Deciding on the Grand Bazaar, the Mothers walked Benedict and Marthus out of the Hive so that they could hail a conveyance. Once they had obtained a carriage it took little time for them to arrive at the outskirts of the Bazaar. Stalls and tents spread out haphazardly from the main body of trading, mostly these sold foodstuffs that even the Mothers found it difficult to identify. Gaspode organised the group so that the mages would be protected in the centre and that the two visitors would be protected front and rear. The first shop that they decided to enter sold Baatorian Steel, Gaspode tried the edge of a dagger and Levi tested the weight of the plate-mail. Levi was tempted to purchase but the others dissuaded him when the length of construction was mentioned. The group had a look at a number of other vendors along the way until Gaspode oriented himself by a tavern on the corner and pointed out the alley in which Bits and Pieces lay. They approached the archway and took a tooth each from the bag hanging from the pole. Gaspode led the way through and the group found themselves in a rough-hewn stone passageway, somewhere underground. A bead curtain separated the passage from the shop. At least it seemed like a bead curtain when the Mothers pushed it aside. Beyond, the group saw a number of shelves of various jars, boxes, chests, vials and others containers. Soon the proprietor arrived and asked what they were looking for. Fonesca asked for bat guano and harpy feathers and Marthus piped up nervously with a request for gorgon blood. The winged creature fluttered off into the depths of the shop but returned quickly with a jar in one hand and a large leather wallet of some kind in the other. Placing the jar gently on the counter the shop assistant then gently opened the wallet to reveal an array of feathers of differing hues and proportions. Counting through them, he came to what he was looking for and he pulled out three feathers for Fonesca's approval. Once she had nodded the creature fluttered off with the wallet and returned with a small vial containing a black viscous liquid. "Gorgon's blood," it said simply, if hoarsely. Marthus was quite excited by this, but Benedict just looked more nervous than ever. Gaspode paid the creature 350 gold pieces and they left. There was only time for a pint of ale and a stew in the Golden Bariaur Inn with Stronghoof before the tour ended. Once safely back in Waterdeep the Mothers escorted the mismatched pair home, promising to call the next day. They retired to the Alchemist's Scales to consider a career change to planar touts. Next morning when they called, Marthus opened the door to them. Apparently he had been up all night recording his experiences and testing the gorgon's blood, which he had found to be genuine. He agreed to a discount on the cost of teleporting the group to Westgate on the basis of their kindnesses of the day before. So it would only cost the Mothers 5,000 gold pieces to be transported. Soon the Mothers stood with Marthus outside the door of the Black Hand inn, which gave Guthranka a few goose-bumps even looking at the sign. Marthus took his leave and the Mothers headed for the docks in order to find transport to Cormyr. Gaspode tried not to be tempted by the cries of a painted lady on the way. After visiting several dock-side taverns searching for captains or crew, passage was obtained on the Bountiful Princess which was due to sail to Suzail on the morning tide.
