2) Undermountain, the return to Waterdeep.

[MedievalMan]

Lianna listens quietly as Balmorea and Hermia speak. As soon as they come to an agreement Lianna motions to Hermia towards the door. "I think its time to head back to the inn. I don't think I have felt this tired in quite some time."

[Jandolar]

After a boring couple of days laced with jibber jabber the company is ready to take on the Ghost Knight. They are a little light on funds from some spell purchases but the magic slingers of the group are now more prepared to take on any challenge. The last few nights they've been out searching the Dock Ward for evidence of the spiritual paladin and asking questions from the locals. A night spent in a seedy bar on the edge of a wharf revealed some information that significantly narrowed down the search. One of the sailors mentioned an old tale involving an Elven wizard of subtle evil and the young noble she seduced. When his companions scoffed that it was an old tale he tried his best to regain some dignity by telling them that the wizardess was intent on entering Undermountain via a secret route and needed the protection of the knight. His friends of course pressed for more information and after a few more drinks Lianna, who was blending into the furniture nearby hears Enuf fellos..... twas at th' en of Ballast Way where th' door is. A big ol' door in the street, steel it was and heavy as a boat ankor. Ye dout me? Then go a' see yerselfs!

With that information in mind the adventuring party checks the map looking for Ballast Way. Locating the street on the map and finding it in person turn out to be two different things. Temporary fences and piles of filth in the alley ways hinder progress. At one point Lianna comes face to face with another thief in a darkened corner, neither one having seen the other until they were almost nose to nose. The cutpurse quickly crumples to the ground from a swift kick to the groin and the party is moving again.

Some hours after leaving the seedy little tavern the group finds themselves standing at the dead end that is Ballast Way looking down at a massive iron grate inset in the middle of the street.

(Ok folks, how do you plan to proceed?)

[Blazeguard]

Rykken will examine the grate to see if it is secured by a lock or other such mechanism.

[Jandolar]

Rykken runs hands over the grate and finds nothing that seems to secure it other than its weight. Perhaps a proper thief could reveal more.......

[MedievalMan]

Lianna walks quietly up to the door and gently pushes Rykken aside. "Please, leave this to a professional." She then bends to her and begins inspecting the door. She is very careful not to touch the door at all until she figures its reasonably safe. Lianna will then start working at the lock. "Should have this open shortly gentlemen."

[dymondy2k]

Sturm whispers quietly about knocking on wood while watching Lianna work..

[LibraryLass]

Hermia scribbles in the margins of her paper, calculating how far from their home base they are as the crow flies, the better to mark the location of this new entrance on her map.

"If Ms. Dhree even survived her descent, she'll have long since left Undermountain. Nonetheless I hope we can get a clue as to where, or what she was looking for, or something, the better to help us put Lianna's repayment behind us... all the same, I'm glad it's a new part of Undermountain, it means I can work on my map some more!"

[Hywaywolf]

Oypen impatiently taps his foot while Lianna works. He wonders if the recent eye damage has slowed her down.

[Jandolar]

Lianna finds no indication of a trap but she does find a semi hidden locking device. Her attempts to open the device meet with failure, probably due to the accumulation of rust and such within the mechanism.

[Blazeguard]

"Well", Rykken pipes up, "I just happen to have a shiny new Knock spell that should take care of that". Rykken will proceed to cast Knock on the grate lock.