving under the Lord's Alliance. Hlam, the old monk and master of the Even Handed, explained that he was very much curious about seeing life amongst the stars, and that it would be an excellent way to expand his understanding of the world and improve his enlightenment. He seemed an odd fit for life amongst a space-faring crew, but he was quite comfortable with the idea, as was Patayan, who bowed in respect to Karnage's presence, explaining that he had been the dragon she had seen in her visions and is what set her off to Waterdeep in the first place. She was grateful for the chance to travel with the crew and learn what it meant to have this unusual power! It looks like Star Wagon would have plenty to keep themselves occupied... Next, Ray met with members of the Harpers, and Mirt congratulated him on a bang-up job, with Vajra Safahr also expressing her gratitude and explaining that while she had to reclaim Meloon Wardragon from their tavern, she was more than happy to offer spots on Force Grey to anybody on the team who desired it, a position not offered lightly. While normally aspiring members had to work through the ranks of the Gray Hands first, given everything the team had done she believed they were more than worthy of the title, should they choose to take it. As part of their thanks, Marcellus Smokespeaker explained that he set Ray up with a sweet gig at the College of New Olamn, which is a prestigious bard college in Waterdeep! When Ray expressed that he had not heard of it, though, the other Harpers flogged Mattrim 'Threestrings' Mereg (who is also a bard) for not explaining it to him beforehand! After 'Punchy' was rightly disciplined, Marcellus explained that the college would like to see him attend, take a few courses and study there, as Ray's talents had been recognized for their high quality. While Ray was concerned he wasn't exactly the studious type, the team was sure it would work out, as what Ray lacks in brainpower, he makes up for in raw talent and a gift for music. Passing the study meant he would be conferred the degree of Magnus Alumnae, which is a top honor only bestowed upon bards who have mastered their craft. Ireena Kolyana said it would be an excellent addition to his credentials and portfolio and would cement his place as one of Waterdeep's top performers. Ray was overwhelmed with the support and said he would gladly attend and do his best to impress! Remallia Haventree and Renaer Neverember also explained that Ray had a visitor - someone who had wanted to see him face to face. He was met with a strong-looking bronze draconian, dressed in warrior's gear, named Riverdak, who said she had come all of this way to see him (after receiving permission from Laeral, of course... being a dragon, she would need to be able to bypass Ahghairon's Dragonward to freely visit the city). After introductions, she asked if he had read her book, Wild Blue Yonder, which he confirmed, and she explained that once upon a time, she had travelled to the Sword Coast and coupled with a triton under the sea, resulting in a line of descendants who had taken on the traits of the ancestor... It didn't take long for it to be realized that Ray was standing in front of the one who had ultimately bestowed his bronze dragon heritage to him! Even more surprising was the fact that she said she was also related to Zelifarn, one of her own offspring, meaning the two were also related! Riverdak did mention that Zelifarn had explained to her that he had cut some kind of deal with the party once they had found the treasure, and was going to demand ten thousand gold pieces as his share of the loot! However, she said she had exercised her seniority over him in a manner of speaking, and had talked him down to only a thousand, which was much more manageable. Ray accepted this and would see to it that Zelifarn had received his 'cut' of the treasure. Another surprise to Ray came, though, when Riverdak explained that she wanted to ask him if he would be willing to perform for his family - that is, his original triton family he left behind. She understood that they did not quite see eye to eye, but Ray's exploits had reached even the furthest depths of the seas, and they had been curious to see what all the noise was about, willing to give him a chance. While Ray was nervous, he accepted the proposal, and Ireena stated this would be a perfect time to bust out that performance they had been planning, showcasing the adventure that Ray and his friends had been on. It would be a huge performance and quite the undertaking, but absolutely worth it in the end! Lastly, Sigurd's turn came, and he was met by Valetta, who expressed her thanks for the team's assistance up to this point. She had said that the Sea Maidens' Faire had stopped by the House of Inspired Hands and wanted to drop off some of their spare props as thanks, including a very large red inflatable dragon... she wasn't sure what to do with them, but the team thought they might be useful for tavern decorations or perhaps as set pieces for Ray's performances. Yuan took an intense interest in the inflatable dragon for some reason, though... However, more importantly, Sigurd stated that he had a confession, that he was not all who he appeared to be. While there had been hints that he was somewhat otherworldly, he had confirmed that he was not actually a native of Lantan (although he did live there for some time), and that he was actually from a very wealthy family who travelled in a manner much like Enigma's crew did, aboard a ship that travelled through the Astral Plane, the space which separates all other planes of existence. However, during an experiment, he suffered a 'temporal accident' and was flung through time and space into Faerûn unintentionally, and had to start over. He had been hoping to use the funds from the vault to expedite his return to his home, and asked Enigma if it would be okay if he became a crewmember aboard Star Wagon. He demonstrated his familiarity with space-age technology - guns, computers, and other advanced technology... he knew it all. Valetta stated that Sigurd had come to her with this information beforehand, so she was already aware, and had asked Enigma if she might come along as well, as being a priestess of Gond, she was interested in seeing this advanced technology for herself. However, Sigurd couldn't leave immediately, as he had a few loose ends in Waterdeep to tie up first... including taking Valetta on a freaking date finally! When pressed to confirm it, Sigurd hesitated for a moment, before working up his courage (in part thanks to Ray's bardic inspiration), taking her hand and giving her a kiss! She was definitely most pleased by this change, and warmly accepted Sigurd's affection. About time, man! With faction matters settled, over time the tavern received many visitors - unfortunately, while Laeral had done everything in her power to prevent the news of the vault being looted from leaking, it wasn't entirely impossible to prevent the spread of information, and the news that the team had landed themselves a windfall spread quickly. Emmek Frewn, who had plagued the team almost the entire time they had been in Trollskull, hat in hand and denying any wrongdoing, came in looking a little rough for wear and pleaded with the team to help him with a debt he had gotten himself into with Istrid Horn to the amount of 1,500 gp. The team immediately refused, although Yuan had realized that since Istrid's lending business had been closed, this might mean that Emmek's debt was cancelled. It was up to him to decide if he wished to relay this news or help Emmek get back on his feet... but he chose to keep the information to himself, having decided Emmek was unworthy of any pity. As a result, he was immediately thrown out of the tavern by Mulaag the swolbold bouncer. Next came Floon Blagmaar, the Renaer lookalike who had gotten mixed up by the Xanathar's Guild all those months ago. Apparently, he was down on his luck and had taken on a hefty gambling debt of five hundred gold which needed to be repaid very quickly or something bad might happen to him. Sensing that he was at least being honest and actually in real danger, the team conceded to pay his debts... but only if he quit gambling and found some real work. Enigma worked out a deal with his contact in the Dungsweeper's Guild, Talon, to put Floon to work as, well... a dungsweeper. Floon was ecstatic over the news of having his debt covered and that he would work hard to earn the team's trust. Whether he could be believed was another matter entirely... Then in came Volothamp Geddarm, full time book author and part time troublemaker, who stated he was planning an expedition for his next book and was looking for a payment of five thousand gold to fund it - he had planned to head south toward the deserts of Calimshan or into the jungles of Chult for an exciting adventure novel. In return, the team would have special mention in his latest masterwork! However, they were more than skeptical at the offer and a little annoyed at the gesture, even though Volo had said that were it not for him, they might not have been on this adventure in the first place. This wasn't enough to sway them, and they stated that he had to offer something more substantial... in which case he said he would get back to them and skeedaddled out the door. While it wasn't a flat-out denial, he would have to do better to get the funds he wanted! Lastly came a guest that none of them were familiar with... at least at first. Jelenn Urmbrusk, a well-to-do noblewoman, approached the team with a guard entourage and stated that she requested an interest-free loan of ten thousand gold, to be repaid in a year's time, and in exchange for helping her she would use her 'considerable influence within the Lords of Waterdeep' to aid the characters in any way they wished. They had asked her why she needed the money and she explained that she needed to pay off a debt to an individual she couldn't name. While the team was skeptical, Sigurd, realizing something, informed her that they needed to think about it and huddled with the team, stating that the name of this person is on Manshoon's list of names in his ledger. She was listed along with other many prominent individuals in the city, and realized that she was being blackmailed by Manshoon at some point. Ray posited that she might actually be a member of the Lord's Council, one of the Masked Lords. Sigurd could not deny the possibility, and stated the likelihood was very high. However, Yuan knew that Driette had confirmed to him that she had managed to oust Manshoon from the city, which effectively had cancelled any debt Jelenn would have with the evil wizard. The team called her back, and to show proof of Manshoon's defeat, Yuan presented his mask. Expressing surprise, she confirmed that the team seemed to know more about this situation than first appeared, and asked if this meant that her debt had effectively been cancelled, which Yuan confirmed having had a very reliable source (and also having taken part in routing Manshoon's forces from the city to begin with). With much delight, Lady Urmbrusk expressed her gratitude and said she was more than happy to extend the favor in return for relieving her of her debt issue. With a skip in her step, she was elated at the news and merrily made her way out of the establishment. Looks like the team just earned themselves a free favor! The team would likely continue to have to fend off people looking for handouts, even a few gold pieces here and there can begin to add up. One final matter had to be settled, though... Lif called the team to a meeting, asking what would happen with the tavern now since some of them were leaving. Sigurd stated that they could sign the tavern back over to its rightful owner - all they would need is a magister present as they did the appropriate paperwork. Lif was very excited at the proposition of being able to run his tavern again, but was sad that it meant the team would be leaving him. He gave his eternal gratitude for everything he had done, but had one last request, stating that Davil, who he realized was his uncle, had expressed to him that he hoped to find Lif's father (and Davil's brother), Sevalis, one day, to find out what fate Manshoon had put him through. Yuan promised to Lif that once his other business was finished, he would assist Davil with that mission one day, and Lif gave his heartfelt thanks. The rest of Trollskull Alley's residents also gave their thanks for the team coming together in their times of need. Enigma declared that he did not need the money that he had been given as part of his reward, so he stated his intent to donate it to the alley's businesses. This came as a huge surprise, as ten thousand gold was not a light sum to throw around, but they were all immensely grateful for his generosity. It would definitely put Trollskull Alley on the map and make it the place to be in the North Ward, and perhaps all of Waterdeep, and thus Lif was left in charge of handling the extra funding. Mr. Hatchett, the brewer, lamented that the team would be leaving just as he was finishing up setting up shop in the alley, but asked if they could at least celebrate their victories with some hard-earned drinks and partying, which everybody agreed to. They were given some prototype hard dwarven drinks courtesy of an associate of Hatchett's, and when it was explained to him that Lif Starsong would be taking over the tavern once more, the brewer dwarf shook hands with the surprised half-elf and looked forward to their further business dealings. Everybody had a wonderful time partying and reveling in their victory, though, toasting to the future success of the Song and Spirit, and to Trollskull Alley in general. It seemed, though, that soon the team's time together would come to an end. To remember the occasion, Ray used his Orb of Remembrance to take a final picture of the team together and gave it to Yuan, who would be busy during his time away. For now, it was goodbye, but the team would always have each other in their hearts where ever they ended up. So, where does everybody end up after all of this...? Find out next time in the epilogue of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist!!