PREVIOUSLY - CAMPAIGN DIARIES 61 - RETURN TO DAGGERFORD 

21 Uktar - Day 145 - 8:00AM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

The League starts making preparations for opening night, they interview a large array of musical groups

• Babba:  Their songs are enchanting and danceable melodies.

• THACO: This band is known for their experimental and avant-garde approach to medieval music.

• Crossbows and Roses: A band that blends the intensity of deep base tones with the poetic beauty of medieval ballads.

• Illusion Dragons: This band specializes in creating an ethereal and mystical ambiance with their music. 

• Willie Elfson: Known for his soulful and homey style.

• Earth Wind and Shire: This band draws inspiration from traditional folk music and combines it with medieval themes.

• Rolling Golem: A band that infuses medieval music with a edgy spirit. 

• Black Pudding: With a darker and more ominous tone, Black Pudding creates atmospheric and haunting music. 

• Mithralback: This band would specialize in epic and grandiose soaring music.

• Deaf Leprechaun: Known for their lively and energetic performances.

• Daft Monk: This band would take a playful and irreverent approach to create fun, danceable music. 

• The Beholders: A band that delves into the darker realms of medieval music. 

• Critical Hit: This band would bring a high-energy and fast-paced approach their music. 

• Rage Against the Construct: Known for their rebellious and politically charged lyrics.

• Foghelm: This band specializes in creating atmospheric and ambient tunes.

• Nine Chain Mails: A band that embraces the spirit of warfare and chivalry.

• Rob's Zombies: This band takes a unique twist on music by infusing it with a touch of the eerie undead.

• Alchemical Romance: Known for their poetic and introspective approach.

The League narrows in on Babba, Earth Wind and Shire, Mithralback, and Daft Monk, deciding on Daft Monk as the final choice.

CAPTURE 8:50

They head down to the tailor near the Three Urchin Alehouse for making some clothes appropriate to opening night.

22 Uktar - Day 146 - 8:00AM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

Immeral asks Dain for a favor - he wishes to change the form of Syldan from a hawk to an owl by re-conjuring his familiar, but basically the hawk-Syldan has to die.  Dain looks at the hawk sitting on a table while watching the world outside the glass windows.  Without a word he swings Bloodstorm the great axe of Gorm the Bloodletter and chops the hawk in two, impaling the table with his axe and a spurt of blood and hawk gore.

Some of the waitstaff gasps, but Dain says, "Sorry for the mess." and begins cleaning with a rag from one of the halflings. Immeral quickly moves off to summon his familiar back as an owl.

Jidjack and his security team ensures that the place is secured overnight.

Immeral writes to Sister Garaele, telling her about the opening of the Alehouse.  She is pleased to hear from him, but is still working hard in Yartar after a horrendous event destroyed nearly half the town. She relieves suffering every day, so she is grateful for the work, and she shares that there is a rock gnome named Clinker who is repairing the town with a horde of cache he apparently stole from a dragon - so he's become a local hero.

23 Uktar - Day 147 - 4:00PM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

Wrenly Stafford the owner of the Mocking Mustang stables comes by, and Vincent Trench - the well-dressed private investigator from down the street makes a fast appearance.

As the evening grows dark, Renear and Floon bring loads of friends, then a massive crowd shows up led by Volo who seems to have no money, but his acquaintances all make up for it. Loads of locals come by to give you best wishes in your endeavor, Embry and Avi the genasi owners of the Steam and Steel, The Silvermoon bakers including the slightly aloof Dierre and his son Roekin, even Grund the homeless pickle merchant brings you a jar of pickles. 

A delivery man shows up with a large crate and message from Sir Isteval wishing you a successful opening with his warmest regards, and hoping this gift can be added to the décor of the tavern. As the crate is opened, the crowd gasps, and it's revealed to be the massive skull of a four-foot wide giant head. The giant still wears a rusted helm, but a great two-handed sword pierces the skull through the eye, looking as small as a dagger to scale. Whispers of Isteval's name can be heard throughout the tavern that night.

The largest entourage comes from someone you least expected, a fellow you met on the road into town named Mirt comes by, with many finely dressed locals. Mirt makes a joke that he normally wouldn’t come by an establishment that didn’t borrow money from him, it is good-natured, but he slips in "maybe some time in the future". Now the tavern is bursting at the seems, but many make their way to the alley patio where the snow is brushed off the chairs and bonfires keep the patrons warm and drinking. His crowd includes the Cassalanters who are near royalty in this part of town, owning the bank at the end of Trollskull alley and several other businesses. Victorio and Ammalia introduce themselves and the crowd seems clearly in awe at the nobles. They don't stay long, but they exchange pleasantries welcome you as new neighbors, although their estate is far down Delzorin street, and head out while shaking many a thankful local's hands.

Nowhere is reminded of the odd look that Ammalia gave the Urchins several months earlier before leaving Waterdeep for Daggerford, but doesn't have any idea what might have caused it.

"Suck my dagger, bitch" Nowhere whispers to Atlas and Atlas just smiles, letting her lose.

Immeral uses detect magic, but detects no malevolent energy from the rival bar owner.

The band starts up again, the energy returns, and the opening of the Three Urchins Alehouse can be considered a huge success right up to closing time at eleven bells (it is a residential neighborhood after all).

24 Uktar - Day 148 - Fifthday 4PM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

The next day and evening is a continued success, although a bit smaller scale than opening night. The music and food and ale still brings in more curious new customers, and a giant skull has been added to the decor of the Alehouse above the second fireplace.

But as evening falls, water starts shooting out of the chimneys, extinguishing the fires in the fireplaces, and customers shriek in alarm. Suddenly - certainly magically, the room becomes very very cold. Customers start donning their jackets and everyone starts looking around. The meals on the tables actually start forming frost. 

Immeral opens the door and sends his owl Syldan out into the dusk sky to inspect the roof, but finds nothing unusual except the owl spies a rat in one of the rain gutters for just a moment before it squeezes into a drainpipe. 

The League starts apologizing to the patrons as K'ronk casts prestidigitation on the fireplaces, drying them out instantly, and asking security to restart the fires. The intense cold continues though, and patrons are moving towards the door. K'ronk and Immeral both use detect magic to see a large square of the ceiling of the tavern glowing with a blue magical energy.

K'ronk suggests that a zone of cold spell may have been cast thinly across the ceiling of the tavern and The League confers.

Atlas says "Didn't the code legal say something about no spells to anyone in city limits without their consent?"

Immeral nods "Someone just broke the law."

Patrons are moving towards the door and Seraphina starts offering refunds when Immeral realizes that he and K'ronk can use prestidigitation to counteract the area of cold, which they both do and the room immediately grows warm from the double-cast spells. Applause breaks out as the customers are free to stay and the waitstaff starts replacing cold meals.

Jidjack and team go out and start looking around, but there are too many footprints in the snow.

Nowhere looks around and asks "any magic users?" Immeral and K'ronk use detect magic, but find no magic-sources in the room, although a magic-user might be disguised or not wearing the accoutrements of a wizard at all. 

K'ronk suggests to JidJack that they find out where Emmek Frewn is right now.  Ammara says "I'm on it." and heads out and down the street.  "Wait for me" says Seraphina and she hustles after.

24 Uktar - Day 148 - Fifthday 8PM - Frewns Brews

Amara and Seraphina enter Frewn's Brews and there are several patrons in there, but the place is pretty quiet, with a seemingly lower class clientelle than their new Alehouse. 

Seraphina steps up to the bartender and introduces herself.  The bartender is a bit gruff and introduces himself as Solari.  Seraphina asks if Emmek Frewn is available, and she states she has some business with him. Solari replies that he doesn't know where Frewn is right now. Why do you want to know?

"I was talking to him about an investment in his bar." 

Solari relies "Investment, yeah? Okay, that sounds important. You'll have to come back tomorrow. Sixday at two?  I can leave a message for him. He usually opens at noon."

"Thank you." Seraphina says and they return to the Alehouse.

Immeral says "Maybe we just sell his brews."

Dain reminds them "His brews were crap." as he downs some of the fine brew that the Alehouse has brought in from a massive mug. They are not sure where he got a giant mug from.

"Well we don't want crap beer." says Immeral

CAPTURE 49:00 Peanut Butter Jelly

The rest of the night goes without incident, the customer staying for an extra serving of ale (on the house). The League hears the following rumors:

• Mirt the Moneylender spends all his money on food, wine and women, and that is why his mansion is so rundown.

• Sea Captain Zardoz Zord is offering a large reward for the Dragonstaff of Agharion - an artifact rumored to be in Waterdeep.

• Rishaal at The Bookwyrms Treasure has a few spell books that he allows copying of at half the going rate

• There is a monk named Lam that lives in a cave on the side of Mount Waterdeep. He has visions of the future that always come true.

• Waterdeep sits on top of ancient dwarven ruins that are nearly the size of the city

• The gang war between the Zhentarim and The Eye is getting worse. There were three kenku and two humans found dead in the dock ward this week, some with the flying snake tattoo of the Zhents.

• The thieves guild was run out of Waterdeep years ago, but a new guild is emerging and more sophisticated crimes have been happening. 

25 Uktar - Day 149 - Sixday 2PM - Frewns Brews

After an uneventful morning, The League makes their way to Frewns Brews to confront Emmek Frewn about the troubles they have been suffering, knowing he is likely the source.

"What do you lot want?" says Frewn.  "Get out!"

"We have a meeting scheduled." says Nowhere.

"It was supposed to be a business deal, and I don't want any of your business, and I want you to not steal my business." he snarls.

Nowhere says "I don't want you to put cold spells on our ceiling."

Frewn states "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar!" Nowhere responds.

"The liars are you, since you said you weren't opening a tavern."

Immeral states "It was true in the moment, but our decision changed."

Nowhere taunts him "Are you afraid of change? Are you an anxiety baby?"

"I'm scared of you stealing my business you rotten, lying, murder hobos!"

"Your beer tastes like piss" says Nowhere - getting annoyed.

K'ronk steps in "Can't we just have respectful competing businesses?"   

Frewn states "You stick to your side of the alley and I'll stick to mine!"

Immeral says "That is all we want.  Agreed."

Nowhere says "Our tavern is full of the wealthy and powerful and yours is empty."

"You don't concern me - Liars!"

"Everyone saw you storm out in a huff and then magical cold besieges our business and water comes down our chimney - what should we think? Nowhere challenges.

"That place has been cursed for years. Just because you're too stupid to realize it is not my problem. You were fools to have bought that place."

Immeral mumbles "We didn't really buy it - it was payment for a debt, it's complicated."

Nowhere drives forward, held back by Dain and Atlas.  "This is our house. There are children who live there. Fuck off!"

With that they march out.

"Yes, I have pickled garlic, pickled cucumbers, pickled olives with garlic." 

"I'll take the olives" says Immeral and K'ronk says "Make it two."

"Six coppers please." says Grund and they give him double what he asks.

"Anything spicy Grund? K'ronk asks.   

"Pickled peppers. I picked the peppers that I pickled." K'ronk takes a jar of pickles and K'ronk pays with five platinum instead of copper.

"I don't have change." he says.

K'ronk tells him that no changes is needed, and adds "How would you like to move your stand outside of our tavern? It would be good for our business and yours."

Grund states he's happy where he is, and when asked if he has a place to sleep, he says "I sleep under this one counter." the League can see a pile of furs underneath.  Concerned for the homeless half-orc, they offer him space in the tavern or at least to bring him a bedroll and such, but he says if he has too much stuff The Watch kicks him out.  "Plus who will guard my pickles? If I leave they will be stolen."  

"We would help you move them." K'ronk states, but Grund says "They are too much to move every day."  

Nowhere says to the others "Umm, we may not be here everyday to help him. Plus he seems content."

Grund nods and says "It's warm by the sewer grate. I'm OK."

Nowhere whispers to Atlas "We can just kill Frewn and put Grund in his house."

Atlas says "Code legal says not to."

"Damn code legal".

The League walks up a few streets to the City Watch station and approach one of the watch.

Nowhere speaks "We're the owners of the new Three Urchins Alehouse and we have a problem."

The Watchman looks at your group quickly and says "Yes?"

"We had a spell cast upon our tavern last night.  What was it exactly Immeral?"

"A cone of cold possibly prestidigitation, possibly..."

The Watchman says "Whoa, whoa, whoa, let me get someone who knows something about spell-stuff." and the man turns.

Nowhere keeps talking, "Yeah, you're more of a melee man, I get it, I get it, all this weird spell stuff.  Not for me either!"

The rest of The League looks at her like they don't know her. 

Seraphina mentions that she was able to bless the building in the name of the Raven Queen, and that no curses remain.

Cromley keeps writing in his little book, never seeming to need to dip the short quill into any sort of inkwell.  

Blastwind continues "We must conduct a thorough examination of the premises." The League agrees and they walk down the cold street together.

Before entering the tavern, the mage examines the restored building, obviously using detect magic and maybe other spells to gleen some more information. Cromley looks around and asks in a bit of a high-pitched voice "You just had the place rebuilt, correct?"

Immeral replies "Yes, a very expensive endeavor, it's only finished about a week now."

Cromley kneels down in a shadowy corner and states "someone has punched holes in your tavern." and sure enough there is a rough hole in the wall at ground level in a place not easily noticed.  Further examination finds more holes hidden in places where the construction is not stone. 

Kneeling down at another hole, Cromley reaches in with a gloved hand and extracts a bit of raw meat and gristle, holding it for all to see. "It appears obvious that someone is trying to sabotage you."

Nowhere turns redder with anger. 

Barnabus adds "Opening with bait like this would lead to a rat infestation in no time."

Immeral says "I did see a rat on the roof of our townhouse last night when my familiar flew up to try to see who had dumped water down the chimney. I did not think a single rat a problem.

Barnabus and Cromley look at each other and nod "Yes, yes."

Barnabus wraps up the meat in some wax paper and states "we will discern the meat type with the help of a butcher."

Immeral adds "Perhaps you could stay at our table in the tavern this evening? I have a suspicion that the saboteurs may return."

Barnabus and Cromley look at each other and nod "Yes, yes. We should be able to spend time observing the situation."

The League asks each other if they have a mending spell prepared.

Blastwind says "You might be able to get that spell from the bookseller just down the street, they often have old spell books for sale at a very reasonable price."

K'ronk remembers "I have mending." and he goes around casting the spell to close up the holes in the tavern.

"We will see you in a few hours then." Nowhere states, and Blastwind and Cromley head off, chatting with one another.

25 Uktar - Day 149 - Sixday 3PM - Book Wyrm's Treasure

There are a wide array of simple spells that Rishall has available in a hodgepodge of books. Immeral pays 12 gold to copy mending and 25 gold for dispel magic, as does K'ronk. They agree to come back tomorrow to copy the dispel magic spell, concerned they do not have enough time before evening service and any potential disruptions.

25 Uktar - Day 149 - Sixday 3:30PM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

In the meantime, The League has indeed found evidence rats have gotten into the Alehouse. Guy Pisgetti is furious, and Seraphina spends time calming the excitable cook as The League cleans up and searches for rodents. The League puts Jidjack and Jiddy's Biddy's on the job of hunting down rats.

K'ronk and Immeral return from their shopping to the bad news and prepare to destroy any rats in sight. "Magic missile, no fire bolt indoors" Immeral reminds K'ronk who remembers he let one slip fighting a troll in the Yawning Portal.

Cromley and Blastwind arrive early and get an early read on the tavern before dinner service. Blastwind carries a strange device with lenses and brass dials and switches that he puts up to his face and looks through, making adjustments. He says little to The League and in short order settles down at the owner's table with Cromley.

Seraphina finds a rat and casts sacred flame to kill it with radiant magic. Immeral casts prestidigitation again to doubly clean the kitchen (which Guy appreciates). 

They refuse alcohol and Immeral ensures they have good sweet tea, and Nowhere sure they are sent a hot meal. It's clear they don't wish to discuss the case though, stating "we can only say so much during an active investigation." Cromley is writing most of the time, and Barnabus' stare through his strange ocular device gets odd looks from the patrons, but they are whisked away to sit for dinner.

The bartender Gaius seems happy and the halfling waitstaff seems nonplussed at the oddities, but wonder who the guys in the corner are.

Nowhere explains they are some extra security from The City Watch due to the oddities they experienced the night before. The Chattery family of servers appear a bit disturbed by it all, but they continue on with their duties.

As dinner service starts, Emmek Frewn steps to the front of the tavern, holding up a sign "This Tavern is Rat Infested" and he marches back and forth.

Nowhere points to Frewn and says to Cromley and Blastwind "He knows!"  They say nothing, but continue to take notes.

Nowhere steps outside. "You want us all to march in front of your tavern?"

K'ronk says "With a 'loser' sign?"

Frewn replies "This is a public thoroughfare, I can walk where I please."

Nowhere says "Let's minor illusion that sign to read 'My beer is pills'".  They look over at Cromley and Blastwind who shake their heads. Atlas says "Using magic to affect a citizen without consent."  Cromley and Blastwind nod.

Nowhere goes out and says "I thought we had an agreement to stay on our own sides of the street."

Frewn says "I've changed my mind just like you changed yours after you said you weren't hoping a tavern. It was cursed and rat infested before, and it's cursed and rat infested now, and I have a duty to protect my friends and neighbors from your dirty tavern."

Nowhere asks "How do you know there are rats in there?" trying to get him to confess something.

"It's the whole reason I didn't want to buy it from Volo. Who wants a haunted and infested tavern except idiots like you." Frewn replies.

Customers are coming up and Frewn says "They have rats in their tavern."

Immeral says "We have a clean kitchen."

"With rats!" Frewn replies.

Nowhere says "We even use magic to clean."

"'need to with all the rat filth. Eat at your own risk!" he calls out an the potential customers wander off.

Immeral says "How do we know there aren't rats in your tavern."

Frewn replies "Nobody has ever seen rats in my tavern, because there aren't any. Too bad you don't know what that feels like."

K'ronk says "You were only in here for one minute, you didn't see any rats. You're just mad."

Three more potential customers approach and Frewn says "Yes, I'm mad you're serving rat-infested food in your tavern."

K'ronk says "You're so pathetic, you're neglecting your own business."

Immeral storms off as Seth Cromley comes out with Barnabus Blastwind and asks Emmek "Mr. Frewn, do you own the brewery at the end of the alley?"

Frewn replies "Yes constable. Frewn's Brews" he says proudly.

"Mr. Frewn, you could be charged with slander if this is not true."

Frewn is startled and states "I know that building has rats."

"You know the tavern had rats, but you haven't seen any recently, right? Or were you hear some other time than your appearance last night?" Barnabus looks at him with a quizzical eye.

"No, but its got to still have rodents." Emmek replies, backpedaling a bit.

"I would just be cautious about claiming something you haven't seen." Barnabus replies "I am no magistrate, but that might not sound right to the courts."

"This is what I pay my taxes for?!" Frewn exclaims, and he storms off with his sign.

Barnabus says "It's likely you have an enemy. We'll keep an eye on the situation. Trust the Watch." and the 

25 Uktar - Day 149 - Sixday 6:30PM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

One of the waitstaff, Cyprus Chattery says that there is a problem.  "What now?" says Nowhere.

"All of the silverware is gone. The silverware that was on the tables is all that we have. Once we turned the first customers we saw it was gone. We looked around, but can't find any!"

The League gathers at their table. Dain says "Are we really going to buy all new silverware?"  Seraphina casts locate object and she makes a strange face and walks back to the kitchen.  She asks Guy "do you have the cutlery here?"  

"No, just some spoons for tasting." he says to her, returning the funny look.

She starts digging into a barrel of trash, casting aside vegetable clippings and meat trimmings and pulls out handfuls of their silverware. 

Nowhere asks "who has been in the kitchen?"

Guy says "Only my helpers and the waitstaff."  He looks at the two kitchen assistants he has - Bizzo and Carmonk, but they are busy cleaning what little cutlery they have and prepping food.

K'ronk says "Our staff came from Frewn's Brews!"

Immeral adds "Maybe they weren't as unhappy as they led us believe."

K'ronk replies "We have to set some work expectations."  

CAPTURE P2 42:40

Jidjack has listed to much of this and says "Do you want me to post a guard within the alehouse overnight?"  The League agrees.

The rest of the night passes uneventfully, the handwiches are a big hit, and the alehouse closes and cleans. The League says nothing to the Chattery family.

Nowhere sits down with the kids in the morning and says over breakfast "Someone is trying to sabotage our tavern."

"What!" says Squiddly, bringing forth his bow and shoots a basket on top of a cabinet with an arrow.  Nat scowls and makes a throat-cutting motion.  Jenks waits for more info.

"Now just hold on, we need a bit more stealth than that." Nowhere tells them

"Like shoot them in the leg?" Squiddly asks. 

Nowhere says, "we can't shoot or stab anybody, that's illegal."   

"Oh!" says Squiddly.  "Can we poison them?" Nat nods.

"No, we need you guys to keep an eye on things downstairs for anything suspicious." Nowhere corrects.

"And then we burn their house down?" Squiddly asks.  

"Maybe" says Nowhere.   "NO!" says the rest of The League.

K'ronk distracts "If you find anything, I will lend you my ring of invisibility." 

"That's amazing!" says Jenks.  "We can watch the tavern." and they get together and start whispering to one another about bringing down their drawing supplies and pretending to draw the whole night but watching everybody.

26 Uktar - Day 150 - Sevenday 10:30AM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

The night passes uneventfully under the watchful eye of Jiddy's Biddys. Barkeepss and cooks and waitstaff arrive and The League calls a meeting.

Nowhere begins, "Last night we found all our cutlery in the trash." 

K'ronk continues "We've had a great start to business, people are really enjoying being here."

The Chattery's applaud "The money has been great, we didn't get paid crap at Frewns."

K'ronk continues "We are noticing some odd things though - cold spells, water down the chimney, silverware in the garbage."

Immeral adds "If any of you notice anything off, something strange, let us know right away to get to the cause of it. Tell one of us owners, tell Jidjack's team, anybody nearby."

Nowhere says "We have engaged the City Watch and they are actively investigating the use of unauthorized magic here among other crimes."

Everyone nods and agrees.  The urchins are in the corner - watching carefully, whispering and taking notes.

CAPTURE 50:00

Immeral says "We don't need the negativity in our lives."

K'ronk adds "We could have gone on amazing quests together."

The sword replies in its gravelly voice "A wet cat is tougher than you!"

Atlas adds "You are a microweapon."

Dragondoom replies "You are a maggot pie served from a dwarfs' codpiece."

He continues "You look like the armpit of a bog hag."

K'ronk adds "Big words for a being that can't even walk by themselves."

"I'd insult your parents but you probably don't even know who they are."

"You're a sword, you dont have any parents."

"I've met sharper loaves of bread than you." the sword replies.

Dain says "Can't we just drown this thing?  Get rusted."

The sword redirects "When you left your village, it's sad they lost their idiot."

K'ronk says "Ocean sail, sword goes over the side, never found again."

"Cast blindness on me so I don't have to look at you any more."

Sumat Pol says "This is going to take a very special type of person to wield and want to own. I would offer you 20,000 gold."

K'ronk says "It's because I'm a dragonborn and he's compelled to fight dragons.  It has all those other abilities we discussed. What about 22,000?" 

A second Sumat Pol say "We can do 22."

"Deal" says K'ronk, handing over the sword.  "I'm looking for a belt of giant strength."  

"Oh, those are very hard to come by.  Affect bounded accuracy and all that, yah.  Our boss 'DM' says we can't sell those, but I don't really understand why."

Another Sumat says "we could get ahold of one of those Ioun Stones. Its a little gem that spins around your head. A bit odd, but that's magic.  Maybe would grant you a 30 or 40 percent increase in strength."

"What about a powerful sword with less 'personality' than dragondoom?" K'ronk reconsiders.

"A sword of wounding would be 2,000.  A vorpal sword would be 24,000. A plain longsword of similar magic combat strength as Dragondoom (+3) would be 16,000.  One a bit less powerful (+2) would be 4,000."

"I need a bag of holding too." adds K'ronk.

"That is 4,000 too." We can put your change in there.  We trade in 2-pound platinum trade bars (worth 1,000 gold), if that works."

K'ronk nods and he quickly is handed a fine-looking longsword that hums with (+2) magic, and a bag of holding with 14 platinum bars within. 

They thank the Sumat Pols and depart.

Meanwhile, Nowhere is insuring that all their trophies are properly placed and mounted in the Trollskull. They have:

• The giant head from Sir Isteval

• A darkenbeast skull

• An axe beak skull

• A minotaur skull

• A gorgon skull which they taxidermized a little late, so it is a bit withered, so she procures a large jar and alcohol to preserve it and the snakes float freely in the fluid.

• The famous troll skull found in the manor

• A taxidermy cockatrice head they had shipped from Red Larch

26 Uktar - Day 150 - Sevenday 12:00PM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

Nowhere brings the patron fresh water and says "The bill is complimentary. We're not happy with that beer, we have opened a fresh barrel if you like."  A couple of patrons are leaving. Seraphina and Atlas notice that the two Chittery brothers, Remel and Elmer, exchange funny glances as this is going on.

The urchins go down to the cellar looking for clues as The League convenes.  Nowhere suggests letting the Chittery's have tomorrow off, while Immeral says "We have to act fast. We have customers leaving sick. I can follow the Chittery's tonight from the etheral plane. I can enter from my room and return there if there is a problem."

K'ronk adds "I can follow invisibly too."  

"Or we offer the City Watch use the ring to observe the tavern tomorrow." Nowhere suggests.

Immeral replies "I'm not sure if The Watch would be a part of something like that."

Seraphina chases down the patrons and manages to get them all a bit of healing salve that should fend off any disease from the polluted ale. She uses half her supply, but fending off bad word of mouth or press is worth it.

Gaius the bartender is furious, worried about his reputation, and the sabotage happening. The League impresses upon him that they have a plan. Jidjack states that he'll have a full force outside and in the tavern tonight.

26 Uktar - Day 150 - Sevenday 11:00PM - The Three Urchins Alehouse

Cyprus says "If we get caught, we just play dumb. Don't say anything."

Remmel looks around the cold street and says "Let's go check in with Frewn and see what he wants us to do next. We dont have to do anything risky." 

They go into a short alley off Saurdon street, and checking again for eyes. Seeing none, they transform and it becomes clear, the Chittery family are were-rats!

"What are we doing tomorrow?" says one of the Chitterys. "They're watching round the clock now."

Frewn responds "Tonight. I want this done tonight. I want you to call some more rats, and have them scratch up the neighbor buildings all around. That'll turn the neighborhood against them when every business on the street needs repairs. It should be an infestation centered right on the Trollskull. Wait for 2 bells, most of the city is asleep by then."  

The Chitterys smile as they depart, stating they will catch some sleep and be back at 2 bells.

Immeral removes his cloak, teleporting back to the Alehouse and writes furious notes about his observations. He gathers The League in their townhouse and waits for K'ronk to return. Their invisible companion comes in and reveals himself and they bring the rest of The League and some urchins who are listening in, up to speed on the situation. 

Immeral suggests they bring this info to the City Watch, and the others agree, knowing that their local contacts Barnabus and Seth will likely not be there at this hour, and their spying on Emmek Frewn might bring up some questions.  The problem appears to be what to do about tonight with the were-rats coming back in a few hours?  Jidjack says his mercenaries will be ready to take them on. They can be lying in wait at the Alehouse.

K'ronk asks if they can have the City Watch catch them in the act. Atlas says "if we call down the City Watch they will just put members out everywhere on the street, stop the vandalism, and the wererats will be free to act another night."

Immeral says "We could use Vincent Trench."

Nowhere follows "But he's an investigator, what would he do?"  

Immeral replies "Prove that this guy is messing with us like a detective. Enough to satisfy the watch."

Orryn says "We only have two hours before they act."

Dain says "The Watch cleans up the crime, they don't really stop the crime."

The kids start making signs "We're watching you." to put on all the windows.

Nowhere says "We take this in our own hands. We wait by our neighbors doors and kill some rats."  Jidjack and the others nod, adding "we could try to capture the wererats".  

Immeral and Nowhere say "That's a great idea." 

Atlas adds "and put them in the bag of holding for later burial."

CAPTURE 34:20 

Nowhere says "Not a great idea."

Atlas replies "No clues, no bodies."

Nowhere adds "Except for any witnesses that peek out their windows." Then she adds "Remember, we have to let them do some damage before we can nab them, or they've done nothing wrong."

27 Uktar - Day 151 - Eightday 2:00AM - Trollskull Alley

Jidjack and team hides inside the alehouse, waiting to spring out and subdue any rats. The urchins watch from the windows of the townhouse.

The rest of The League takes up hidden positions in the cold alleys of around the Alehouse. Atlas uses her cloak of elvenkind to blend into the walls of the Bunds & Lyerbees grocery. Dain slips into the tiny alley behind Virya Elven Bakery with K'ronk's ring of invisibility. Immeral takes a spot near Daisy's Flowers uses his robe of stars to shift to the border ethereal and watch from that mirror world. K'ronk dons his cloak of elvenkind and takes a position by the Mocking Mustang stables. Orryn slips into a corner by the Steam and Steel Blacksmith using his small size and stealthy expertise. Seraphina takes a hidden position by the residences to the southwest of the Alehouse, and finally Nowhere's gloom stalker ability makes her invisible in the darkness of the alley, even to those with darkvision, like the wererats enhanced by her silent boots of elvenkind. 

Two bells ring out and shortly thereafter, four cloaked figures enter Trollskull Alley from the east, near Grund's Pickles. A swarm of rats follow them. The move to right outside of the Alehouse near Daisy's Flowers and start whispering to one another within earshot of a couple of The League.

Atlas and Kronk run south from the stables, trying to get to the fight. K'ronk is able to reach the second male wererat and grab that one as well. None are now free to get away. Seraphina rushes from her hiding spot, as does Orryn.

Jidjack and team bust out of the Alehouse with nets and ropes. The wererats try to break the holds on them. Nowhere hangs onto hers, but Immeral's breaks free. Dain's opponent bites Dain in the arm, and he takes some minor damage. K'ronk's wererat breaks free from Dain.Atlas sees the bite and moves to grapple his attacker, but he slips free. She unleashes a flurry of blows and critically batters the were-creature. Jidjack dives at other one fighting Dane, but he misses and crashes into the wall of the bakery, nearly knocking himself out.

Two of his team grapple the same rat-creature and start binding him with ropes.  

Serafina runs towards Nowhere and Immeral's position since they don't have allies, but she is not as fast as the others.

Nowhere maintains the grapple on her opponent as rats scurry all over her and bite her here and there.

The free wererat claws at Immeral and he backs away bleeding. It goes to bite Immeral, but the elf dodges out of the way. 

The swarms of rats start fleeing, the wererats having lost concentration on them.

Immeral tries shocking grasp on his opponent and it hurts the wererat, but it is still up.

Dain tries to grab the wererat that bit him, at first missing, but then successfully locking it up.

Orryn and one of the mercenaries start tying that wererat, and Atlas veers off, racing over to Immeral who she sees is backpedaling. She unleashes an attack on that wererat, battering it back, and knocking it out.

Jidjack's team has tied up the second wererat, but the one fighting Nowhere is still free.

Seraphina finally get close enough to the fight and casts hold person - effectively freezing the last one.

All four wererats are tied up. Three in giant rat form, one in wererat form under a hold person spell, and the kids are again cheering and reenacting the fight from the windows as are some of the neighbors. The swarms of rats take off. Jidjack's team shakes hands with each other and The League, happy at their performance, and they help drag the four giant rats down to the City Watch station.

The rats start talking now in squeeky voices.  "Let us go, let us go! It's not our fault, it was Frewn. He made us do it!"

Nowhere says "Why'd you do it then?"

"We needed the money" one of the rats squeals.  

"We were paying you well." says K'ronk.

"Frewn was paying us in gold, you were giving us silvers for hard work." another replies.

Nowhere stops them "we are going to take you to the Watch. You can plead your case with them. You can plead your case with them. If you confess it was Frewn fucking with our place the whole time and convince them, they may let you off easy. We aren't doing shit for you unless you talk."

"We'll talk!" says one "This is all Frewn's doing. He said you were stupid and would be easy pickings".  Before the hold person spell ends, they tell the one still in half-human form to stay in that form or they will kill him. He does so when the spell ends after a minute.

27 Uktar - Day 151 - Eightday 2:20AM - City Watch Outpost

The watchers are looking at the hogtied rats and ask.  "Do these things bite?"

Nowhere says "Yes, but they didn't bite any of us." glancing at Dain, but the scratched the hell out of me.

One of the guards points out. "This one is half-human!"

"Actually halfling" she says and The Watch stands stunned. Obviously they have not seen a lot of unusual action in this part of the city.

The female commander of the night watch says "bring them into this cell." and she leads the way and opens a small gated pen.  "I guess leave them tied up, manacles won't work, right? The morning crew can decide what to do with them."

Nowhere says "You need to get a confession out of them." and she turns to the wererats who are staying quiet. "Tell them now."  She turns back to the watch commander "We can kill them if they're just rats right?" 

The rats start crying "No no no, we'll talk, we'll talk." and one of the members of The Watch says "Talking rats, that's cool."

The wererats confess "We were hired by Emmek Frewn to vandalize their alehouse and the businesses around it. He wanted to drive them out of the neighborhood. We posed as workers which they hired and were able to work on the inside. Frewn said he would fire us if we didn't do it, and out us as wererats. We would have been driven out of town."

The commander takes notes of their confession. 

27 Uktar - Day 151 - Eightday 2:20AM - Three Urchins Alehouse

The next afternoon, Barnabus Blastwind and Seth Cromley visit the Three Urchins Alehouse and touch base on what transpired the night before, getting to hear their own version of events. 

As they talk, out in the street, Emmek Frewn passes by, looking around at the various shops of Saerdoun street and Trollskull Alley. Obviously trying to find signs of rat damage that don't exist.  The detectives say "pardon us".  They step outside, address Mr. Frewn and quickly manacle him and take him into custody.  

"Curse you! Curse you all!" shouts Frewn as he is led away to the Watch post and justice beyond.

"Beer's on us when you get out." shouts Nowhere.

"It'll be your piss-tasting stuff" adds K'ronk.

"I hope you dieeeeee! I hope you dieeeeee!" shouts Frewn "You owlbear freaks!"

Hopefully that is the last they see of Emmek Frewn.

NEXT - Campaign Journal 63 - The Game Is Afoot