The Moonstone Mask

The next morning, the party rises and heads to their new captain's office. A young woman sits at a simple wooden desk; the walls of her office are covered in maps of Neverwinter and various notes. She greets the group and introduces herself as Captain Jayra Anders, over the Adventurers Company of the Winterguard. 

She starts with this speech to the group, "This unit is quite small, less than 20 people, and has been given the duty of taking on issues for the Lord of Neverwinter and the City that the public doesn't need to read about in the new news sheets. These things can include dealing with creatures and pests, crimes committed against and by the nobility, and any issues that would cause the populace to rise in a panic. The sad fact is that the city has lost so much, and frankly, restoring the city to a level near its former glory is difficult at best. When an issue demanding discretion arises, we take that job. We have jurisdiction to investigate any crime in any of the four districts, including any city council member, guard, and army member, regardless of rank. We cannot afford to fail in our duty. "

Every district has a guard station; give them their due respect, but also understand that you do not report to them. You will report to a sergeant, Myself, and the lord captain of the watch. Speaking of a sergeant, Yours is walking in. " The Captain motions behind the group, and a taciturn, white-haired man silently waits near the door. 

He is introduced to the room as Sergeant Clem and is the party's direct report. 

Everyone in the party is given a Winterguard cloak,  which provides a +1 to persuasion and intimidation.

Clem has the party follow him on a tour of the Protectors Enclave District, starting with an introduction at his favorite pub, The Thistle. The owner, Marie, greets Clem like an old friend, so it's not hard to guess where he waits for new orders.

He shows the group the rest of the district and takes them to meet the Captains of Bluelake, Tower, and New Districts. Then, they travel back to the barracks. on the way, Pickles freezes some fresh cream and fruit in bowls and gives them to the poor children wandering the district.

The day after, Captain Anders has the group in her office. She explained that they had an assignment to deal with a unique pest issue at a prestigious establishment called The Moonstone Mask. Clem escorts Caine, Pickle, Grallaack, and Bubba to the West end of the Protector's Enclave and over a rickety wooden bridge.  

Meanwhile,  Abel and Glug have a bit of an issue to deal with, which will be described in The Night Heron. 

Clem explains most patrons of the Mask have been granted a token that transports them across the gap, but first-timers and those without excessive gold must traverse the bridge to the Mask. The bridge looks less than stable, but the view is amazing the further the group climbs. Eventually, the party recognizes that the Island the Mask sets on isn't just tall, and the bottom isn't covered in mist. The whole island is floating by strong magic, strong enough to make the air hum.  Clem explains that they had passed the portal gate before the bridge, he had just forgotten to mention it, and that the sister portal lies on the back side of the Mask from where they are. 

It is a long hike around the island to the main entrance. They are greeted at the door by a lovely young woman named Luna. She recognizes Clem, and her smiling face slightly falters. She does recover quickly when Clem first mentions that this is the first time any of the Group had come here and that they were here by request of the owner of the Guard business.

It turns out that the Moonstone Mask caters to various vices, and many patrons prefer that their activities remain anonymous to the public. All patrons wear masks while in the Mask, and the party is handed plain yet elegant masks to cover their features.

They are led back through the kitchen to an office; the walls of this room are decorated in fine silks, and a large rug covers most of the floor with its hypnotic pattern. A large portrait of a beautiful woman adorns the wall across from a stately wooden desk. A man stands to greet the group, introducing himself as Liset Cheldar, the owner of the Moonstone Mask. He explains that the Mask has many secrets, and such things attract interesting, exotic, and sometimes dangerous things to its walls. In this case, there is a portal to another plane of existence. This portal doesn't always work. Or there is some unknown event that we in this realm are unaware of. Regardless, a group of pixies have taken residence in the Mask. The staff and I have managed to contain them in the basement area, but our efforts are a temporary measure. I want your group to remove these beings from the premises. If they don't leave peacefully, then have them leave through violence. 

The party heads into the large basement and begins to look for the pixies. right off the bat, the group of fae starts casting spells at the party. Caine is polymorphed into a salmon, and Grallaack sees a hellhound in the shadows and is attacked by it. Bubba finds himself confused about what is going on around him. The Pixies cast a spell and then vanish, moving around the room unseen. As Pickle's patience takes one out, the confusion leaves Bubba. and when the next one falls dead, the hell hound fades into shadow, leaving a frightened Grallaack confused by the turn of events. the last pixie surrenders and agrees to return to the Feywild through the portal. The party retrieves five tiny daggers and collects five bags of pixie dust from the scene. Powerful stuff, pixie dust. It's what those flying menaces used to cast those spells. Liset is ecstatic about the outcome. he gives each party member a choice of reward: 100 GP, a membership to the Moonstone mask (this includes free entry, free cheap drinks, and compelling conversation with the clientele. Or, they can randomly take one object from the lost and found.

Pickle - grabs a scroll of invisibility from the lost and found.

Grallaack - takes the 100 gp and finds that he is now deathly afraid of Hell Hounds.

Caine - takes the Moonstone Mask membership offer.

Bubba - takes the Ghost Hand Bracer.

Our next adventure is called - The Metal Man