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By Root 1053 0

molded to look like the hewn stone of underground tunnels, and glowing mosses and lichen gave a faint green light to the room. Stuffed spiders hung from the ceiling, and realistic sculptures of more frightening deep-dwelling beasts decorated the odd taproom. In one corner stood a wooden illithid, holding the hat some waggish customer had hung on a purple tentacle. The tavern catered to those who missed their subterranean homes-mostly dwarves, half-orcs, and a few gnomes-as well as clerics who enjoyed an occasional respite from respectability. The servants were dressed to resemble drow elves, wearing tight black leggings topped with the briefest of chain mail, black masks with pointed ears, and flowing white wigs. These servants were exclusively beautiful human women. No elf, Elaith Craulnober noted with disdain, would submit to such an indignity. The moon elf found this tavern abhorrent, but one of the serving wenches was a former employee and a reliable source of information.

Elaith came in through the back entrance and slipped into one of the tavern's curtained booths. Although the servants were all dressed alike, he recognized Winnifer, a former thief and a diverting companion, by her undulating walk and tiny red mouth. He caught the woman by the wrist as she passed, and he pulled her into the booth.

Winnifer plopped onto his lap, and her lips parted in a delighted smile. "Elaith! How wonderful to see you again." She curled up against him like a contented kitten, and her slim, black-gloved hands ran down his arms. "When you pulled me in here like that I was afraid you were another naughty cleric!"

He captured the hand roaming his chest and gave it a warning squeeze. "I need some information, Winnifer."

The woman pouted until she checked her hand and noted the small red gem in her palm "I got a job offer yesterday," she purred, stroking his face, "and this time, it was notfrom a cleric! Someone is trying to get a thieves' guild going."

It was not the first time Elaith had heard this rumor. It troubled him, as did the influx of foreign talent in the city. Imported thieves at the festival and market seasons were nothing new, but the sheer number of thieves currently in Waterdeep could not be explained by Midsummer Faire alone. Even more disturbing was the plentiful supply of assassins, and the vigor with which both these groups sought converts. Assassins as a rule were not concerned with winning friends and influencing people. They were far more likely to attempt to thin their own ranks than to deliberately enlarge them. This trend indicated the hidden hand of some powerful organization.

"Who is behind this?"

Winnifer shrugged and wriggled her fingers under the tight black leather of her knee-high boots. She dug out a large gold coin and handed it to the elf. "I want it back," she warned as she twined her hands around his waist and began to nuzzle at his neck. Elaith blew aside a lock of her white hair and examined the coin.

"Much good may it do you," Elaith responded. "Spend this in Waterdeep, and you'll most likely end up hanging from the city walls. This coin bears the symbol of the Knights of the Shield."

Winnifer swore and sat up straight. "Buy it from me, won't you? You can pass it more easily than I could."

"Thank you, no," the elf responded, slipping the coin back into her boot. "You haven't seen more of these around, have you?"

"Not me. But you know my sister, Flowna? She dances at the Three Pearls? Well, she said that coins like this one paid for a concert A lot of visiting bards sang stories about the Blackstaff and that witch wench he lives with. It was pretty funny, Flowna said."

"Really."

"Uh-huh. What I can't see is what the Knights-this spy group-expect to do using a bunch of bards and thieves."

"A temporary alliance, perhaps." Elaith eased the woman off his lap and slipped out of the booth, promising to meet her soon.

Winnifer waited in the curtained booth for several minutes. When she felt certain that the elf was gone, she hurried to the dressing room, pulled off the drow mask and wig, and