Waterdeep: City of Splendors.
Despite invasion, despite cultists, demons, Blackcloak himself and more, the city had always survived and in no small way due to their own efforts. Oh certainly, the rest of the factions had always had their vested interest in Waterdeep and its survival, but when it came to the common good, the Harpers were first and foremost at the front and it was the reason Sharia joined them in the first place. She didn't look like the classic image of a Harper spy, all rakish and bold. She was actually a librarian and with her mousy demeanor and overly large glasses, she looked quite unassuming, even with her elvish blood. But that suited her just fine all things considered, and she liked being away from the missions, all of which made her heart race.
But things were getting stranger now. Enough that at this very moment, other factions were likewise stirring and taking notice, various reports coming in and painting a grim picture. Which was why she was here today, pushing open the door as she set foot in the famous Yawning Portal Tavern.
It was lunch rush currently and various adventuring parties had settled in, some flush with coin and looking to celebrate, others more mournful and opting to do the same. It was a rough profession and as a result, adventurers tended to live life to the fullest, despite everything. She took notice of a few promising groups, stepped around a halfling with an umbrella who was heading to the corner and nodded to the man behind the counter.
Durnan nodded back, eyeing the brief glimpse of her organization emblem and placed a drink on the counter, along with a key. Taking both, she made the latter vanish swiftly and the former, less so. To guzzle down Durnan's beer was a crime in and of itself, and she placed the empty mug down, preparing to pay before blinking as he waved it off and spoke quietly.
"Others are already in."
"Thank you." She said softly, turning to leave as she headed upstairs to the private rooms.
She glanced behind her casually in the reflection of her glasses, made extra-large with shaped glass for this purpose and when she saw no one following, nor any sort of disturbance to indicate invisibility she relaxed.
She eyed the key and at the door in question, knocked in a pattern. The key was useless, all she needed was the number on it as the person behind it opened the door and she was in.
At the table, the other four representees would be waiting. As she took her seat, a figure in the garb of one of the Neverwinter Nine spoke.
"And with the Harpers now here, I call for this meeting to come to order."
A knight with a wooden prosthetic, animated and living snorted quietly as he crossed his arms. "You can stop the posturing, O' Lords Alliance. None of us have time to stand on ceremony. We even managed to bring one of the snakes out here, and usually they charge by the hour! That's how bad it is."
The Zhentarim representative clad in the garb of a simple Waterdeep merchant smiled blandly, as the red skin of a Tiefling was seen behind her veils as she spoke. "It's merely good business. I presume I speak for all of us, when I say the last thing, we need is another Dark Lord or Lady. Taringarde was a stroke of luck-"
"-Or simply fate returning to its course." Growled a hooded figure, gnarled hand clutching a druidic staff with hanging totems. "The lands upon that isle still scream and require purification and shall likely go to my successors and theirs in turn."
"Which is why we're all here, honored factions." Sharia said soothingly as she bowed her head and immediately cast Minor Illusion.
A map appeared of the Sword Coast and with it, blue and red lines as she spoke.
"It began with the lands surrounding the cities. Goblins, kobolds and other such creatures retreating and vanishing. At first, it was thought to be simply the work of the local adventurers."
"Until one of my groups ran into a convoy." Growled the Order of the Gauntlet representative as he spoke. "They didn't attack-they felt it wasn't right, seeing children among others in the group and once they worked up the courage to talk to them, the news spread like wildfire."
"The Bugbears, the Ogres, the Trolls, the Goblins-all these and more, are leaving Toril." The Lords Alliance folk said grimly. "My own people had been happy about this, but some of us were suspicious. I've a few High Elves in my faction who are pushing to extermination as of this moment, because of it."
"The Green has been silent as to where they are going, but she seems to bless their path." The druid remarked as she snorted quietly. "At the least, they bother no one unless they are bothered first. All they wish is to leave."
"So naive." The Zhentarim scowled, leaning back in her seat as she spoke. "Fang is confirmed dead, as is Jorgen. Stheno is yet at large and may I remind this council, that we never found a body for Saint Jeanne OR C'gorath. So long as even one of them survives, we cannot risk another Taringarde. It may not be now; it may not be for years, but can we take the risk?"
"There are some among my faction who propose an investigation." The knight spoke up as he added. "The Order of the Gauntlet will face evil, wherever it may be. But the clerics of Cuthbert in my order are compelled to the slower route. They wish to join the refugees, leave Faerun and I saw no reason to stop them."
"Then we agree." Sharia remarked as she dispelled the illusion. "We send in our people. Get independent confirmation, find out what's going and more importantly who leads them. Because I feel compelled in turn to warn you my colleagues, that in addition to these races were others. Certain... Factions all of us have dealt with before, in the past."
Another illusion appeared and a grim silence fell.
"... An alliance of agents perhaps?" The Zhentarim spoke. The rest nodded in agreement. Sharia dispelled the illusion and took charge. "Alright then. We'll look among our people, form a party between them and send them out to investigate. We'll get our answers soon enough."
And so, the meeting was adjourned.
As the last person left the room, for a moment there was nothing. And then a brief, creak of wood as Neo stepped out of the corner, scroll in hand and broadcasting as she looked at the camera and smiled.
On the other side, Roman sitting in the corner of the Yawning Portal smiled back.
"Good work Neo. Looks like that Xanathar guy's information was reliable. Think the boss should know about this?"
Neo tapped her cheek thoughtfully, before smiling to match the one on Roman's face.
"You're absolutely right! After lunch! Now get over here, before I order and forget yours."