Chapter 1-11: Corruption in Neverwinter

General Summary

So this morning, the party met downstairs in the inn for breakfast (hearty soup and bread) and a hair of the dog ,(particularly for Ryoko). The group then went out to meet with the artisans they'd commissioned. Miaug collected her explosive arrows, and ordered a couple more. Ryoko reviewed the design for her custom wooden scale armour, and agreed (with a slight tweak to the shape of the scales). Aetilius reviewed the design for his shield and commissioned it. Miaug, Ryoko and Clootie then headed to the Hidden Door, a bookshop in the Merchant Quarter. They spoke to the proprietor, a halfling named Perry Topletter. He was disinclined to give up any.if his tomes (being a bit of a hoarder it appears) but he is happy to research info for the party. Miaug asked about local herbs, and for any info about Tabaxi, Ryoko asked about druids, and then got offended when asked to pay a deposit to borrow a rare book for a week. Clootie asked to borrow some books on unarmed fighting and illusion magic. She also asked if Perry had come across any information relating to the orb Halia had asked the party to find in Wave Echo Cave. Ramas and Aetilius went to visit the locksmiths, where Ramas introduced himself in Thieves Cant, confirming that the locksmith (a halfling named Calliope) was indeed affiliated with the local Thieves Guild. She took him in the back of the shop and showed him the private equipment. He bought three smoke bombs, and confirmed that he should look to speak to Silas Roxely at the Black Dog. Aetilius and Ramas decided to head down to the docks, and Ryoko decided to join them, communicating using Lament and the ruby. Clootie and Miaug went to Springs, Rings and Things, where Clootie asked Olexia if she could come up with a way to adapt her one man band suit to collapse away when not in use. Olexia agreed to look into it. Miaug bought a Poisoner's Kit as well, then they decided to head to the Black Dog as well.
At the Black Dog, Ramas ordered a round of very unpleasant looking grog, then decided to cheat a group of sailors at dice. Things were about to turn ugly when Silas intervened. Ramas still managed to make 100GP out of it, so that's not bad. Silas had been asked by Ramas's underworld contact Dave to keep an eye on him. He introduced the party to two other thieves in the tavern - Falia Brightwater, a brash and impulsive young human, and Chaedi Faerondal - a tight lipped elf. They spoke about the events in Neverwinter - a burgeoning food shortage, absence if City Guard, rampant Gutter Cough, and the disappearances of common folk in the Docks and Poor Quarter. Falia also mentioned that she's seen members of the Orders of Silvanus and Kelemvor in the sewers. The party asked the guild to discreetly investigate the movement of the Order in the sewers while they left town to rescue Gundren. They gave Silas the ruby to allow him to contact them. They then returned to the Hidden Door. Perry gave Miaug some information about possible antitoxin herbs, and managed to find some information on a scroll about the orb. It matches the description of an Eye if Vroth - three artifacts created by the Nethonris (descendants of the Netheril Empire after the Primordial War) before the cult was hunted down and destroyed by the Inquisitors of Selune. They also discovered that Perry's wife is sick with Gutter Cough.
The party then tried to secure lodging at the Linmarsh Inn, only to find this is a high class locale, not interested in a gnome with a kazoo as entertainment. The party returned to the Yawning Noble. Ramas bought a bottle of rum and a bottle of brandy, and group had a drink.