The party circles around the sleeping brain, feeling the psionic power still resonating from its prone form. Behind them, Renaer and Floon begin to stir - the salve Renaer was using on Floon apparently finally taking effect.
The party briefly discusses what to do about the brain, deciding to all attack at once as it wakes up. Whit offers to stab it first, his blade is surest, and the others have magical abilities to expend.
Whit cracks his neck and relaxes his shoulders. He crouches low, finding balance, takes a couple of practice swings, then grips his rapier with two hands for a mighty strike.
The blade, while it was aimed true, hits the psionic field around the brain and is deflected completely - he forgot about psionic force around it! He wanted so bad to deal the massive killing blow, maybe striking so hard wasn't a good idea for the normally lithe figure. The force behind the blow just made it easier to be deflected by the force.
His rapier clangs into the stone ground - the ringing of the steel echoing throughout the chamber. The Brain roars awake, snarling and rearing towards whit. Odrith releases his fiery breath, engulfing the brain - but it fights through it, the brain starting to smoke and the rubbery skin charring. Chalk and Kaivius both release their spells, frost starting to form on the brain and the bell clanging throughout the chamber, but it was ready for both, it shakes off the spells easily. It jumps at Whit, going for the killing blow. Odrith steps into the way, swinging his flail with what little strength he has left. It connects with the brain, and he can feel the psionic force beginning to fade. He knocks the leaping brain aside. It stumbles, but turns to attack the part.
Chalk and Kaivius begin to cast their spells, aiming towards the wounded, snarling brain - but all of a sudden a small pop echoes through the room, and it is gone. The psionic force the party was feeling dissipates. It seems they are alone... for now.
Well that was closer than Chalk would have liked and once again she was glad she'd stayed by the door. She could still hardly believe that her desperate play had worked. With everyone else nearly dead, it was up to her to see if there were any clues left behind. Plus it would give her a chance to get a better look at that ritualistic circle.
Plopping on the ground Odrith moans and starts to apply pressure to the hole in his shoulder. "How is everyone feeling?" Odrith says as he cranes his head back to look at Floon and Ranaer. "Oh yeah... sorry about getting mind controlled and slapping a flail into your face..."
Odrith hides his face behind his shield after that awkward exchange.
"Odrith? Are you with us again?" Calming down when he sees he is, and begins to look around the room to see if there was anything worthwhile. "I think we are fine, but I don't think we should linger here. Who knows if that thing will come back."
Kaivius, though much weakened from the brain's attacks, helps pull Renaer and Floon to their feet. Renaer rubs his sore face, wiping blood from his nose and mouth. "It is no more your fault than mine, my friend. I should not have let my guard down in such a dire situation. I just saw Floon getting tortured and I..." his voice trails off as he looks at his friend. Floon, the salve applied by Renaer finally having done its work, looks much better than the state he was found in. Color has returned to his cheeks, and the burns and cuts on his chest have mostly faded to small scabs and bruises. "I cannot thank you all enough for helping me find my friend," Renaer continues after a moment, and he embraces Floon. "But we cannot tarry long. Remember the goblin that got away earlier? I think there is more to this place than what we found. I think we entered through a back door of some kind. We should leave. Now. Before more enemies come."
Chalk, meanwhile, has been investigating the pillar in the other room. As she's inspecting the pillar, she notices that the indentation in the middle matches the size and shape of the orb the Illithid pulled from its robe before a portal opened up. Her knowledge of arcane magic leads her to believe that the object was the key to opening the portal, and it probably led to some deeper, well defended hideout of the Xanathar guild. Whoever the Illithid was must have been powerful to have had a direct line between the hideouts.
Whit, always practical on such matters, begins searching the room for any treasures they can take to the surface. On the half-orc mage he finds a spellbook containing many spells, which Chalk may find useful. Under the chair on the raised platform he finds an unlocked wooden chest, containing two potion of healing, 16 gp, 82 sp, and 250 cp.
The companions help each other, Renaer, and Floon navigate the way back through the sewers, back towards the surface. Kaivius gives more than a few annoyed grunts at the knee-deep sludge and sewage they are forcing to wade through, with wounds no less. It is late at night when they return to the surface an hour later, the moon high. It is well after midnight. Luckily, Renaer finds them a private bathhouse to clean up in. New clothes are borrowed and everyone spends the rest of the short night soaking in the steaming baths, quietly thankful that they all made it out ok.
In the morning they make their way back to the Yawning Portal. They reach the pub just as Durnan unlocks and opens the door, ready to greet a new day. He grunts and nods to the regulars and welcomes them in. Volo is already sitting at a table, it seems he spent the night in the pub waiting on the adventurers. He raises his head as they approach, and his demeanor changes immediately. A smile spreads across his face, almost as wide as his extravagant, though frayed after a long night, mustache. "You did it! You found him! Oh thank the Gods! I was so worried! Please, please sit. Drinks all around! Durnan my friend, onto my tab please?" He calls out to the bar. Durnan gives Volo a suspicious look, about to refuse, but eyes the party and turns to make the drinks anyway. Volo claps his hands together, "So. Your reward.."
“I confess that I have but few coins to spare - I was unable to collect from that dratted publisher last night. But never let it be said that Volo reneges on a promise. Allow me to present something much more valuable.” He holds out a scroll tube. “The deed to a remarkable property here in Waterdeep! We’ll need a magistrate to witness the transfer of ownership. I’ll arrange a meeting with one after you’ve inspected the estate and deemed it satisfactory. You said you wanted an autograph, my good friend? Well how about my signature singing over the deed of your new home and establishment!”
Chalk is sure to sketch out the details along the pillar including voluminous notes on speculating the function of the indention and observations of the portal and the creatures that went through it. Plus a label on the orb saying 'key' in several different languages. A very fruitful day. She ends up so caught up in her notes that it takes Kaivius tugging her along to get her to finally leave and begin the trek up to the much nicer streets above.
The bath was just what the Kenku had ordered. It was almost like home, though less rambunctious. She can't help but splash the others some as she's puffing out her feathers to get into the deeper crevices. Poor Odrith. She also pesters Whit about his shape-shifting. Pleading in his own voice, "Come on. What makes it interesting!" Eventually the day catches up with her and she ends up snoozing in the comforting warm water. Mumbling occasionally in her sleep. "****"
When they are reunited with Floon, she just stays by the wayside. Letting out the occasional chirp as she's caught up in his almost infectious mood. She doesn't really need a house but it could provide so much room for activities! Or just a nicer place to sleep. She thumbs through the book assuming Whit actually gave it to her.
After finding Floon and retreating the the surface, the gang takes some much needed R&R. The night spent at the bath house was busy for Kaivius, but also peaceful. She scrubbed herself clean and walked around making sure her friends wounds were tended to. Poor Chalk was doing much better, although she had learned a positively foul word that she was now muttering in her sleep. Did I give her that to use?
The next morning as they file in to the Yawning Portal to collect their reward, Kaivius wonders how Volo will pay them. He obviously didn't obtain the coin like he said he would, would they get an interesting item? Maybe a new pointy stick? Much to her dismay, Volo offers them the deed to a property in Waterdeep. What would the group do with a house? She supposes that would prevent spending coin on inns, but what coin would go into the upkeep? Worst case scenario they could always sell it. The rich never consider what a burden a house could be, they only see the coin attached to the value. Sighing, Kaivius turns to Whit, this does seem to be more of his area of expertise.
Once on the surface Whit sighs in relief can can finally relax in what feels like days. Before the bathing starts Whit remembers the loot he found, "Chalk, I found this strange spell book, perhaps you can make more use of it than I? and Odrith since you seem to be the one taking the brunt of the damage here's a Potion of healing and one for you as well Kaivius, thanks again for all your help down there. Here's your split of the money we found too."
Whit chuckles to himself watching his friends recover and relax while soaking in a wonderful bath. Occasionally talking around Chalks pestering, somehow that damn Kenku knew all the right words to be a nuisance sometimes ending the conversation with "I'll tell you later, it's a strange story." As he sinks lower into the water, he think what a great story this will be.
The next morning they enter the Yawning portal and see Volo not in the best looking condition but it's understandable. Whit smiles seeing the reunion occur. He smiles even larger when Volo offers them the deed. "Mr. Volo, we will gratefully accept this reward. We are happy to of helped. If anything comes up again don't be afraid to ask." Whit turns and smiles to his friends, "Well friends we have a house to inspect, should go much smoother than those dreadful sewers, eh?"
After a bit of time applying pressure to the gushing wound, the bleeding finally slows and Odrith stands up and continues a watch until everyone is ready to head to the surface. Whit hands him a potion and some money and Odrith just nods and silently takes it. Odrith of course takes points but it looks like there isn't any trouble on the way up. That is nice.
The bath house is a fantastic respite, and it is fantastic to see everyone in such good moods, but Odrith just can't seem to raise his mood. Any time he is close to relaxing the image of that horrible aberration forces its way to the front of his mind along with the remembrance of the feeling of pure, primal rage. Was his dragon heritage partially to blame for how easily he was able to be swayed to try and kill his friends? He has gotten used to people being distrustful of his due to being a dragon born, especially in this city with the dragon ward, but this is the first time he thinks that they might have a point for that ward...
'****...' Oh blazes... Odrith forgot he said that where Chalk could hear. Well, everyone deserves to be allows to swear if they want, and now Chalk has that choice. Worry about that can start tomorrow, now it is time for sleep.
Walking into the Yawning Portal Odrith is still distracted and stays lost in his thoughts and is just following his group. Thinking more of his ancestry, his history of protecting people, and his current position as an honored guard of the temple of Wakeen. He will need to figure this out. '... smoother than those dreadful sewers, eh?' Odrith hears Whit say. He shakes himself to what is happening and looks at all the smiling faces. Volo is here, Volo wrote a book... a book about... oh. "Volo, something awful is going on. We found something in the sewers below the city. I can't recall the name, but it is an aberration with a mouth of tentacles and it feeds on brains. That is all I can recall from my temple guard training. You wrote a book on monsters, what is this thing and how much danger is the city in?"
"Hmmm. What you are describing sounds like an Illitid," Volo says, rubbing his mustache. "I'm sure the city is fine. I've heard of worse than mind flayers involved with those blasted guilds. I'm sure it's nothing the Watch can't handle."
"Anyhow, we'll need the signing over of the property to be watched over by a magistrate and notarized. It'll be 50gp, which I'm sure you can handle after your..." "I will handle it," Renaer interrupts, turning to Volo. "They saved my new, dear friend here, and I feel I owe them a debt. I will cover the 50gp for the magistrate." He turns back to the party, "If you need anything from me, just let me know. I may not speak to my father much anymore, but Lord Neverember's son is still a weighty name in this city. I will help when I can."
"Well," says Volo, "If that is all for here, let us retire to the magistrate and get this new property squared away! I'll also make myself available to you whenever you need. You know where to find me!"
The party raises their glasses to Floon's health and quickly drains them, before standing and getting ready to leave. Before they make it out the door, Durnin calls Odrith from behind the bar.
"Wait, you lot had the Pixies on the Deadpool? Here. Apparently the Troll yesterday was one they chased up here by mistake. You know the rules, if you cause damage to my bar, anything you bring back through it becomes mine. I have no need for this, and you all won the pool, so here you go!" He tosses a small Bag of Holding over to Odrith, who catches it deftly. Odrith pockets it to look through later, as he rushes to catch up with his friends, old and new, out in the spring sunshine.
A year has passed since the companions saved Floon and Renaer, and while they have grown as skilled artisans and adventurers, the city of Waterdeep has remained largely the same. Business at The Spectral Spirits is flourishing, largely due to a cask of new and mutual support from local businesses, and a friendly poltergeist who greets each guest as they sit to a fine meal or drink.
Though the weeks directly following their heroic venture into the sewers of Waterdeep were full of contact from the various guilds around the city, the past several months have been relatively quiet. Each day the companions wake, discuss business over a private breakfast in their sitting room, then leave the tavern in the capable hands of Bonny, Brienna, Fayree, and Sham while they go about their different professions and trainings. The companions almost fall into the pattern of an easy life, until it is all interrupted early one morning the following spring.
As the adventurers finish their private breakfast, Connor and Laela collecting their dirty plates and dishes as part of their chores (for which the companions have started paying them 2cp a week for doing), and they make their way to the stairs, an explosion rocks the building and fills Trollskull Alley - causing everyone to nearly fall over and the young twins to drop their pile of dishes. Charred bodies and anguished screams fly through the air. A thick cloud of acrid smoke billows outward from the blast, which seems to have occurred right outside the open door downstairs. Rushing outside, the companions cough through the black smoke filling the alley and look around, seeing the side of their building charred and burned but structurally unhurt. Bodies litter the ground and people are running and screaming in all directions. Odrith and Kaivius recognize magical sirens ringing in the distance alerting the City Watch, the City Guard, and the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors that citizens of the city are in trouble. They should all arrive in minutes, but the chaos is spreading through the city now.
Things had been going so well. Sure Chalk hadn't been entirely conductive the whole time but at least everything was stable. Her companions were good ones and it reminded her of her friends from home. Though these friends seemed less timid and more prone to doing things that were interesting. She still hadn't managed to figure everything out about Whit but what he had said would have to be enough for now.
And then there had been an earth shattering kaboom. Chalk had been heading to the attic to do a small amount of tending to her garden but now it seemed that would have to wait. She scampered down the stairs after the rest, mimicking the sirens as she went.
Whatever was going on was causing a lot of ruckus. And explosions. Seemed dangerous. But also interesting. Who would want to disturb the peace so much? She hurries after Odrith shouting in his own voice, "We shouldn't split up"
Whit jumps at the initial commotion, hoping it was just a mere accident. His shoulders slump as he realizes Odrith and Chalk are going to check it out. He puts on a brave face and follows after them, at least this could make for another story.
The stench of burning bodies wafts into the tavern. Kaivius's eyes glaze over, a memory triggered by the smell. A village on fire, smoke so thick she can barely see, and the pressure of someone dragging her away from what used to be her home.
"We shouldn't split up!" Chalk's croon jolts Kaivius back to the present. She just catches Whit's coat tail whipping out the door, and she grudingly follows.
This does not bode well. She thinks, covering her nose to avoid the smell. "Go find your mother" She tells the twins, then follows her friends out the door.
As the chaos outside dies down, the companions notice that thankfully no buildings have caught fire, but 11 charred bodies are spread throughout the sunlit alley. Odrith knows that the sirens mean him and his friends have mere minutes to complete an investigation of the alley before the watch will shut it down.
Chalk, looking at the familiar signs of the explosion, recognizes that this was caused by a fireball spell that went off right outside their door, seemingly centered around the collection of bodies.
Along with the 11 bodies in the alley, there seem to be many eyewitness who were outside when the explosion happened.
At an initial glance, these are the 11 bodies:
One elderly female human
Two cloaked male humans clad in leather armor with sheathed longswords
Two female humans and one male half-elf dressed in plain clothes
One male gnome wearing a burned cloak and clutching a dagger
Two female halflings and two male halflings
What do the companions do before the watch arrives?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
They had stumbled upon an unexpected crime scene. People didn't typically throw fireballs in the middle of the city's alleys. Usually a dagger was the weapon of choice. Still it was right on their doorstep, maybe it had something to do with them? She takes a good look at the burned stones to find who was at the epicenter of the confrontation. Presumably something on the nearest body would give her some insight.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Whit takes a moment to evaluate the scene, and realizes he will have to move quickly, better talk to some witnesses. Whit hurries over to the nearest eye-witnesses, "Are you all okay? Did you see what happened?"
Surveying the scene, finding the one responsible is very unlikely. The next best thing Odrith could do with his time is try and figure out if there was a motive that would prompt this destruction.
Odrtih will scramble around and inspect the corpses trying to find something they might have in common. Investigation: 6
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The bodies definitely look well done. Kaivius scans the corpses briefly, looking for anything that might tell them who they were. Then she raises her eyes to the passerbys.
"Did you see what happened?" she asks. "Was there a quarrel or just the attack?" She tries to put a soothing tone into her words, hopefully making the witnesses more compliant.
Investigation:2
Persuasion:20
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The party circles around the sleeping brain, feeling the psionic power still resonating from its prone form. Behind them, Renaer and Floon begin to stir - the salve Renaer was using on Floon apparently finally taking effect.
The party briefly discusses what to do about the brain, deciding to all attack at once as it wakes up. Whit offers to stab it first, his blade is surest, and the others have magical abilities to expend.
Whit cracks his neck and relaxes his shoulders. He crouches low, finding balance, takes a couple of practice swings, then grips his rapier with two hands for a mighty strike.
The blade, while it was aimed true, hits the psionic field around the brain and is deflected completely - he forgot about psionic force around it! He wanted so bad to deal the massive killing blow, maybe striking so hard wasn't a good idea for the normally lithe figure. The force behind the blow just made it easier to be deflected by the force.
His rapier clangs into the stone ground - the ringing of the steel echoing throughout the chamber. The Brain roars awake, snarling and rearing towards whit. Odrith releases his fiery breath, engulfing the brain - but it fights through it, the brain starting to smoke and the rubbery skin charring. Chalk and Kaivius both release their spells, frost starting to form on the brain and the bell clanging throughout the chamber, but it was ready for both, it shakes off the spells easily. It jumps at Whit, going for the killing blow. Odrith steps into the way, swinging his flail with what little strength he has left. It connects with the brain, and he can feel the psionic force beginning to fade. He knocks the leaping brain aside. It stumbles, but turns to attack the part.
Chalk and Kaivius begin to cast their spells, aiming towards the wounded, snarling brain - but all of a sudden a small pop echoes through the room, and it is gone. The psionic force the party was feeling dissipates. It seems they are alone... for now.
Well that was closer than Chalk would have liked and once again she was glad she'd stayed by the door. She could still hardly believe that her desperate play had worked. With everyone else nearly dead, it was up to her to see if there were any clues left behind. Plus it would give her a chance to get a better look at that ritualistic circle.
Plopping on the ground Odrith moans and starts to apply pressure to the hole in his shoulder.
"How is everyone feeling?" Odrith says as he cranes his head back to look at Floon and Ranaer. "Oh yeah... sorry about getting mind controlled and slapping a flail into your face..."
Odrith hides his face behind his shield after that awkward exchange.
"Odrith? Are you with us again?" Calming down when he sees he is, and begins to look around the room to see if there was anything worthwhile. "I think we are fine, but I don't think we should linger here. Who knows if that thing will come back."
Investigation Check: 4
13
Kaivius, though much weakened from the brain's attacks, helps pull Renaer and Floon to their feet. Renaer rubs his sore face, wiping blood from his nose and mouth. "It is no more your fault than mine, my friend. I should not have let my guard down in such a dire situation. I just saw Floon getting tortured and I..." his voice trails off as he looks at his friend. Floon, the salve applied by Renaer finally having done its work, looks much better than the state he was found in. Color has returned to his cheeks, and the burns and cuts on his chest have mostly faded to small scabs and bruises. "I cannot thank you all enough for helping me find my friend," Renaer continues after a moment, and he embraces Floon. "But we cannot tarry long. Remember the goblin that got away earlier? I think there is more to this place than what we found. I think we entered through a back door of some kind. We should leave. Now. Before more enemies come."
Chalk, meanwhile, has been investigating the pillar in the other room. As she's inspecting the pillar, she notices that the indentation in the middle matches the size and shape of the orb the Illithid pulled from its robe before a portal opened up. Her knowledge of arcane magic leads her to believe that the object was the key to opening the portal, and it probably led to some deeper, well defended hideout of the Xanathar guild. Whoever the Illithid was must have been powerful to have had a direct line between the hideouts.
Whit, always practical on such matters, begins searching the room for any treasures they can take to the surface. On the half-orc mage he finds a spellbook containing many spells, which Chalk may find useful. Under the chair on the raised platform he finds an unlocked wooden chest, containing two potion of healing, 16 gp, 82 sp, and 250 cp.
The companions help each other, Renaer, and Floon navigate the way back through the sewers, back towards the surface. Kaivius gives more than a few annoyed grunts at the knee-deep sludge and sewage they are forcing to wade through, with wounds no less. It is late at night when they return to the surface an hour later, the moon high. It is well after midnight. Luckily, Renaer finds them a private bathhouse to clean up in. New clothes are borrowed and everyone spends the rest of the short night soaking in the steaming baths, quietly thankful that they all made it out ok.
In the morning they make their way back to the Yawning Portal. They reach the pub just as Durnan unlocks and opens the door, ready to greet a new day. He grunts and nods to the regulars and welcomes them in. Volo is already sitting at a table, it seems he spent the night in the pub waiting on the adventurers. He raises his head as they approach, and his demeanor changes immediately. A smile spreads across his face, almost as wide as his extravagant, though frayed after a long night, mustache. "You did it! You found him! Oh thank the Gods! I was so worried! Please, please sit. Drinks all around! Durnan my friend, onto my tab please?" He calls out to the bar. Durnan gives Volo a suspicious look, about to refuse, but eyes the party and turns to make the drinks anyway. Volo claps his hands together, "So. Your reward.."
“I confess that I have but few coins to spare - I was unable to collect from that dratted publisher last night. But never let it be said that Volo reneges on a promise. Allow me to present something much more valuable.” He holds out a scroll tube. “The deed to a remarkable property here in Waterdeep! We’ll need a magistrate to witness the transfer of ownership. I’ll arrange a meeting with one after you’ve inspected the estate and deemed it satisfactory. You said you wanted an autograph, my good friend? Well how about my signature singing over the deed of your new home and establishment!”
Chalk is sure to sketch out the details along the pillar including voluminous notes on speculating the function of the indention and observations of the portal and the creatures that went through it. Plus a label on the orb saying 'key' in several different languages. A very fruitful day. She ends up so caught up in her notes that it takes Kaivius tugging her along to get her to finally leave and begin the trek up to the much nicer streets above.
The bath was just what the Kenku had ordered. It was almost like home, though less rambunctious. She can't help but splash the others some as she's puffing out her feathers to get into the deeper crevices. Poor Odrith. She also pesters Whit about his shape-shifting. Pleading in his own voice, "Come on. What makes it interesting!" Eventually the day catches up with her and she ends up snoozing in the comforting warm water. Mumbling occasionally in her sleep. "****"
When they are reunited with Floon, she just stays by the wayside. Letting out the occasional chirp as she's caught up in his almost infectious mood. She doesn't really need a house but it could provide so much room for activities! Or just a nicer place to sleep. She thumbs through the book assuming Whit actually gave it to her.
After finding Floon and retreating the the surface, the gang takes some much needed R&R. The night spent at the bath house was busy for Kaivius, but also peaceful. She scrubbed herself clean and walked around making sure her friends wounds were tended to. Poor Chalk was doing much better, although she had learned a positively foul word that she was now muttering in her sleep. Did I give her that to use?
The next morning as they file in to the Yawning Portal to collect their reward, Kaivius wonders how Volo will pay them. He obviously didn't obtain the coin like he said he would, would they get an interesting item? Maybe a new pointy stick? Much to her dismay, Volo offers them the deed to a property in Waterdeep. What would the group do with a house? She supposes that would prevent spending coin on inns, but what coin would go into the upkeep? Worst case scenario they could always sell it. The rich never consider what a burden a house could be, they only see the coin attached to the value. Sighing, Kaivius turns to Whit, this does seem to be more of his area of expertise.
Once on the surface Whit sighs in relief can can finally relax in what feels like days. Before the bathing starts Whit remembers the loot he found, "Chalk, I found this strange spell book, perhaps you can make more use of it than I? and Odrith since you seem to be the one taking the brunt of the damage here's a Potion of healing and one for you as well Kaivius, thanks again for all your help down there. Here's your split of the money we found too."
Whit chuckles to himself watching his friends recover and relax while soaking in a wonderful bath. Occasionally talking around Chalks pestering, somehow that damn Kenku knew all the right words to be a nuisance sometimes ending the conversation with "I'll tell you later, it's a strange story." As he sinks lower into the water, he think what a great story this will be.
The next morning they enter the Yawning portal and see Volo not in the best looking condition but it's understandable. Whit smiles seeing the reunion occur. He smiles even larger when Volo offers them the deed. "Mr. Volo, we will gratefully accept this reward. We are happy to of helped. If anything comes up again don't be afraid to ask." Whit turns and smiles to his friends, "Well friends we have a house to inspect, should go much smoother than those dreadful sewers, eh?"
After a bit of time applying pressure to the gushing wound, the bleeding finally slows and Odrith stands up and continues a watch until everyone is ready to head to the surface. Whit hands him a potion and some money and Odrith just nods and silently takes it. Odrith of course takes points but it looks like there isn't any trouble on the way up. That is nice.
The bath house is a fantastic respite, and it is fantastic to see everyone in such good moods, but Odrith just can't seem to raise his mood. Any time he is close to relaxing the image of that horrible aberration forces its way to the front of his mind along with the remembrance of the feeling of pure, primal rage. Was his dragon heritage partially to blame for how easily he was able to be swayed to try and kill his friends? He has gotten used to people being distrustful of his due to being a dragon born, especially in this city with the dragon ward, but this is the first time he thinks that they might have a point for that ward...
'****...'
Oh blazes... Odrith forgot he said that where Chalk could hear. Well, everyone deserves to be allows to swear if they want, and now Chalk has that choice. Worry about that can start tomorrow, now it is time for sleep.
Walking into the Yawning Portal Odrith is still distracted and stays lost in his thoughts and is just following his group. Thinking more of his ancestry, his history of protecting people, and his current position as an honored guard of the temple of Wakeen. He will need to figure this out.
'... smoother than those dreadful sewers, eh?' Odrith hears Whit say. He shakes himself to what is happening and looks at all the smiling faces. Volo is here, Volo wrote a book... a book about... oh.
"Volo, something awful is going on. We found something in the sewers below the city. I can't recall the name, but it is an aberration with a mouth of tentacles and it feeds on brains. That is all I can recall from my temple guard training. You wrote a book on monsters, what is this thing and how much danger is the city in?"
"Hmmm. What you are describing sounds like an Illitid," Volo says, rubbing his mustache. "I'm sure the city is fine. I've heard of worse than mind flayers involved with those blasted guilds. I'm sure it's nothing the Watch can't handle."
"Anyhow, we'll need the signing over of the property to be watched over by a magistrate and notarized. It'll be 50gp, which I'm sure you can handle after your..."
"I will handle it," Renaer interrupts, turning to Volo. "They saved my new, dear friend here, and I feel I owe them a debt. I will cover the 50gp for the magistrate." He turns back to the party, "If you need anything from me, just let me know. I may not speak to my father much anymore, but Lord Neverember's son is still a weighty name in this city. I will help when I can."
"Well," says Volo, "If that is all for here, let us retire to the magistrate and get this new property squared away! I'll also make myself available to you whenever you need. You know where to find me!"
The party raises their glasses to Floon's health and quickly drains them, before standing and getting ready to leave. Before they make it out the door, Durnin calls Odrith from behind the bar.
"Wait, you lot had the Pixies on the Deadpool? Here. Apparently the Troll yesterday was one they chased up here by mistake. You know the rules, if you cause damage to my bar, anything you bring back through it becomes mine. I have no need for this, and you all won the pool, so here you go!" He tosses a small Bag of Holding over to Odrith, who catches it deftly. Odrith pockets it to look through later, as he rushes to catch up with his friends, old and new, out in the spring sunshine.
END OF CHAPTER 1
Chapter 3
A year has passed since the companions saved Floon and Renaer, and while they have grown as skilled artisans and adventurers, the city of Waterdeep has remained largely the same. Business at The Spectral Spirits is flourishing, largely due to a cask of new and mutual support from local businesses, and a friendly poltergeist who greets each guest as they sit to a fine meal or drink.
Though the weeks directly following their heroic venture into the sewers of Waterdeep were full of contact from the various guilds around the city, the past several months have been relatively quiet. Each day the companions wake, discuss business over a private breakfast in their sitting room, then leave the tavern in the capable hands of Bonny, Brienna, Fayree, and Sham while they go about their different professions and trainings. The companions almost fall into the pattern of an easy life, until it is all interrupted early one morning the following spring.
As the adventurers finish their private breakfast, Connor and Laela collecting their dirty plates and dishes as part of their chores (for which the companions have started paying them 2cp a week for doing), and they make their way to the stairs, an explosion rocks the building and fills Trollskull Alley - causing everyone to nearly fall over and the young twins to drop their pile of dishes. Charred bodies and anguished screams fly through the air. A thick cloud of acrid smoke billows outward from the blast, which seems to have occurred right outside the open door downstairs. Rushing outside, the companions cough through the black smoke filling the alley and look around, seeing the side of their building charred and burned but structurally unhurt. Bodies litter the ground and people are running and screaming in all directions. Odrith and Kaivius recognize magical sirens ringing in the distance alerting the City Watch, the City Guard, and the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors that citizens of the city are in trouble. They should all arrive in minutes, but the chaos is spreading through the city now.
What would you like to do?
Looking at his companions with worry on his scaled face Odrith says, "I'm going to try and find the source."
Odrith runs forward trying to ascertain the location of origin.
Rolls here if needed.
Things had been going so well. Sure Chalk hadn't been entirely conductive the whole time but at least everything was stable. Her companions were good ones and it reminded her of her friends from home. Though these friends seemed less timid and more prone to doing things that were interesting. She still hadn't managed to figure everything out about Whit but what he had said would have to be enough for now.
And then there had been an earth shattering kaboom. Chalk had been heading to the attic to do a small amount of tending to her garden but now it seemed that would have to wait. She scampered down the stairs after the rest, mimicking the sirens as she went.
Whatever was going on was causing a lot of ruckus. And explosions. Seemed dangerous. But also interesting. Who would want to disturb the peace so much? She hurries after Odrith shouting in his own voice, "We shouldn't split up"
Whit jumps at the initial commotion, hoping it was just a mere accident. His shoulders slump as he realizes Odrith and Chalk are going to check it out. He puts on a brave face and follows after them, at least this could make for another story.
The stench of burning bodies wafts into the tavern. Kaivius's eyes glaze over, a memory triggered by the smell. A village on fire, smoke so thick she can barely see, and the pressure of someone dragging her away from what used to be her home.
"We shouldn't split up!" Chalk's croon jolts Kaivius back to the present. She just catches Whit's coat tail whipping out the door, and she grudingly follows.
This does not bode well. She thinks, covering her nose to avoid the smell. "Go find your mother" She tells the twins, then follows her friends out the door.
As the chaos outside dies down, the companions notice that thankfully no buildings have caught fire, but 11 charred bodies are spread throughout the sunlit alley. Odrith knows that the sirens mean him and his friends have mere minutes to complete an investigation of the alley before the watch will shut it down.
Chalk, looking at the familiar signs of the explosion, recognizes that this was caused by a fireball spell that went off right outside their door, seemingly centered around the collection of bodies.
Along with the 11 bodies in the alley, there seem to be many eyewitness who were outside when the explosion happened.
At an initial glance, these are the 11 bodies:
What do the companions do before the watch arrives?
They had stumbled upon an unexpected crime scene. People didn't typically throw fireballs in the middle of the city's alleys. Usually a dagger was the weapon of choice. Still it was right on their doorstep, maybe it had something to do with them? She takes a good look at the burned stones to find who was at the epicenter of the confrontation. Presumably something on the nearest body would give her some insight.
Arcana: 23
Investigation: 11
Whit takes a moment to evaluate the scene, and realizes he will have to move quickly, better talk to some witnesses. Whit hurries over to the nearest eye-witnesses, "Are you all okay? Did you see what happened?"
Persuasion: 13
Surveying the scene, finding the one responsible is very unlikely. The next best thing Odrith could do with his time is try and figure out if there was a motive that would prompt this destruction.
Odrtih will scramble around and inspect the corpses trying to find something they might have in common.
Investigation: 6
The bodies definitely look well done. Kaivius scans the corpses briefly, looking for anything that might tell them who they were. Then she raises her eyes to the passerbys.
"Did you see what happened?" she asks. "Was there a quarrel or just the attack?" She tries to put a soothing tone into her words, hopefully making the witnesses more compliant.
Investigation:2
Persuasion:20