Embedded Files
Campaign Journal 76 - Dinner with N'arl
PREVIOUSLY - CAMPAIGN DIARIES 75 - AHAERGO'S DESIRES
The Owlbear League, having just killed Ahmaergo and his retinue, swiftly move to clean up The Blank Tankard with the help of prestidigitation spells from Immeral and K'ronk. The doors are locked for a "private event" and they have dumped the bodies into the crevasse to the sewers where slurping sounds can be heard as the bodies are being consumed by something. Ahmaergo's dead body is stuffed into their bag of holding. Nowhere and K'ronk drop their disguises, and get to cleaning.
CAPTURE 7:00
Few patrons come by, and all quickly wander away when a Private Event sign and locked door can be seen. The League slips out and heads over to the Dizzy Drake, and nodding to their acquaintance Chosin, they ask "can we borrow your basement for a private conversation we need to have?"
Chosin says "My tavern is yours any time. I have already secured a bard for tomorrow night to come play and entice new customers." They nod and head downstairs, seeing a few odd remaining snakes in the corners of the secret room that formerly held the yuan-ti lich.
CAPTURE 14:50Dain grabs a couple of the snakes and runs up to throw them out to the street. There is one potential customer who was heading for the entrance, but thinks better of it with the snakes between them. "Pest removal." Dain says "It means we care!" but the black toothed half-elf goes elsewhere. A passer-by notices the snake and with a swift swing of a sword, beheads it, claims his dinner, and heads off to parts unseen. Dain quickly moves downstairs.
K'ronk summons Ahmaergo with the amulet of the dead, and in short order his ghostly form appears.
"What happened? Am I dead?" says the diminuative dwarf.
K'ronk (who Ahmaergo has never seen before) says "There was an attack."
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"Who are you?" the spirit demands
"We were just passing by The Black Tankard and we heard screaming, some minotaurs ran out."
Ahmaergo recalls "It's all a bit fuzzy, but I had a date with some minotaur friends and they attacked me."
"I must be dead, my body feels so strange." Ahmaergo reveals, feeling himself, including his formerly destroyed groin. He looks down at his corpse and he says sadly "They ruptured me."
CAPTURE 21:18
He turns and says "There's light in here, I should go to the light."
Nowhere says "Before you go, do you want us to bring a message to the Xanathar?"
Seraphina asks "Wait, you're Ahmaergo right?"
Ahmaergo says "Yes, I don't recognize you from the guild though. Do you work for Sundeth?"
"No" says Seraphina, "but do you want us to tell them what happened?"
Ahmaergo answers "Get a message to Noska, tell him I was attacked in the Black Tankard. Have him avenge me."
Atlas asks "Where's the best place for a message?"
The dwarf answers "You can leave a message at the Guts & Garters, or find him at one of the fights in Skullport. Once they know, Nihiloor will investigate."
Nowhere says "We can do that."
"Tell them quickly, they may not know I am gone, I didn't tell anyone. It was a secret rendezvous" he says sadly.
Nowhere says "Where can we leave a message for him?"
"Just leave it for Noska, or go see Sundeth. Nihiloor rarely leaves the Lair directly. Oh, that horrid bird will probably take my job."
Dain asks "The horrid bird?"
"Cackle, I don't trust him - he's a newcomer, I don't trust him." he turns again "The light feels so warm."
Atlas says "Go to the light, we'll take it from here."
Nowhere says "Wait, how does the spy-master go about spying if he rarely leaves?"
Distracted by the light, the spirit of Ahmaergo reveals "All over Waterdeep and Skullport he seeds his intellect devourers."
K'ronk and Immeral whisper to each other "Floon, the baker, the tower of the Blackstaff."
Immeral asks "Is there anything else you need?"
"I just wish I could take my minotaur helm with me." Ahmaergo says as he starts stepping towards the light he sees. "I hear my mommy" he says.
"What about Ott the fishkeeper?" asks K'ronk.
"I hate the stupid fish, but if he doesn't take care of it, who would?" Ahmaergo answers distractedly.
Seraphina asks "Is it just a regular fish?"
"Yes, although the Xanathar doesn't know the fish has died several times. Ott replaces the fish. Otherwise the Xanathar would kill everyone. The fish is his beloved, he loves it more than anything, so don't tell him, or he will disintegrate you."
Nowhere says "Be free spirit." and he wanders into the darkness.
Seraphina says "May the Raven Queen guide you."
CAPTURE 31:50+
Atlas turns to the others "The Guts and Garters comes up a lot. Secret base?"
Immeral "Or secret entrance." They consider this for a moment.
K'ronk asks "What are we doing with the body?" Nudging it with a toe.
Nowhere replies "We could cut off his head, put it in the bag of holding and throw the rest of his body into the giant gelatinous cube. He won't be easy to identify without a head."
Atlas says "Only his mutilated nuts."
Nowhere cuts the head off Ahmaergo's corpse. Dain notices the lack of blood. "Drained from the ball trauma." says Nowhere, and they wrap the head in a rag and drop it in the bag of holding. Looking in K'ronk says "We may need another bag of holding."
Leaving the Dizzy Drake (#86), with the body of Ahmaergo in the basement, The League notices a sewer grate nearby, but the Illithid Way is a busy thoroughfare.
They cluster. Dain says "Maybe a distraction."
K'ronk says "Or an illusion... I could carry his corpse while invisible, and if someone opens the grate, I could drop him in."
Dain says "Let's check the grate." and with a quick examination, they see that the grate can be lifted. They see there is a 20' drop into the dark waters below.
K'ronk says "All I need is for someone to open the grate."
Dain says "I can do that."
They execute their quick plan - K'ronk going back for the body, the League casually loitering around the sewer grate, and when a disembodied tapping sound is heard moments later, Dain opens the grate and for a brief moment, the headless body of Ahmaergo appears and plunges into the sewer below.
As soon as the grate is closed, a customer stumbles out of The Dizzy Drake and vomits profusely into the sewer, nearly hitting the invisible K'ronk. They quickly move on, deciding to see if they can get a table at The Worm's Gullet to celebrate their victory.
Sitting on the ledge in the great cavern of the upper heart of Skullport, leering in the phosphor glow of the ceiling like it is about to devour the town, is a massive purple worm at least one hundred feet long. It appears to be dead or at least petrified, as pedestrians on the catwalks enter into its mouth. There is a sign by the maw titled "The Worm's Gullet, Restaurant and Casino. Dining by reservation only."
At the end of the platform, by the worms tail, is a large ledge where several skulkers are being shooed away by the restaurant's guards. A skulker passing by on the catwalk points over there and says "It's the worm's anus - you may get a handout of leftovers if you catch the right person leaving." and he smiles with blackened teeth.
"I got this." says Dain and they follow him in. There is a greeting station with some well-dressed guards nearby. Dain approaches the greeter, an older person of unique heritage. "Welcome to the Worm's Gullet. My name is Cliffbow, how may I serve you this evening?"
"Are there any canceled reservations my good man?" Dain asks. The rest of The League is shocked at the barbarian's decorum.
"As a matter of fact I do." he says "How big is your party?"
"Six" Dain replies.
"I can accommodate six." says Cliffbox. "Have you been to our establishment before?"
"No" Dain responds.
"Just so you're aware, the Worm's Gullet features a pre-selected menu, a culinary adventure of five courses chosen by our chef with the best ingredients on the coast. There are no substitutions, and cost is 2gp per person. I hope that would not be a problem."
Dain chokes back "2 gold?"
"Gratuities aside sir." and he smiles.
Atlas interjects "Ignore my friend, that will not be a problem." and she pays the obscene bill.
Nowhere whispers to K'ronk "We could eat goodberries and go drop stuff in the jelly cube instead."
"Tempting" he snickers.
"Very good madam" says Cliffbox. "Mosshell Hellbottom is the finest chef in or below Waterdeep, your adventure will be memorable for a lifetime. Be assured, that the infamous pufferfish deaths are long past, and we don't serve that dish in this establishment. Waterdeep's loss is your gain. Of course when one has acquired tasks, one must be willing to take risks."
Atlas says "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."
Imported wall hangings and carpets imbued with silence spells to cut noise, diffuse magical lighting, and handsome metal sculptures make dining in the Worm's Gullet a truly gracious experience.
The tables are neatly ordered and covered in clean linens, with a few windows overlooking the somehow charming glow of Skullport. The dishes and cutlery are spotless, and the fine wines and brews served here are drunk from long-stemmed crystal glasses and silver mugs. Even the scent of the air here seems more refined.
The servers, hosts and hostesses, cooks, and bussers appear courteous and professional. Waitstaff are on hand at all times to tend to a guest's every imaginable need, from refilling water glasses to refreshing fingerbowls between courses. Talented trios and quartets of musicians provide soft musical entertainment for guests.
Farther along the worm's coils lies the casino, which caters to those who wish to enjoy upscale games of chance. Wizards appear to be employed to watch over the gamers for magical influence. Nearby are two thick-necked, well-manicured and impeccably dressed ogres.
The League is presented a table and their server quickly arives,
RECAP:
Take body to The Dizzy Drake
Interrogated dead Ahmaergo
Cut off his head
Disposed of the body
Worm's Gullet
Spotted N'arl
Sending to N'arl
9PM
Some gambling
9:30
Follow Narl
Cast polymorph on grell into boar
Interviews Narl
Gives him the cloak of gender disguise
10PM
Drop boar in gel cube
10:45PM
(Appointment at 11PM)
End in the Riptide
Immeral and K'ronk talk about how to take down the dangerous Xanathar, utilizing the poison Nar'l left behind, and maybe being able to polymorph the Xanathar. Their sleep that night is fitful at best.
CAPTURE 2:17 LEFT x3
NEXT - Campaign Journal 77 - ????
This adventure used material from the D&D Module "Waterdeep: Dragon Heist".
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