Nov 23, 2023 Session 3
Sewer Chase

Table of Contents

Introduction (Uktar 3rd)

• Inside the Zhent warehouse, amidst the bodies of the fallen Zhent agents and Xanathar Kenku cultists, the party advances to the last door remaining unopened - a closet.

• Kaboo opens it and a redheaded man is revealed, bound up in rope and wearing a blue shirt and slacks. He's built more athletically than they would assume Floon to be. And not as shapely either.

• The bound man is alarmed and questions multiple times, most of all, asking "Who are you?"

• Kaboo holds up Rito and asks, "Do you know this man?". The Kenku agrees. 

• Bingus lets the man know that they're looking for Floon and disregards his state of confinement.

• The man asks if they're here to save him. He offers to help them find Floon in exchange for his freedom. 

• Bingus asks for compensation. 

• The man audibly sighs at the party's either confusing or unresponsive nature. He claims to be the son of a powerful politician!

• Kaboo rolls a critical fail on untying the man, leaving it up to the other party members whether or not they will free him.

• He claims his name is Renaer Neverember. The party's insight makes them very aware that this is true. 

• Bingus claims that it is impossible or at least not very likely, because the Neverembers have no known son in their lineage. Renaer clarifies that he is in poor relations with his father and is like a black sheep of the family.

• Renaer offers monetary and political safety after his release. As well as pardons for any possible crimes they may have committed (very useful!)

• Shardyn uses their dagger to cut Renaer's ties and release him. 

• Renaer addresses Bingus on the grounds of receiving their compensation. He asks them to go to a specific location in the North Ward and speak a code, so that they may speak with Renaer's guild.

  • [Quest: Renaer's Reward]

• Renaer tends to his injured wrists, and recalls the night he drank with Floon and Volo at the Skewered Dragon. In Candle lane, three masked agents attacked them and tied them up in the warehouse. 

• An hour before the current incident and Renaer's release, there was an attack by the Xanathar cultists. They kidnapped Floon instead of Renaer because they are both gingers. And obviously that means they're too difficult to distinguish from one another.

• Floon's life is in the hands (talons?) of the Xanathar cultists that have mistakenly taken him.

City Watch

• Schpee loots the fallen Kenku.

• Schpee finds a letter with a brief message neatly written:

  • "55 Candle lane - Kill anyone who tries to enter the warehouse. Kill Renaer."

• Shardyn may or may not recognize some of the fallen Zhent agents. 

  • They picks up a snake pendant from the chain of a fallen Zhent agent.

• Upstairs looks like a fun idea. Kaboo is compelled to find more possible captives in the warehouse.

• The sound of many boots briskly walking, hitting the stone pavement outside, are slowly growing louder.

• The voice of a commanding requests anyone inside to come out. A man recognized as Captain Staget.

• Renaer is given a pat on the head by Kaboo before he is briskly pushed forward by several party members. 

• The City Watch marches into the lower level of the warehouse, filling the entrance.

• Captain Staget recognizes Renaer and confirms his safety by looking at him and the party behind him.

• Renaer requests from Captain Staget that the party be excused from any possible crimes they have committed.

• The party is guaranteed a sort of pardon. At least for tonight.

• Captain Staget asks if he can question the party members and Renaer about the current scene laid out in the Zhent warehouse: dead Zhent agents, dead Kenku, and a missing noble found in a closet. 

• Shardyn lets him know that they saved the warehouse from the Xanathar cultists, and rescued Renaer.

• The Captain notices that there is currently a Kenku in their party. This is questionable, seeing that the fallen Xanathar cultists are all similarly Kenku. And despite it being wrapped in a "blanket burrito", he can still see the Kenku's eye clasp on their cloak. He questions if they have captured and tamed a live Kenku cultist. 

• Bingus somewhat fails to persuade the Captain that Rito is his harmless pet.

• Shardyn somewhat fails to persuade the Captain that it's a different Kenku, entirely unrelated to the cultists.

• Rito rolls a success on being very very cute! The party manages to convince Captain Staget to let them keep the bird. They recommend to get him vaccinated at the next cleric.

• Captain Staget hands them each a slip of paper with the laws of Waterdeep listed, for future use, so they are able to abide by the rules of the city.

• Renaer lets them know that the Xanathar have taken his pendant. He wants it back.

Clearing the Warehouse

Downstairs

• The group splits up and finishes clearing the warehouse.

• Kaboo critically succeeds at scanning the entire area and finds a hidden cubby in the downstairs area. She is fervently looking for more hostages that need saving!

• Schpee bursts open the downstairs door and sees many original paintings that seem to be stolen. And even to the untrained eye they sure do look nice. Nice and valuable.

• Kaboo immediately alerts Captian Staget.

• Schpee inquires if there's any reward for finding the missing artworks. 

• Captain Staget recommends they return the paintings to a nearby museum for more details on that.

  • [Quest: Two Clowns, One Museum]

Upstairs

• Shardyn and Bingus search the rooms in the upper area.

• In a room near the staircase, there is a small glowing origami bird, perched on a desk. 

• Bingus pokes it with the emerald dagger and it unfurls, before he refolds it again (Bingus knows origami).

• Shardyn takes the wings and tugs at them simultaneously on each side to make it look like it's flying.

• Bingus takes the bird from Shardyn.

• The Emerald Dagger lets Bingus know that it's a paper bird, and that he can write something onto it. Bingus says something along the lines of "no shit". Though the dagger clarifies that he needs to write a message on it, write who it is for, and the paper bird will fly to its recipient. 

• Kaboo and Schpee are called upstairs.

• Bingus and Shardyn figure that they can use the bird to locate Floon by writing him a note and tracking the path of the paper bird.

• (Bingus and Shardyn gain inspiration)

• Rito learns a new phrase from Shardyn's set, "I'm a creep" and "Creep"

• The audience is very touched. Kaboo holds up her candle, Bingus holds up his blade and it sheds a single tear.

• Captain Staget has a single tear run down his cheek, and the City Watch is forced to listen to Creep by Radiohead while they clean up and inspect the warehouse filled with bloody Zhent and Xanathar bodies. 

• Ranaer crosses his arms and watches. Though he taps his foot. Silly man!

• Kaboo (14/17) +6

• Bingus (9/16) +6

• Schpee (12/23) +6

• Shardyn (14/17)  +6

• Rito (13/13) +6

• The party leaves, aware of the timer that Floon's life is on. Kaboo mistakenly bids Captain Staget "Goodnight, Captain Swagger". Though he takes that as a compliment and salutes them out.

Manhole

• The party splits up and goes around the block, but Bingus notices close to the warehouse is a manhole. He kicks it but struggles, it barely moves. Whether Bingus was trying to kick it open or closed is a mystery.

• Bingus calls for the clown to come forward. 

• Schpee critically fails to notice. She may be completely unaware of the change in scenery, to be honest. Schpee says, "Huh?" 

• Shardyn tries to open the manhole.

• Bingus tries again.

• Kaboo tries.

• Renaer watches.

• Shardyn, Kaboo, and Bingus all collectively work together to pry open the manhole, and it flies off to the side.

• Upon seeing the now uncovered manhole, Schpee says "I found it!" and hops down.

• The odor from the sewers is violating. It is so foul, that the party is on the brink of starting to take poison damage. 

• Kaboo lights an incense from her bag and puts it in a censer. The censer hangs from her lantern mace and with her position as the second entering the sewers, the scent wafts to the others behind her. It smells like buttered popcorn and deep-fried foods.

• (Kaboo gains inspiration)

• Schpee's is in front, though her clown nose grants partial immunity to the worst of the sewer smells.

• Order of entrance: Schpee, Kaboo carrying Rito, Bingus and Emerald Dagger, Shardyn, Renaer

Dock Ward Sewers

• The party enters the darkness of the sewers, vaguely lit by the burning incense on Kaboo's lantern, and the lantern itself.

• They are faced with multiple paths.

• They choose one, and enter.

Sewer Tunnel - Dead End 1

• At the dead end of their first sewer tunnel, there is a large and gaping void of a black mirror. It is 8 foot in diameter and exudes a black shadowy energy. No reflection can be seen in this mirror.

• There's offerings of nightshade and many letters to a particular goddess.

• Upon inspecting this mirror, it causes memories to fade in and out, becoming hazy in quality. There are many letters left along with other various items. The shrine is identified as a tribute to Shar.

• Kaboo goes through the letters and starts to read them. They are all pleading the lady of darkness to let them forget about something: their stillborn, their ex-husband, their shame, and sorrow. Collectively the letters range from very mundane to very serious requests to erase their memories.

• Bingus asks his dagger if the mirror is where his memories may have been lost, to which the Emerald Dagger lets him know it is not. But that the mirror has been used, surprisingly recent by other followers of Shar.

• Shardyn asks the mirror to let them forget their love for Yagra. Shardyn's vision goes black and they see flashes of their life from all the way back in their childhood. It almost feels as if their full history of memories will be erased, with the force of the shadowy mirror taking hold of her mind. Though, with inspiration, she is able to refocus the mirror's power and it recalls her good times with Yagra. Shardyn forgets her romantic interest in Yagra, though is left feeling as if she is missing something.

• Kaboo is having an episode. If she is talking it is incoherent. 

• Rito is mildly confused but is having a nice time next to the incense.

• Schpee takes quick notice of Kaboo looking rather disturbed, and that Shardyn has had a weird experience looking into the mirror, almost as if they've forgotten something. Schpee uses her greataxe with critical success and destroys the mirror, causing the black shadows release up into the air.

• The Shar mirror is shattered. [Shar did not like that].

Sewer Tunnel - Dead End 2

• The party continues.

• They reach another dead end that is circular, surrounded by different tunnels they can enter. They enter the closest one and are stopped by a giant chasm of darkness. There is no way over it, around it, nor a way to fly down safely to inspect it. 

• The party is forced to turn back around.

Sewer Tunnel - Dead End 3

• The party is back in the circular tunnel hub. They go through the center tunnel.

• They continue walking and walking. 

• The party continues walking.

• The party is walking.

• The pathway is seemingly endless until a small light appears at the end. They chase the light and it moves backwards and away from them.

• When they follow for longer, they are back in the circular tunnel hub.

Paper Bird Pursuit

• Bingus writes to Floon with his paper bird.

• "Where the fuck are you? From: Volo"

• The bird flutters off, taking off and flying through a series of different places. It travels at a steady pace though it seems to be getting increasingly faster. 

• The party sees a dead body slumped on the side of the sewer holding a scroll. It was recent, but the body still slightly rots and festers in the filth of the sewer.

• They take the scroll. Bingus notices something about the scroll.

• Bingus critically succeeds in accessing his knowledge of the arcane, identifying it as a scroll of Chromatic Orb. A one-time use spell that allows him to cast it with an element of his choice.

• The bird slips in through a metal grate as it continues.

• Schpee cracks open the metal grate with her greataxe and the party is in close pursuit as it quickens. 

• The walls are thinning as they continue, making travel more difficult as the height of the tunnel also steadily shrinks. The walls are becoming decorated with yellow-chalked symbols of eyes.

Spire Encounter

• The party enters a circular room with a spire in the center, and a roped ladder hanging down by its side. 

• There is a spherical eyeball and a bunch of tentacles, with more eyeballs. It bares its teeth at the party and they are forced to initiate combat.

• Bingus readies his Eldritch Blast to trigger once he has a clear view of the Gazer.

• Kaboo picks up Schpee and Rito to haul ass and clear the way for the party, so that Bingus may use his spell.

• Bingus' spell is overestimated and overshot, he misses.

• Rito pulls out his dagger and waves it fruitlessly.

• The Gazer fires a lightning bolt with one of its extra eyes and zaps both Kaboo and Schpee. Kaboo is charmed. Schpee is feared, and she drops her greataxe in the process of her turning around and bolting out a different darkened tunnel.

• Shardyn berates the Gazer, but it doesn't hear and blinks. 

• Shardyn's cape billows and hits Renaer in the face. He did not like that.

• Bingus moves into the room and summons his warlock energy, using it to hit the core eye of the Gazer.

• Kaboo is released from her charm state and tries to swing her lantern, but misses. The Gazer catches a whiff of buttered popcorn.

• Rito waves his dagger again. He is too short to reach the Gazer.

• Renear ushers Shardyn forward to get them into the room.

• One of the minor eyeballs zaps Kaboo for a significant amount of damage. The other following ray from the Gazer narrowly misses Bingus, though he dodges. Warlock instinct, maybe.

• Schpee re-emerges from the darkened tunnel she fled to with a full face of clown makeup on. Schpee asks Kaboo to pick up her greataxe that she dropped. Kaboo fails to lift it even an inch.

• Shardyn enters the room with her Rapier and narrowly misses the Gazer, striking the rope ladder instead.

• Bingus critically succeeds at using the Emerald Dagger. Bingus slashes a clean cut through the middle of the Gazer's core eye, splitting in half like a watermelon.

• The Gazer is presumably, dead!

Session Summary

+1 [Quest: Renaer's Reward]

+1 [Quest: Two Clowns, One Museum]