The Journal Entry’s title

### Ches 19
 
Arrived in Waterdeep, got through the gate easily, and went to the Yawning Portal to look for work—either as a bard or bartender. No jobs available from Durnan, the barkeep, but he offered dinner and a room for the night. Not bad. Tomorrow, I'll keep looking.
 
An Elf and a Human came in, looking well-dressed. **Potential marks?** A drunk bartender, wearing ridiculous clothes, tried giving me a half-finished drink. I declined but talked him into putting a fresh one on Human’s tab.
 
Five humans suddenly attacked a half-orc. The half-orc had eye tattoos, and the humans had black-winged snake tattoos. Gang symbols? Bets were being placed. Do all gangs advertise their allegiances this openly?
 
A dragonborn performed a local tradition called ‘dipping’ by ringing a bell at the bottom of a massive hole in the middle of the tavern. Waterdeep has strange customs, but I'm the fool for *"never seeing a hole before"*. The dragonborn reappeared minutes later, chased by a troll and several striges.
 
The Elf, Human, another Elf, and the barkeep all joined the fight. I decided to contribute, shot one strige, and missed the next. The second Elf, a wizard, cast a sleep spell on the stirges and Human. Another strige was killed, and the last one got tossed down the hole. The barkeep held off the troll—mission accomplished?
 
A local man named Volo, impressed with our efforts, offered us a job to find his friend Flute Vagrant, last seen at the Stewed Dragon near the docks. He gave us 10 gold upfront, promising more later. The wizard’s name is Tala. **Bounty hunter?**
 
Looks like I’m traveling with this group for now, including the former drunk bartender, who sobered up fast. Handy skill. Played my lute as we walked.
 
We found the Stewed Dragon, but it turned out to be the Skewered Dragon. Outside, there were six bodies, two captured gang members, and city guards. Inside, I talked to Burka (NOT Bertha), who gave us some gruff but useful info: the captives are with the Zhentarim. Now we’re also searching for Rainier Neverember.
 
The guards let us question the Zhentarim, who tipped us off about a local safehouse. When we got there, one of the group picked the lock.
 
Inspector Magic sent their familiar, Tisk, to scout, discovering Kenku hiding among crates. Enamoured Elf barged in through the window and was hit by arrows in both shoulders. He’ll need healing. Meanwhile, Human picked the front door lock, and Drunktender tried to calm the Kenku. It worked briefly.
 
Neverember emerged from hiding, and fighting resumed. Inspector Magic used an illusion to make it seem like guards were outside, scaring the Kenku away. Neverember told us that the Xanathar kidnapped him and Flute, and also stole a green gem from him. **Valuable?**
 
We searched the room and found some paintings and silver bars. Drunktender ran upstairs and found dead bodies, plus a magical paper bird for sending messages.
 
The city guards showed up and asked us to rescue Floon apparently, not Flute. No additional reward, but we headed into the sewers anyway. Inspector Magic cast Light for Human Thief as we chased the paper bird. We encountered an eye monster that ran off, and Tisk found sleeping goblins and a strange vinegar smell. We snuck past the goblins into a tunnel.
 
In the next room, an orc stood over what I guessed was Floon, with a Mind Flayer holding the green gem from Neverember. The Mind Flayer disappeared down a side corridor—**not worth fighting for this pay**. Human Thief shot the orc, Drunktender tripped, Enamoured Elf cast a spell, I missed my shot, and Inspector Magic created a giant slime illusion to scare off the orc.
 
We rescued Floon and returned to the Yawning Portal, where we received the deed to some property. I think I convinced Drunktender to open a bar.