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Message: <blockquote data-quote="spacehulkster" data-source="post: 2810558" data-attributes="member: 13070">ReunionThe search party makes it back to Blackstar Inn, where Milo and Vern sit on high chairs at a table drinking.  “Pudge,” Vern motions for them to come over.  “The Inn-keeper said that a cat-like looking bugbear was by asking for you.  Would this be your friend Basti you’ve told us so much about?”For the first time in a very long time, Milo saw Pudge’s face light up.  A smile wider than any human could muster.  He sat back smoking his pipeweed Carthax had hooked him on and enjoyed in Pudge’s excitement.“Yeah, that would be him.  I told you he didn’t look like most bugbears because of his half-human lineage.  Did he say where to find him or leave a message?” Pudge said with enthusiasm to see his old friend.“You’d better ask the inn-keeper,” Vern encourages.  Pudge left straight away.  Vern notices Elric wry smile, “Basti’s your friend too, not excited to see him?” he ask.“Yes, it will be nice to talk with him,” Elric responds hiding his true intentions for wanting to see Basti.After a few hours of listening to Pudge tell the stories of how him, Elric and Basti had become friends, the group (especially the young elves) were glad to see him enter the bar.  The stories were nice, but I bet you had to be there to appreciate them more, they thought.Little by little the group grows smaller in size, as one by one, party members leave for bed, leaving just the three of them to talk.  At one point during the evening, Pudge gets up to relieve himself and order more ale, Elric uses this opportunity to talk discreetly with Basti.“Basti, you’ve been here some eight years now correct?” he ask.“That I have!” comes Basti’s slurred response.  In drinking contest with Pudge, Basti could never outlast him, but he always gave it a good shot.  Oblivious to Basti’s condition, Elric continues, “I need to make some contacts here in Waterdeep.  Good contacts, of the information type.” “I can give you information, belch!  I’m starting to get dizzy, whoa!”“Basti quit fooling, I’m serious.  Now pay attention.  Do you know anyone in….” he motions with his hands.  Intricately signing, Basti tries hard to watch and make sense of the gestures, but his head just keeps bobbing around.  Frustrated, Elric continues, slower and emphasizes key gestures.  Slowly, Basti mimics the hand signals and a bell goes off in his head, “Oh!  Those contacts.  I know a few,” he blurts out, drawing the attention of a few customers.  Elric quickly grabs Basti’s hands to stop him from further signing and smiles courteously at other patrons staring at them.Basti leans in and in a slur whispers, “Decided to continue your trade, aye elf?! Yeah, I know of some one, buts this is dangerous business here in Waterdeep.  Thieving is not tolerated here, if’n your caught!”“I don’t intend on thieving.  We need information and I don’t need Milo finding out about where we get it, got it?”“Understood.  I will do what I can, but I can’t promise anything.  I know a few people that know people.  It usually cost something Ell.  You willing to take the risk?”  Basti was fading, but still raised is mug and took a large gulp.Elric looked hard at Basti, thinking he had no choice.  He had to link Patch’s information of “The Last Laugh” thieving guild with Keygan’s shop.  He could think of no other choice, “yes, I’ll take the risk.”Pudge wandered over with another gallon pitcher of ale, “Hey you two look pretty serious.  What’s the banter ‘bout?”  Pudge took his seat next to Basti and filled all three of their mugs, “I see you finished yours, Basti.  You’re only three down from me now.”“awe it wasn’t much,” he slurred grabbing his mug.  Then he leans to the side, his head comes to rest on Pudge’s shoulder and he gives Elric a wink, “Elric wants me to find him some friends!”Pudge gets a wry smile, looks over at Elric, “Feeling frisky are we Ell?”  The two half-breeds bust out in laughter as Elric turns three shades of red.</blockquote>

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