Embedded Files
Campaign Journal 75 - Ahmaergo's Desires
PREVIOUSLY - CAMPAIGN DIARIES 75 - A PLAN OF ATTACK
The Owlbear League, having killed a Yuan-Ti lich and grabbed its phylactery and its small horde of treasure, leaves the basement of the Dizzy Drake. The death of the lich has freed the proprietor from the shackles of blackmail from the evil creature. The League discusses what to do about Chorin, the tavern owner who led innocents to die at the hands of the lich, but was under life-threatening thrall to it. They believe they can use the Dizzy Drake as a safehouse if needed, but they need to likely pay him a share of the treasure to keep his business afloat.
They leave the basement into an empty bar...
K'ronk talks to his fellow dragonborn, and says "we were successful in our endeavors"
Choren looks incredulously upon them all, "You've lifted a great weight off my shoulders" and he starts sobbing. "How can I ever repay you?"
Nowhere pulls out a handful of some 50gp and says. "This should help you get back on your feet, and hopefully regain your business."
Now he really starts sobbing "You can drink here free for life!" Dain immediately goes behind the bar and pours himself some Wormwizz.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gUxdkRYd4JztIetGqRhgk4j_5hyK3O_V35kL5XFbKtWdhOcP4g9BAQWogVXeh0F9af-Sw_CphRVk_XOyISd_Z2LRDnoxCE8srXtwvj8L8jPZ40WFtYHqV3DU9KIlZ8HYYw=w1280
Nowhere states "Don't tell anyone where you got this gold."
"Never" he says "The heartless Xanathar would take it if they knew." as he slips the money into a chest under the bar.
CAPTURE 35:00
Atlas says "Not even your friends." and he nods in agreement.
Immeral says "We need information on the Xanathar."
Chorin starts spewing off various well-known facts about the Xanathar, but they have heard much of it before. He knows that Thorvin the engineer hangs out at Clockwork Wonders. He states that he has seen N'arl leaving often from the Guts and Garters, so he must stay there, and often goes to dine at the Worm's Gullet. He knows the most about Noska the enforcer:
He likes the bat flights at The Bat's Roost
He also frequents the 'mud' wrestling at the Bruised Blade
Noska also likes the fighting and gambling at the Thrown Gauntlet
He is known to recruit fighters for the gladiator tournaments in the Xanathar lair, but it is by invitation only
He also comes out of the Guts and Garters a lot, so maybe lives there too.
They pass the angry minotaur howling and shitting in the street near The Deepfires Inn. Enter the inn, and split off for a few hours rest, agreeing to reconvene at lunch.
The League looks at each other.
He starts talking about Sundeth too, that Sundeth tortures people in the Tower of Woe on Skull Island, and that he guards the deliveries that descend from the Grand Hoist to Skull Island. Sundeth resides in a room at the top of the Tower of Woe, guarded by gargoyles.
Immeral says "Let's go rest a bit." and the others agree to a short rest.
At the conclusion of lunch, a well-mannered page arrives from the front desk of the inn.
"Sirs and madams you have a visitor in the lounge, a local woman who begs an audience."
They look to each other, and fearing who this might be, rise together, leaving generous coin for their tab and going to the lounge. It turns out to be Ulvira, the formerly drunken pet shop keeper. They take a quiet corner together and she presents them with a gift, a fresh loaf of ripplebark bread.
"I want to thank you for your kindness." she says as she places the loaf before them. "I have not been myself lately, ever since my son Alwynn was imprisoned by the Xanathar. He was caught setting loose a prisoner in Skull Square and has been taken to the Tower of Woe to be tortured."
She adds "We don't have much money, but could pay you in pet food if you need."
They all thank her, and she states she would be returning to The Guts and Garters to rest.
K'ronk says "I would like to go to the smokepowder shop before our 'encounter'."
The others agree since they have time to kill. Asking around, they find it is called "The Brigadeer's Broadside" (59) and wander on the catwalks of the second level of Skullport to find the establishment.
This dimly lit, mysterious shop has a weathered wooden sign of a cauldron billowing smoke. Inside are shelves with various alchemical ingredients and counters showcasing various forms of smokepowder weaponry.
Behind the counter stands the shop's proprietor, a wizened gnome named Grimble Sparkfizz. With a monocle perched on his nose, a gun in his belt, and a perpetual sneer on his face, Grimble asks without warmth, "How may I help you?"
His nimble fingers are always busy, tinkering with parts of one of the intricate devices.
K'ronk begins "We're interested in smokepowder weaponry."
"I have good news and bad news fine sirs and madams, we have plenty of weaponry, as you can see" and he passes a hand over his stock, but we lack any smokepowder at present."
The League disappointingly looks over the weapons priced from 125 to 1500 gold pieces.
"Thorvin has taken all my smokepowder for some sort of project for the Xanathar, and I will be out of stock until at least next week." says Grimble "I have never been out of smokepowder in our history."
K'ronk looks over the intricate devices with amazement, and eyes a large weapon on the wall with a sign "Volley Gun $1500 gold" and Grimble says, this is a weapon for someone very sturdy. This would knock you on your ass and maybe hurt someone nearby.
K'ronk is saddened.
"Which would you recommend?" he asks the proprietor.
"Well tall fellow, the serpent gun packs a kick but not as bad as some, works at short range, 30 feet - maybe 60, but would be hard to hit anything. It shoots small pellets - those I can give you, but it packs a hell of a kick. It has a chance to misfire - maybe a one in a hundred chance, and would need servicing after that (if you still have your hand). "
"What about the Dragon gun?"
"That's about the heaviest you could handle. It's a hand cannon. It's $750 gold."
K'ronk negotiates him down to $700, and Grindle states "come in next week and I'll have the smokepowder!"
K'ronk looks over his new weapon with amazement, then tucks it away. The League moves on.
The Owlbear League discusses plans for the upcoming attack on Ahmaergo. Immeral discusses letting Syldan (currently in snake form) into the Black Tankard to have an extra pair of eyes on the scene. He can hide in the room they are expecting to bring Ahmaergo as a way to monitor activities.
Immeral and Dain will play customers, Atlas will play bartender, Nowhere will have the illusionary look of a minotaur. They think about tying up Ahmaergo if able to - he may be vulnerable to being talked into in, in promise of a kinky encounter.
They take a short rest to prepare.
The minotaurs have been given the night off as per the agreement with the Owlbear League, leaving Droon Stonedark, proprietor of the Black Tankard, a different guard, a male medusa, and two female servers, Funda and Baribold, handling just a couple of customers here for the cheap Wormwizz.
Droon nods to the Owlbear League and Dain steps over to him. "We want to rent the place for the night for a private party, starting now." Droon says "500 gold." in wild negotiation. "Who is going to be pissed off after tonight?" he asks.
"Nobody that will complain." Dain replies. "And you wont have any information anyway, right? Otherwise we'll take our 'party' elsewhere."
"I don't want any trouble." says the duergar, "but I also don't want to be here if there is trouble." he says, glancing at the medusa.
"You would never have made 500 gold this evening." Dain says, looking at the two raggedy customers in the bar, "250 gold".
Droon counters "300" and Dain comes back with "270". "We're splitting hairs here." says Stonedark gruffly. "280 and you cover any damages."
"Deal" says Dain, and they spit into their palms and shake on it. The duergar chewing some black leaf which leaves a stain in Dain's palm. Dain quickly joins his companions and counts out some gold.
CAPTURE 1:27:50
Droon weighs the gold in hand in lieu of counting it, snarls an agreement, then tells the remaining customers to "beat it" and he, says "girls we're off for the rest of the night!" and the servers look extremely happy (for duergar).
"Are we getting paid?" growls the medusa, and the duergar throws three measly gold his way, but the medusa seems pretty happy.
"You didn't see anyone here." says Dain, just a quiet night with regular customers. They nod, and Droon ads "I'll be back to lock up right before the bells" (11PM) and this place better be in good shape." then they depart.
Dain takes a spot behind the bar, along with a drink as Nowhere and K'ronk don disguises in one of the back rooms - little more than a cubby with a curtain and a bed within. Immeral takes a seat at a table, and Seraphina dresses in a server's apron.
Customers come in and Atlas serves them, appearing as a male with the cloak of gender disguise. One asks "Where's Droon?". "Took the night off with the misses." Atlas responds.
"Misses! I thought he was gay!" the customer exclaims.
"Not my business" says Atlas.
K'ronk takes his place at security stool, appearing as the minotaur, using a minor illusion spell to make his head appear like that of a normal minotaur. Nowhere stays in the back, using disguise self to appear as a scantily clad female minotaur.
Dain introduces himself to customers as Naid, and speaking to one dwarven customer, get complimented on his battleaxe. He poses a bit with the weapon. He receives more compliments.
Within the hour eight customers enter.
Ahmaergo and his entourage of four tough looking veteran fighters enters.
Ahmaergo immediately looks over to K'ronk, who cannot talk through his minor illusion, but nods and grunts.
The majordomo of the Xanathar guild immediately tells them "Have drinks, I'll be back later" in a diminutive voice.
K'ronk immediately turns and walks to the back room.
"I can't believe you changed your mind..." the squeeky little voice behind him follows.
K'ronk just grunts as he takes Ahmaergo to the back and pulls aside a curtain revealing his apparent wife. Ahmaergo shutters and half sighs, half giggles in anticipation.
Minotaur Nowhere snaps a rope between her hands, (actually the magical rope of climbing) and says "Undress and climb me Ahmaergo!".
The dwarf looks over at the K'ronk minotaur, who nods, and Ahmaergo starts frantically tearing off his clothes.
Feet away in the bar, Atlas seats the veterans at a corner table and brings them a round of Wyrmwizz.
The veterans are curious about the staff change, asking Seraphina "Where's Droon?"
The shortest one says "I haven't seen you hear before, pretty little thing." and Seraphina plays coy and engages in small-talk, stating that she had just arrived in Skullport.
"There's nothing hotter than a girl with a checkered past." says another, and they laugh and drink.
CAPTURE 1:47:00
"What are you running away from?" one asks.
Seraphina replies, "A priest in the temple got a little too friendly, so I sacrificed his testicles to the Raven Queen."
The veterans laugh, they love it.
Ahmaergo asks "where do we start?" says the mostly naked Ahmaergo. He insists on leaving the helmet on. "I need you tied up and helpless." says Nowhere.
"Only if you're naked too!" as he drops his draws, but leaves his belt on, with a magical rod os o
LEFT OFF AT 1:42:00
BALLS
BALLS
BALLS
... STARTING AT 17:00 REMAINING
The next fighter swings at Dain, tripping over a chair in the process, but stabbing at him furiously during the fumble and manages to breech his defenses - Dain is bleeding and barely holding on.
Dain yells "Help needed!"
Nowhere is torn for a moment, deciding whether to finish off Ahmaergo or race to Dain's aid, when the ice spiders at once bite into Ahmaergo and the dwarf lets out a cry of frigid agony, and drops unconscious.
She turns and races to the other room.
Nowhere reaches out a hand and casts cure wounds on Dain, reviving him him somewhat.
CAPTURE 2:55:40
In the back room Immeral says "finish him" and K'ronk obliges with an eldrich blast which rips open the frozen skin of the dwarf and ends the life of the Xanathar majordomo.
Atlas races out into the main room, past Nowhere and leaps towards the one battling Dain, missing with her first kick. She punches again, the nimble fighter blocks the strikes. She reaches in and users her ki to unleash two more attacks, but none strike the veteran fighter.
Seraphina casts cure wounds on Dain to heal him even more, but despite that, Dain enters a rage that has him swing wildly at the veteran fighter Atlas is battling, but two swift attacks are rebuffed.
Immeral stands back near the side door and casts witch bolt at one of the remaining fighters and the stream of magical energy slams into the fighter, propelling him back against the wall and ripping him apart with unexpected magical ferocity. He dies.
The spirits from Seraphina's spirit guide spell attack the fighters and do additional damage to each, wounding them heartily, but they still stand and fight on.
The first remaining fighter pushes after Dain and although Dain fights off two swift attacks, the man's sword slips through once and stabs Dain who would have fallen if not healed by Seraphina and Nowhere.
The second fighters rolls across the floor, diving at Seraphina, who backpedals, avoiding most of the damage, but taking some minor defensive wounds.
Nowhere swings Icerazor at the one fighting Seraphina, slashing him, and that one falls unconscious. Nowhere pivots, leaping over a chair and swings at the remaining veteran fighting Dain, and she strike true, knocking him out as well. All their enemies are unconscious.
They slice the throats of the unconscious and think about what to do with the bodies.
They slice the throats of the unconscious and think about what to do with the bodies. Nowhere says "We could put them in that massive gelatinous cube and watch them decay!" Her excitement has her friends looking at her strangely.
"How about the hole into the sewers?" Atlas asks? Dain and Atlas start dropping bodies into the sewers.
Nowhere and K'ronk check on Ahmaergo and quickly loot him, K'ronk casting Identify to ascertain the nature of his magical belongings.
They find his major weapon is a rod of lordy might, a powerful magic item with six buttons that transform the weapon.
He also has a belt of hill giant strength and they give it to Dain who puts it on and gains tremendous strength.
There are also boots of levitation, a ring of shooting stars, and dwarven chainmail armor (+2).
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQWVI2YwJw-HN52rhoI9wyzw8GC5e_DRP4B7g&s
A few moments later strange sounds can be heard from below, wet and fleshy like some great toothless creature consuming the bodies.
The League still has to get more information on the leadership of The Eye, take them out, find the kids, then deal with the Xanathar.
NEXT - Campaign Journal 76 - ????
This adventure used material from the D&D Module "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist".
Google Sites
Report abuse