Embedded Files
The Game is Afoot
PREVIOUSLY - CAMPAIGN DIARIES 62 - RATS IN THE TAVERN
It's a few days into the last month of the year and Immeral steps out of the League townhouse early and steps across the alley to the Silver Moon Bakery where he had previously met the owner Dierre Silvermoon - a fellow elf, and his son Roekin. Roekin is a young man, maybe in his 20s, a child for an elf, and he is sitting on the porch, crying.
Immeral asks "Good morning Roekin, are you alright?"
Roekin sobs a bit more and Immeral sits with him.
"I don't know mister Nailo. I think there is something wrong with my father, it's like he's not my father anymore. For the past few months he has been acting differently, like he is dead inside. Last week my brother Pangrin died, he fell down the stairs into the basement. My father found him there, his neck broken, but he doesn't even seem to care. He keeps working like nothing has happened, like I didn't even have a brother. Mother says he is up all night, staring out the windows at nothing and taking notes that nobody else is allowed to see. Everyone in our family is upset except father."
At that moment, Dierre comes outside the bakery with a blank look on his face, and as if it took him a moment to remember, he puts on a smile. "Hello again Immeral. I hope Roekin is not bothering you, he has been understandably sad since his brother passed away and died." He seems to reconsider his smile and puts on a sad face a half second late.
"He's not being a bother at all."
Immeral suspects something odd, but can't put his finger on the problem, maybe a spell effect.
"I was actually going to invite him over to see the renovated tavern and see the children." Immeral adds.
Dierre blinks a few times, considering it longer than seems necessary, then adds " Certainly. I understand he needs some play time."
Pleased, Dierre continues "Did you come over for some baked goods?"
Immeral responds "Yes, of course" and rises to enter the shop, makes some purchases for The League and makes small talk with Dierre which seems to go normally. He pays 5 silver and elicits help from Roekin to carry his purchases.
Upon their return to the townhouse, a page arrives and drops off a note as Roekin and the children go off to play. Immeral reads the letter when they are all together.
Dear friends, I have had some disturbing news. Someone broke into my estate last night and stole something apparently important to my father. As fate would have it, Floon interrupted them, but they got away and dear Floon was nearly frightened to death. Soon after, an old friend of our family messaged me through a spell - SO DISTURBING! - he said he needed to meet with me, that my life was in danger. He asked to meet somewhere safe, and your tavern came first to mind. If it would not be too much trouble, could you open the tavern early to allow us to meet in private, and within the safety of your presence? We have scheduled the meet for 10 bells tomorrow. The page delivering this note will await your response.
- Love and regards, Renaer Neverember
The League decides to agree and will open the tavern tomorrow, and they say so to the page who leaves with their response.
They talk a bit about what strange goings on are happening at the bakery across the alley and what danger might present itself to Floon and Renaer, and how they seem to attract trouble.
CAPTURE P1 0:10
The Urchins join The League in the early "opening" of the Three Urchins Alehouse and take a position by the windows for some important drawing time at their table.
Renaer and Floon arrive. It is a busy morning and the street around the former Trollskull Tavern is bustling as they enter the Alehouse. They greet The League warmly and after some brief time Immeral says "Who is this friend of the family you are meeting?"
Renaer responds "I don't really know them that well, but he definitely worked for my father. His name is Dalakhar. I remember seeing him around, but I don't know what he did for father. He is a rock gnome, but I don't think my father was involved with any mining. I haven't seen him in years."
Nowhere asks "Do you know what the nature is of the danger?"
Renaer answers "No, but all my troubles seem to spring from the actions of my father and the damn gold he embezzled." Floon nods. "I guess the sending spell is limited, and so weird!" So we had to meet in person. Floon moves towards the kids to see what they are drawing.
Suddenly, the windows of the Tavern explode inward as a thunderous roar fills Trollskull Alley. Charred bodies and anguished screams fly through the air outside. Glass flies everywhere as the windows shatter, ripping into everyone nearby. A body flies through the window opening and lands inside while burning pedestrians fall in the street. A thick cloud of acrid smoke fills the air outward from the blast and blows into the tavern obscuring your vision to just a few feet.
As the smoke clears with an inrush of cold winter air, Renaer yells out "Floon!" and you can see Floon is torn apart and bleeding out on the floor of the tavern, and the Urchins can be seen on the floor too, cut and bleeding from the hail of glass. Squiddly is not moving. A stranger's body lays nearby, clearly dead from the blast, his clothing burnt and torn apart. On the human's chest is the black snake tattoo of The Zhentarim and a scorched note pokes out from his breast pocket.
Seraphina runs over to Squiddly and the kids as screams come from the street. Dain steps through the smoke towards the street, looking around and finding most of the windows of his townhouse blown out and the front of the building scorched and smoldering. There is no obvious source, but the center of the blast was right by the windows.
Immeral detects magic on the stranger's body and grabs the note.
Atlas follows and she sees panic in the streets, people running in every direction and screaming. There are bodies too - maybe a ten. Some are looking in shock at your tavern, wondering what had happened. The whistles of the City Watch can be heard in the distance as Atlas notices a few people looking up at the rooftop across from the Alehouse but sees nothing.
K'ronk runs out and casts fly, rising up into the sky with whisps of black smoke from the street following him, and he gets to the height of the rooftops and starts looking around.
Orryn the rogue gets outside too and notices one of the bodies on the ground, right near the entrance to the Alehouse, is a rock gnome. A burnt man is looking over him, but limps off when he sees he is beyond help. Orryn goes over to the body.
Nowhere goes to the kids and casts cure wounds on Jenks, who is hurt more than Nat, after seeing that Squiddly is being tended by Seraphina.
The halfling cleric of the Raven Queen uses cure wounds to heal little Squiddly who comes awake quickly. His eyes blink open and he looks around and yells angrily "My tavern!"
Renaer is holding Floon who is unconscious, when he lets out a bloodcurling scream. Floon's head splits open with a splash of blood, and from within his brain starts moving and writhing, but it is not a brain, it is an intellect devourer!
The creature takes several bloody steps and leaps out the window frame.
Renaer backpedals in horror, covered with blood. The kids are screaming too.
The four-legged brain leaps by Orryn, Atlas and Dain, and K'ronk spots it below, taking off down the street.
Immeral says "Lets get the kids to safety." and casts prestidigitation to clean up the blood and glass in the tavern.
Dain charges after the intelligence-eating brain and manages swing his axe, Bloodstorm the Great Axe of Gorm the Bloodletter, but the brain scrambles out of the way.
CAPTURE 18:40
A second slash catches the creature, it is wounded, but it continues running down the street and Dain follows, dodging through the crowd. It looks to be heading for a sewer grate.
Atlas moves after them both and with her graceful speed, catches the creature, trying to kick it, but it dodges around obstacles and pedestrians who scream out as the whistles of the city watch get louder. Atlas manages to dive at the creature and punch its jelly-like brain case, staggering it, but it moves on. Atlas reaches into her ki and drawing incredible speed, she leaps up and hits it with two unarmed strikes. The intellect devourer starts oozing blood and turning purple as it trys to limps away.
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K'ronk trusts his friends can handle the creature below and looks all around the rooftops.
He sees nothing obvious, but notices broken tiles on an otherwise perfect rooftop and flies over to investigate.
Nowhere does cure wounds again, this time on Nat as they shuffle the shaken kids up to their townhouse.
Renaer is sobbing in horror, he looks shell-shocked. Seraphina tries to console him, but there seems little she can do but get a tablecloth and cover the body.
As they walk the kids upstairs, confirming the house is not on fire, Nowhere reminds Immeral that Floon was kidnapped and they saw a mind flayer with intellect devours in the base in the sewers.
Immeral says "Oh my gods, he's been an intellect devourer the entire time!"
Renaer hears this and screams over and over in horror, realizing that he has been living with a monstrous imposter for months and Seraphina tries to settle him down.
Immeral moves to get the kids upstairs and remembers the note he took off the Zhentarim body inside the tavern. He opens it and reads it quickly "Follow the rock gnome. He has something valuable on him. Don't let him leave town with it. Work with Floxin and the Gralhunds." The note is only signed -M.
The street is clearing as people run into their homes and businesses but Dain is losing ground to the faster intellect devourer. It looks to be making a line for the sewer, so Dain pulls a javelin from his back and sends it up in a beautiful arc which pierces right through the top of the brainlike creature, impaling it. The javelin jams in between the cobbles standing nearly vertical and the devourer makes a final twitch before expiring. Onlookers scream as the City Watch gets to the street.
Atlas tries to see if there is anyone to help, but the first couple she looks at are clearly dead and burned.
Seeing that there is nothing that could save Floon short of a wish spell, Seraphina casts revivify on the rock gnome, Dalakhar, and he starts taking in air again as he is saved from the jaws of death.
Up in the air, a griffon rider, part of the City Guard commands K'ronk to "return to the street" as more griffon riders approach swiftly. The first lands in the street not far from Atlas.
K'ronk obeys the command, but in a final glance observes that the broken tiles look like a trail of something heavy which took great leaps across the roof, smashing tiles along the way. The trail leads off to the northeast across the rooftops. He looks with detect magic, but detects nothing.
The City Guard and City Watch take control of the street and the kids say they want to watch the griffon cavalry. "You can watch from upstairs" says Immeral. "We have glass to clean up."
Jenks says "look how crispy this dead guy is, it's A-Maze-Ing!"
Nowhere says "That's it, it's not safe here, upstairs everyone!"
"Eww look at that tattoo, he has hair on his chest" says Squiddly and Nat makes grossed out faces.
Squiddly says "I need my bow and arrow."
"No" says Immeral, Nowhere and Seraphina at the same time.
"Awwww!" whines Squiddly "we need to be ready to fight!"
Nowhere says "You can stay here, but only at the bar."
"OK" they agree and head over to and behind the bar, dragging stools.
Immeral and K'ronk cover the bodies with tablecloths.
Word comes in that there are eleven dead in the street and someone from Corellean's Crown passes out some healing potions to those wounded but still alive.
The League gathers in their broken doorway and watch as The Watch and City Guard start taking notes of the dead.
Just outside the tavern is the one male rock gnome wearing a scorched cloak and clutching a dagger.
One elderly female human
Two cloaked male humans wearing black leather armor and sheathed longswords
Two middle aged female humans and one male half elf dressed in servant clothes
Two female halflings with a burnt flute and a fiddle near them by two male halflings in dancing attire, obviously street performers.
Dalakhar is sitting up with Seraphina inside the tavern and starts getting to his feet.
"What happened?" he asks.
"Somebody killed you." says Seraphina.
"I died!" he says "Oh my head, my head hurts."
The lanceman from the City Guard says "Wait here for an investigator, that's an order!"
The League agrees, and Nowhere asks "can we wait inside?"
"Yes" he says, and starts ordering the City Watch to take up positions. Atlas hangs back outside to listen to the conversations happening.
The owner of Corelleon's Crown, Fala Lefaliir tells an investigator "I was watering plants in the greenhouse on the second floor of my shop when the blast blew out some of the windows. Lucky I wasn't injured! Through the smoke, I saw a cloaked man take something from the body of a dead gnome, then start limping away. He was badly burned and casting glances over his shoulder, like he was afraid someone might be following him. He was headed toward the Bent Nail."
A woman named Gezeren Hornraven who was leaving the Tiger's Eye (Vincent Trench investigations) is talking to a City Watcher and says distraughtly "I'm telling you it wasn't a man, it was more like a mannequin, a puppet without strings on the rooftop. It threw something at the Trollskull that exploded. I saw those halfling performers burned alive!" she breathes heavy and says "when I looked back, it was gone." She gets led to an investigator.
Immeral says to the others "a mechanical man, like the Nimblewright we met at the House of Inspired Hands."
The urchins start talking to another kid from down the street who wanders up to the shattered windows.
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Seth Cromley and Barnabus Blastwin arrive and start directing some twenty investigators to interview witnesses, and reminds them to "take prodigious notes". They then turn to the Three Urchins Alehouse and walk over. Atlas informs them, "there are two bodies inside." and they nod.
Barnabus Blastwind says "It seems you are attracting all the wrong sorts of attention these days miss Atlas."
The League lets them in and introduces soot-covered Dalakhar, informing them he died but was revivified, and pointing out the other two bodies. Seth Cromley writes furiously.
"Mr. Dalakhar, do you know any of the three men who were pursuing you?" Barnabus asks.
"No, no I don't, but I know I was being followed." he states. "Just not by three."
"Did you know that a fourth would try to assassinate you as you were moving towards the tavern? Your pursuers did not seem concerned since two of them died. The third managed to take something from you and get away, burned and limping."
"Take something?" He feels in his breast pocket. "Oh no!" he says, looking at Renaer.
"What did they take from you Mr. Dalakhar?" asks Barnabug.
It was a piece of artwork, something from Lord Neverember's estate that he asked me to bring to him. The Stone of Golorr.
"Artwork, I see." Barnabus sounds skeptical. "Let's get some other basics out of the way, why were you all here in the Alehouse."
Nowhere states "This building is our home too."
"It seems a bit early for ale and for all of you to be here." Barnabus states as another investigator looks through a complex brass and glass device at the bodies of Floon and the stranger with the black-winged snake tattoo.
Renaer through sobs states that he had arranged to meet here in the tavern early due to a sending message he had received from Dalakhar. Dalakhar nods, corroborating the story. "I thought it would be safe here."
"It wasn't!" shouts Renaer.
Nowhere interrupts. "The short of it is, the blast went off, we were all injured, the kids nearly died, and suddenly an intellect devourer breaks out from the skull of Renaer's companion Floon Blagmaar.
Dain says "I left the devourer in the street, but I would like my javelin back." He smiles at the investigator.
The investigator examining Floon with the brass devices states out loud "remnants of an abberation". He moves onto the second body.
Detective Barnabus seems nonplussed. Cromley just keeps taking notes.
"We can't even have an open casket!" cries Renaer.
The investigator says "no signs of magic on the second body, just a Zhent tattoo."
The rock gnome Dalakhar appears shell shocked at all this, remaining quiet. But as the questions turn to him he snaps out of it a bit and states "All I know is that Dagult Neverember asked me to get the Stone of Golorr, a piece of artwork from his old townhome. He gave me the keys to enter, I did startle Floon, but did not harm him - I just ran, and I have been pursued ever since. Someone must have been watching the townhome, that's when they started following me, and that's how I knew Renear was in danger and wanted to meet in safe space."
"Why did Lord Neverember ask you to do this?" asks Blastwind.
"I had worked for Renaer's father years ago. He asked me to hold onto a note before he was run out of Waterdeep, and to not give it to him for three years. That three years was last week, and so I just recently delivered it to him in Neverwinter. When he read it, it seemed to jog his memory of something. He immediately asked me to retrieve the stone. He gave me the key to Renaer's townhome and a small pouch of gold for the effort - that's all I know." shares the rock gnome. "I have no idea what it does, it isn't even magic."
Blastwind asks "What does this stone look like?"
"It looks like an oval loaf of bread about a foot long but colored sea green, with three black almond-shaped gems set in down the front."
Renaer cries "Everything that man touches is destroyed! I want nothing to do with him, but I am cursed by his name. He has ruined our reputation, he abandoned his family, now he has killed my Floon!" He sobs heavily and leans on K'ronk.
Blastwind waits for him to calm and asks another question. Mr. Neverember, what do you know of this item, this Stone of Golorr?
Through tears Renaer states "I thought it was just a piece of artwork. My father said it was important to my mother and to never get rid of it. But like everything else he says, it was likely a lie."
Immeral reaches into his pocket and says "this note was near the dead body with the flying snake tattoo. I didn't want it lost when we cleaned up the glass." and he hands it over. Barnabus gives a bit of a glare, but accepts it. He opens it and shows it to Cromley. "The Gralhunds" Cromley says and then turns to Immeral, "It would have been better to keep the crime scene intact." then goes back to writing. Immeral says nothing.
"Where will you be staying Mr. Dalakhar?"
He replies "I have nowhere to go, although I can get a room at an inn."
"You can stay with me." Says Renaer, you can help me clean up this mess you and my father have created. I'll have a funeral to plan." and he cries some more. "Plus I don't want to be alone."
"We can supply a few guards." says Nowhere.
Just then, some of the City Watch investigators come in and report that the man seen taking something from the body of Dalakhar was gone. He was burned, limping and was wearing a smoldering trenchcoat. There look to have been three Zhents and three members of The Eye all trailing Dalakhar, then whomever was on the rooftop cast fireball at them all. It's not clear what it was, or who it was aligned with if it was willing to kill them all.
Over behind the bar, the urchins whisper to each other and Jenks motions for Squiddly to "shhhhhh" and returns to listening. Their actions are noticed by The League, but not by the constables.
One of the investigators carries in a javelin and Dain raises a hand and says "That's mine." and examines that it has been cleaned. Nowhere asks "Can we keep the dead intellect devourer?"
"What would you do with such a thing?" Barnabus asks. Nowhere looks around at the monsterous trophies on the walls of the Alehouse and says "I'm thinking pickle jar."
The detective shakes his head and showing exasperation for the first time, Barabus whispers "adventurers" then tells the investigators to take the conversation outside. They turn to The League and add "thank you for your information and cooperation. None of you are free to leave Waterdeep until this investigation is over. We will have this case resolved in no time. Trust the Watch."
As they leave, Jidjack and his mercenaries can be seen trying to get to the Alehouse, but members of The Watch prevent them from getting near. A covered wagon arrives for the bodies of the dead and they go to the undertaker, setting off Renaer's sobs again.
More prestidigitation is cast to clean up the last bit of mess from the removal of the bodies.
Once the streets are open to regular traffic, Jidjack and team rush in. "Is there anything we can do?"
"Help us get this place boarded up." Nowhere says. "Then Renaer and his friend Dalakhar will need some guards. Floon has been killed, perhaps twice." Jidjack looks at him quizzically as Renaer starts sobbing again.
Astoundingly, glassmakers, woodworkers and other trades are already soliciting for repairs and 50 gold pieces quickly leaves the Alehouse safe for repairs to the tavern and that sets those men and women in motion.
Renaer questions Dalakhar angrily about the events and asks what is the true purpose of this stone.
Dalakhar says "I truly don't know, but it must somehow be related to the million dragoons he embezzled. I can't think of anything else that would attract the attention of murderers and assassins like we have seen. It must be a key of some sort. Our lives are in grave danger until this gold is found. We don't have any leverage without that stone, but I don't know how we can find it if the City Watch can't."
K'ronk says "If the creature that shot the fireball was a nimblewright, and that's what it sounded like from witnesses, we have seen one - at the House of Inspired Hands. Hopefully that one was not the assassin."
"There are other nimblewrights too." says Squiddly. "Captain Zardoz Zord has some. There are some on his boats. He has like three boats in the harbor. He must be rich. The nimblewrights are really cool."
Jenks says "They're a-maze-ing!" Nat does some mad signaling and Squiddly replies "Yeah, he is a bit creepy. But he runs that cool fair."
"Yeah, the Sea Maiden's Faire!" Jenks replies.
Squiddly adds "I think we missed the fair though. Darn it! Daggerford is not as fun as Waterdeep!"
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A woman passes by the open windows as woodworkers prepare to board them up temporarily. She signals to Atlas a secret sign of The Order of the Gauntlet. Atlas waves her in and introduces her friends. The woman introduces herself as Savra Belabranta, but doesn't say much else, perhaps expecting that Atlas will get them alone to talk.
Atlas tells Savra that her friends can hear anything she has to say. Savra nods and but first asks "Are you still pledged to the destruction of evil and evildoers?" and Atlas tells her that she is, in the name of Mizar the Just, and that her companions fight with her.
Savra takes her at her word and begins "You must proceed cautiously. There is a gang war going on in the city. Normally the Order of the Gauntlet would intervene and fight these evil criminal gangs, but they are doing our work for us - killing each other. We just have to wait for a victor and then we can act.
Atlas looks at Savra with concern, but she continues. "It has become clear that The Eye will stop at nothing to gain control of the city's criminal enterprise. The Zhents are the lesser of two evils, if there is such a thing, but once they are gone we can deal with The Eye, but it makes little sense to get in-between them now.
"The intellect devourer is the sort of thing we have seen from The Eye. They will do anything to gain the upper hand."
Atlas replies "I know that it may not be in The Order's best interest to interfere, but we also might end up having civilians getting hurt if we just stand by and let this go on. Obviously this is not our fight, and we should stay off to the side, but if civilians start getting hurt, then wait and see is something that I couldn't agree with."
"We'll keep in touch" Savra says, and she gives Atlas a drop-box location for messages. "Should you need help, but be very careful."
When Savra leaves, Jenks says "Marty knows where the burnt guy went with the stone."
Immeral says "Who in the hells is Marty?"
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Squiddly says "Marty's a kid from down the street. He came up to us after the blast. The cops never talk to kids. They're so stupid."
Atlas laughs "That's true."
Immeral asks "Alright, do you wanna invite your friend over so we can find out more?"
Nat starts signing and Squiddly translates "Um, no. He's probably stuck at home now because parents lock kids down when bad things happen. They're so stupid."
Immeral continues "Did did he say specifically where he saw? So that way we don't even have to ask him."
Jenks continues "Yeah, he knew the guy. He said he's seen the guy at the Gralhund villa. His dad is a butcher and makes deliveries there. Marty says the guy is mean and ugly."
Squiddly adds "He's probably more ugly with that burnt face!" and he laughs.
Immeral adds "The note on the Zhent mentioned working with the Gralhunds."
The workmen start pulling up with carts of boards and start enclosing the broken windows, stating that it will be a day or two before glass arrives, unless they want to help things go faster. The 50 gold fee quickly turns to 100 gold for "expedited" service and they promise the glass by tomorrow.
Immeral turns to Jidjack, but says "OK kids, you bring Renaer and Dalakhar upstairs and keep them safe. Get Dalakhar going on a bath, he's a little scorched. Don't open the townhouse for anyone but us."
K'ronk asks "How is your head, Dalakhar?"
He responds "I'm a mess. I need to lay down. Ohh, dying is not easy."
They all head up and Jidjack and the security team follow behind.
Guy Pisgetti the cook barges in from the kitchen entrance and exclaims "What's going on! My tavern?"
"Your tavern?" The League all says.
"When you put me in charge, it's my tavern. Should we still make lunch? Someone will be around for those handwiches, they were a big hit." says Guy.
Immeral says "Make food for the workers and as a show of good faith in the community, bring some food around to the neighbors."
"I'm on it!" Pisgetti exclaims, "I just want to grill!" happy to cook.
Nowhere says "We have a few avenues we could pursue. We can go to the Gralhund Villa and try to find scarface and get this stone. We can investigate the nimblewright to see who blew our crap up, either back at the House of Inspired Hands or this Zord guy."
K'ronk adds, "then we have the mess with the intellect devourer. Renaer could be one. Dalakhar could be one."
Immeral says "I don't think detect magic would work. I don't know how to detect one."
K'ronk says "the investigator said he detected presence of an abberation".
Nowhere says "Seraphina you should go buy some diamonds at the jeweler next door. I have a feeling that we might need a few in our pocket in the coming days for the revivify spell." The halfling cleric nods and goes to the safe in the office and pulls out the equivalent of a thousand gold. "Be right back." she says "come up with a plan."
Nowhere continues "We should investigate the nimblewright during the day. Leave the villa incursion for tonight."
Immeral and the others agree. They call up to Jidjack and he comes down.
Atlas tells him. We're going out for some investigating. Keep the upstairs in lockdown except for the tavern. Let Guy make food and be happy, but don't let him distract you. Jidjack nods and says "We may need more people, and we may need to move closer. We have an apartment a few blocks away, but we can offer better protection if we are nearby. There are a few properties for sale on the street, but you're talking 10,000 gold in this neighborhood. Maybe Frewn's will be for sale!"
Nowhere says "We'll think about it. In the meantime keep an eye on Renaer and Dalakhar, we don't know where those intellect devourers may be hiding." Jidjack's eyes go wide, but he nods, goes up, and locks the door at the top of the spiral stairs from the tavern office.
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The Owlbear League heads out from their tavern, and almost immediately a person lands in front of them, having flown down from above. It is someone they recognize, the Blackstaff of Waterdeep, Vajra Safahr.
CAPTURE: P2 40:00
Vajra, not one to waste works says "Step back inside please. We don't need an audience." as people gawk nervously, including the remaining City Watch.
"The fireball at your doorstep is the debt of Dagault Neverember coming due. I think you know by now that a million gold Dragons disappeared over a decade from the Waterdeep treasury under Dagault's watch."
She continues "I've been interrogating the recently deceased from the fireball. Members of the Zhents and the Xanathar were both following the rock gnome."
K'ronk says "I'm so stupid. I have an amulet of the dead."
Vajra continues "It seems clear now that somehow Dagault purged his memories of the stolen gold, and now this stone holds the key. I do not know how that could work, so it's nature is curious to me. But I digress. When Floon bumped into Dalakhar stealing the stone, the rock gnome ran off. But he doesn't know how he was tracked. It seems obvious now that Floon had been replaced with an intellect devourer who was reporting to someone."
It's not yet clear who owns the intellect devourer, but there are spies upon spies within all these organizations. So word quickly spread. Catch Dalakhar and you might have the key to a million gold."
The City Watch will not want you involved. But I would not go so far as to say that. If that gold gets into the wrong hands, it's not clear what effect it could have on Waterdeep. The gold belongs to the citizens of this city and Laurel Silverhand, the open Lord of Waterdeep, wants the treasure returned. We expect if you learn anything of the gold you will report it to me personally at Blackstaff Tower. Is that clear?"
"Yes Blackstaff" says Immeral.
K'ronk asks "Has there been any leads before? It is such a huge amount of gold."
The Blackstaff answers "The investigations that were done three years ago were fruitless. Even being questioned under magical influence, Dagault, his son Renaer and all of his office and home staff turned up nothing. They knew nothing of the gold or its location."
K'ronk says "Do you think it would be fair to assume that this gold is hidden away by magic?"
The Blackstaff replies "There must have been some way to hide it tied to the magic of this Stone of Golorr unless this is all a horrible misunderstanding about a curio. But the gold has never turned up under any scrying or similar spells. It may not even be on this plane of existence. It doesn't even matter if this Stone of Golorr is the key or not. If the word is out, every evil organization in the city will try to get their hands on it."
Immeral says "Have you learned anything more about the source of the fireball?"
Nowhere adds "If it wasn't by either of these major crime factions, the Zhents or the Eye, who was it?"
Vajra said "That is unclear."
Nowhere states "We are going to start there, with some inquiries about nimblewrights."
Vajra says "I don't really want to know your next move, but The City Watch is on the lookout for nimblewrights too. Consider sharing what you learn with me. I unfortunately cannot promise to share back, but I will certainly not get in your way. Stay safe, keep your family safe."
She doesn't wait until they reply, she turns and flies off.
Nowhere asks "How do we know she isn't an intellect devour too?"
Immeral replies "She didn't really want to know our next move, so that is a good sign, but we can't be sure who to trust."
CAPTURE P2 49:30
K'ronk says "I really don't need any more paranoia after Baazka and the succubus." The others nod, and they head out into the streets of Waterdeep.
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They stroll down the frigid streets of wintery Waterdeep to the House of Inspired Hands, in the Sea Ward. K'ronk is excited to see priestess Valetta, a dragonborn like himself that he has a growing an amorous interest in. As always the temple of Gond is busy like no other church with all sorts of invention and construction going on.
They notice the model of a clock tower made of wood, iron, bronze and glass that rings as the first hour of the afternoon arrives. There is a flying machine circling overhead on a thin wire. A machine resembling a dragon turtle sits on a pedestal and makes lifelike movements of its head, hands and legs, but it is obviously a construct.
They inquire of Priestess Valetta, and in short order she is summoned. She walks right up to K'ronk and seems very happy to see him, and the rest of The League.
"I hope you are well friend K'ronk. It has been too long. How can I help you all."
K'ronk asks "Besides wanting to see you again, we would like to know if Nim is here?"
"Nim, why yes, he is actually confined to his living areas. He has hurt some bystanders with more inventions and is being punished."
Immeral asks "Can we see him."
The League pauses a moment and then Nowhere informs Valetta "A nimblewright sort of blew up our tavern this morning."
"What?" she says, and now she notices the small scars from flying glass that several of The League have. She examines K'ronk most closely and casts cure wounds to heal his scratches. "Do any of you need healing?" she asks, but the rest decline. "How do you think Nim can help?"
Nowhere says "We just need to learn more about nimblewrights. Perhaps get a clue to where ours ran off to."
Valetta takes them up to Nim's tower. She knocks and states "Nim, you have visitors" then opens the door and his room is revealed to be a very densely packed workshop with all sorts of materials, tools and mechanisms. The nimblewright steps forward sheepishly.
Valetta reminds them that Nim has difficulty communicating, but they go on.
Nowhere speaks "Hello again Nim, we were wondering if you could help us. Earlier today a nimblewright launched a fireball at our tavern."
Nim pantomimes distress and upset.
"We were wondering if nimblewrights can be mind controlled?"
Nim signs to Valetta then runs off, and she says "I don't think he knows about mind control, but he does know that constructs can be controlled or be made with a purpose, even evil ones. He says he has something for you."
He comes back with a device, hands it to K'ronk and signs again for Valetta. "Having been lost and discovered by our church bretheren, Nim does not know where he came from or where his people are. If there are any. He has fashioned this device to detect nimblewrights like him in order to try to find his kind.
Nim signs through Valetta. "It will spin faster if pointed in the direction of a nimblewright, but it only works a short distance, maybe five hundred feet. He never found anyone like him with it, but he knows it works because it can detect him, but he has removed that ability so as not to confuse the device. You may borrow it."
"He would like to meet any nimblewrites as long as they are not bad. I know I am bad sometimes." Valetta frowns.
Nowhere says "You're doing a very good thing right now. Good things can make up for mistakes. I try to do a lot of good things because I kill people a lot."
Valetta and Nim look at her strangely, and The League quickly departs with thanks. Valetta says "I hope to see you again soon." clearly meaning K'ronk.
Nowhere says during their departure "you know who would be good at tracking down this gold? Clinker.
Dain says "I need to ask Nim something." he runs back for a moment and is back in no-time. The others wonder what he is up to, but don't ask.
Returning to their boarded-up townhome, K'ronk again flies up to the rooftops and takes a more thorough investigation of the tiles, little new information emerges from his investigation, except that the footprints match the shape of Nims constructed feet. A worker is already up top repairing the tiles in the cold winter air.
He tries the nimblewright detector and finds none, at least within its range. Returning down to The League, they decide to head down to the Dock Ward and meet this fellow Zardoz Zord.
As The League arrives at the docks, the nimblewright detector starts spinning. The detector seems to indicate there are nimblewrights on two ships a short distance away on the long docs. They approach and see that one ship is called Heartbreaker and the other is called Hellraiser.
The League notices there's some really good looking crew on these boats. Handsome men and beautiful women, abnormally so. They see The League approaching and in a very friendly manner one says "how can I help you?" K'ronk tucks away the nimblewright detector which is reacting madly.
Immeral says "Greetings, we have a strange question. We're looking for nimblewrights"
"Ohh, well, are you in the market for one? I could have you speak to Zardoz. My name is Creena, I run the Sea Maiden's Faire, I really don't have anything to do with the constructs."
Nowhere replies, "we would love to speak with him."
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Creena answers "he's actually out on his boat, the Eye Catcher, but we could have you rowed out if you'd like." she points to the boat not far away.
Nowhere looks at the others and says "Sure, if it's not too much trouble."
Creena replies "We'll just send a signal and confirm."
The crew has some sort of method of communicating with hooden lanterns and in no time they get a response that Captain Zord would enjoy to have an early dinner with them, and The League agrees.
The beautiful crew brings some rowboats to bring you out to the Eyecatcher. It's a gloomy day and cold on the water, but the sea is placid.
During the row over K'ronk says "We have a history of dinners going horribly wrong."
Suprisingly positive, Immeral says "We can try to make this one go right."
One of the beautiful sailors informs The League that "Captain Zardoz is a little eccentric, especially in his attire. He really believes that one should always feel the environment on their skin."
Immeral whispers to the others "So he's a nudist."
"Just wait and see." replies Nowhere.
Upon the Eyecatcher, they are brought to the dining room and welcomed in by Captain Zord.
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Zord's attire is a sight to behold, basically a diaper of red fabric to cover his genitals and twin belts that criss-cross his chest with many holders for some substance or items. A fancy rapier hangs from his belt.
"Welcome to the Eyecatcher" he says. "Please come in and partake. Wine perhaps?"
Dain says "I like wine." and some of the others indulge, although Immeral sticks to tea.
They sit and friendly introductions are exchanged.
CAPTURE P2 1:15:25
The dining cabin is bedecked with golden filigree, the purple curtains festooned with silken tassels, the wood paneling scented with perfume. A magnificent feast laid out on golden platters sprawls atop a mahogany table of exquisite craftsmanship. Even the doilies are something to behold.
He turns to Nowhere "Leg or wing?" he says, maybe a bit suggestively. "Wing" says Nowhere, not biting.
"I understand you're interested in nimblewrights" Zord brings up.
"Yes, well there's a bit of a story." says Nowhere. "Have you been to the former Trollskull Tavern? Now called the Three Urchins Alehouse?"
"I can't say that I have." says Zord, listening intently. "I travel up and down the coast. I spend most of my time in Luskan."
"OK, well, that's our Tavern. It's brand new. It's great. It's doing very well." Nowhere states.
"Congratulations." and Zardoz toasts your business.
"I assume you know the story of Lord Dagault Neverember and all the gold that he embezzled."
"Oh yes, yes. Everyone up and down the Sword Coast would love to know where all those dragons went. Including myself! Dagault is still followed like a celebrity in Neverwinter. As if the coins will fall out of his purse."
Nowhere continues "Well, Rainier is his son, and Floon Blagmaar is Floon's companion. They were meeting us this morning in our tavern, and as they were visiting, a fireball was launched off the roof across from our building and exploded in our doorway."
"By the gods!" Zord says
"There were men chasing an associate of Renaers we were going to meet. A dozen were killed in the street, we were hurt, our kids were hurt, and Floon was killed. Basically, we have gathered that it was a nimblewright that launched the fireball. So we came to ask about nimblewrights and if they're able to cast magic spells, you're you're obviously an expert."
"Here, let's bring one out." says Zord, concern on his face, and he claps twice. This is "Finnis".
From an adjacent cabin comes a nimblewright, looking very much like Nim. Very, very similar, just with slightly different attire.
Zord says "We've been trying to form a market here for more nimblewrights as servants. You know, servants are sometimes tough to keep. I don't know if you've had problems keeping good people."
Immeral starts saying "We just lost our entire wait staff. They.... weren't very good."
Zord replies "Exactly! You might consider nimblewright, they're great listeners, but they don't speak."
K'ronk says "If they can't speak, they can't cast most spells, many have a verbal component."
Zardoz says "I have never heard of a speaking nimblewright or one that commands magic. They could potentially use a magic item though, but I'm not sure they have enough 'soul' to attune to one."
Immeral and K'ronk think about this. "There is a lot we don't know about how the nimblewright thinks. Like can someone read its thoughts?"
Zord says "They can think, but I don't think its thoughts are like other creatures. Maybe you can talk to one of the owners and learn more, I am sure they will give my nimblewrights an endorsement. If I am to be honest, we have only sold one in the city so far."
"Can we ask who purchased the one?" asks Immeral.
Zord thinks for a second. "Normally I would not disclose a customer's information, but it's obvious that a serious crime has occurred and I want to cooperate in any way I can so that we avoid the attention of the authorities. Plus they didn't ask for confidentiality, so... it was the Cassalantars. Amelia and Vitorio. They took possession a couple months ago."
The League recognizes the Cassalantar names. They are a well-to-do family in the North Ward. They just were at the Three Urchins Alehouse grand opening, they own the bank on Saurdoun street, they seem well connected. Why would they have a nimblewright chasing Dalakhar?
Nowhere mentions "Amelia is the one who had the strange reaction to the urchins back in the fall, and then again at our grand opening. I wonder if there's a chance she is Squiddly's mother."
Immeral adds "I'm sure it would be a scandal, they're socialites and don't want to be known as, you know, the human family that gave birth to a tiefling. Humans give birth to tieflings when they are particularly evil or cursed. I can imagine it would be disturbing seeing your child that you thought you dumped somewhere a few years ago and left for dead running around."
Zord is listening intently and adds "They are having a big celebration in a few nights, their annual charity meal, they open their home up, at least their carriage house, to the poor for a meal. They mentioned wanting to have the nimblewright serve."
K'ronk asks "How do you differentiate the nimblewrights?"
Zord says "They are cut from the same cloth so-to-speak, so they are hard to differentiate. We would recommend different attire for each if we were selling someone more than one. Unfortunately sales are not that good yet."
K'ronk asks "Do they show emotions?" and Zord says "I don't believe they do."
Immeral probes "But is there any way the display individuality?"
Zardoz says "They follow orders implicitly, so no. But nimblewrights are aligned to one or more owners. We take great care in this, otherwise they could be stolen."
K'ronk asks "Could they be magically aligned to another?"
Zord says "I think not, but anything is possible in this world."
K'ronk goes on "Could I try to cast a sending spell on Finnis? I want to see if it can receive a magical message and communicate."
Zardoz says "For helping solve a crime, certainly."
K'ronk turns to Finnis and says "Finnis, please try to respond to me in thought."
The nimblewright's head tilts in curiosity.
K'ronk casts the spell and sends the message "Finnis, this is K'ronk, how has your day been?"
There is a response, but it is in an incomprehensible language, a chittering-like noise, a stream of clicks and whirrs that don't have any human meaning.
K'ronk says "I'm not getting anything I understand. It's indecipherable."
So I take it you aren't in the market for a nimblewright?" asks Zord.
Nowhere says "Not at this time, no, but perhaps in the future, we have to rebuild a tavern. Are they good with children?"
"I understand. If you come around to a purchase, they would be in the neighborhood of sixty thousand gold." Zord tells them.
"Yikes!" says Immeral.
"I would ask that if the information I have given you does play out, please share that Zardoz Zord was a part of keeping Waterdeep's safe for everyone. I'm trying to enhance my standing in the community."
Immeral says "Your help is greatly appreciated. As is this wonderful dinner."
At this point they pay more attention to the meal and The League learns more about the Sea Maiden's Faire, the water-traveling carnival and how they winter in Luskan.
The meal ends and Zords staff takes The League back to the docks and bids them good evening.
Along the way back to their townhouse they had discussed a plan. The League will stay back at the townhouse, while Immeral goes to the Gralhund villa in the ethereal plane. Orryn will go there too borrowing K'ronk's ring of invisibility and find out what might be going on there.
They wait until full dark and Immeral leaves the prime material plane from his room, donning the cloak of stars, and heads out in that mirror universe. He follows Orryn who walks the cold streets of Waterdeep down Saerdoun street until he reaches Pony Way. There, Orryn dons the ring of invisiblity, and only his footsteps in the snow give his position away for Immeral to trace.
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The Gralhund villa takes up much of the block between Saerdown and Horn street. It is primarily a two-story, L-shaped structure with twelve foot tall walls extending to encompass a compound of several buildings which can be seen from the street. Trees can be seen over the wall, indicating a yard where a gate allows entry and exit from the north side of the compound. The main house has no obvious entrances at street level. Entrance must be through the main gate. At the southeast corner of the villa is what looks to be a couch house, with a great sliding door to the street. There is also a 1 story building that is abutting the main house, but the purpose of which is not clear. Strangely, there are no windows facing the street, only a large balcony with an iron railing overlooking the yard with a single door to the interior.
Orryn walks around to the gates on the north side and notices through the bars that a fresh coat of snow would give his position away. Additionally, a pair of guards patrols the courtyard.
Using his boots of striding and springing, Orryn leaps up to the top of the wall, making sure when he lands move his feet, disturbing extra snow and not leave obvious footprints. He then leaps up to the rooftop and makes his way across the eastern edge of the building until he is above a covered balcony (G17) and he can swing underneath.
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The balcony is strangely short on windows too, with only a pair of windowed doors providing a view, and no one is looking out them to spot the rogue gnome.
There are some sitting chairs covered with a dusting of snow that has come through the bars of the fanciful wrought iron railing. Within the glass doors can be seen a master bedroom with a fireplace. There are people speaking within the bedroom.
There is a woman wearing a fine, ornate breastplate, armed with a rapier. Next to her stands a likely bodyguard, a well-dressed half-orc. A portrait of the woman and a shorter man hangs on a wall over the fireplace.
The woman is aggravated, upset at something, but it is hard to make out exactly what.
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Meanwhile Immeral, seeing Orryn make it up to the balcony decides to enter the building. He passes through the wall next to the gate and finds himself in a library (G12).
The wood-paneled library includes tall bookshelves packed with tomes. There are sliding wooden ladders mounted on rails to access the higher books. In the corner stands an iron lectern with a closed, locked, leather-bound tome resting on it.
Two padded chairs face a large fireplace. One has a wolf skin draped over it.
Intrigued by the library, but wanting to move on, Immeral proceeds down a hallway, and see the next room (G11) is a study. A 10-foot-square canvas wrestling mat is sprawled on the floor in the middle of the room.
Velvet armchairs, small statues of naked men on pedestals, and tall mahogany bookshelves are arranged neatly around the room.
A mahogany desk in one corner doesn't look like it sees much use.
Moving on, Immeral finds himself in the mirror image of a great hall, and there are some guards in this hallway standing by the southernmost room (G9). The sounds of yelling are coming from the room, but the guards pay no attention.
"I demand you let me out of here!" exclaims the voice, "Tell Yalah she can't lock me up this way. Zhents don't treat each other this way!"
Immeral passes through the wall into a parlor where dainty chairs, a chaise lounge, a wine cabinet, and an angry man reside. The man has burns across half his face and scorched clothing.
He yells again "Let me out I say!" and he bangs on the locked doors to no avail. "You turn on the black network and they'll kill your whole family! You guards better think about what sort of hell will come down on you!"
Immeral takes a quick look at the other rooms nearby. A den and trophy room (G10) is empty, and he moves on.
Meanwhile Orryn is growing cold on the balcony. He has learned that the woman's name is Yalah Gralhund, and she does most of the talking. There is some argument about what to do about someone named Urstul.
He curses that the building is like a fortress, with no windows and the chimneys all spewing smoke from fires. Orryn notices below one of the guards walks the grounds with two mastiffs who sniff the air, but luckily Orryn is far enough up and downwind. He decides he will leave as soon as the guard clears the entrance.
Immeral continues to go through rooms on the first floor, finding a kitchen, a pantry, and a laundry room. None of which have anyone of interest within.
When the guard gets far past the entrance, Orryn makes his move back up to the rooftop, but then spies the gate opening. A squad of humanoids in black garb and drawn swords enter the grounds. They sneak up behind the guard and dogs and with narely a bark, kills them. They close the gate behind them, and head to the house.
Orryn stays invisible on the rooftop, and when the intruders head for the main house, he leaps down off the roof onto the high walls of the estate, then down to the street and runs for the nearest City Watch.
Inside the Gralhund Villa, Immeral watches the guards charge in and start fighting and killing the guards watching the captured burnt man. They quickly release the man, and he pulls his sword and yells "Orond and Yalah have the stone and are pulling a double-cross! Kill them and get the stone! They must be taking it to The Eye!"
A battle ensues as guards from above and other parts of the house start battling with the black-clothed men. There seems to be a great many more guards for the Gralhunds that a normal aristocratic family would need. Every hall has a battle, every room has a fight, and the Gralhund villa quickly turns into a blood-soaked battlefield.
If it were not for the fact that Immeral was observing from the ethereal plane. He would not long survive in the hall. He moves to see the action on the second floor and finds a lady and her bodyguard fighting some of the black-clad Zhents. She yells to her guard "Hrabbaz! Get me to the Orond! We have to get the stone to The Xanathar!"
They start fighting their way through the landing of the second floor (G13) and get into a short hallway (G15a) with a privet at one end. "Orond!" she yells. Let us in!"
"Yes my love!" calls a voice barricaded in the room to the south (G15B). As the man in the room works to open the door, a strange thumping sound can be heard in the distance. It gets closer, and louder, and harder and faster, and Immeral observes from his hidden dimension, a nimblewright in green garb race up the stairs, leaping over combatants with superhuman speed and agility.
The crazed automaton, which looks much like Nim knocks combatants out of the way and tackles Lady Yalah Gralhund, taking her to the floor. Her guard Hrabbaz swings his sword at the construct, but it clanks off. The nimblewright tears off Yalah's breastplate and out falls an object.
The object is the size of a loaf of bread and green like ocean foam. It must be the Stone of Golorr.
For a moment it sits on the ground on the rug of the Gralhund villa as Orond finally gets the door open, but the nimblewright pays him no mind. It dives at the stone just as Hrabbaz swings again, and tumbles away with the stone in its clutches.
It dives over the stair railing and swiftly knocks over the remaining combatants to run free into the night.
Immeral gives pursuit from the ethereal plane, but the nimblewright is incredibly fast, twice Immeral's speed, quickly is gone into the streets of Waterdeep, onlookers screetching to get out of its way.
Knowing he can't beat the construct, but knowing where he might be heading, Immeral removes the robe of stars and appears back in his room at the townhouse.
Whistles from the City Watch can be heard approaching the Gralhund.
sOrryn gets back to the Alehouse and tell The League what he had seen, including the fact that he had told the City Watch that black-clad men with swords were rushing into the Gralhund. They take him very seriously and raise a squad, an investigator taking his name and info and saying "Thank you, citizen."
Immeral brings him up to speed on everything he had seen, and that the Stone was in possession of the nimblewright and it likely was heading back to the Cassalantars.
NEXT - CAMPAIGN JOURNAL - 63 In Search of a Nimblewright
This adventure used material from the D&D Module "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist".
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