The Yawning Portal

Session One:  The Yawning Portal

Davian 

This feels silly, I can’t really believe I’m doing this, but you were my rock, and I miss you father.  I’m really in the deep end here, this is so different than what we were used to, I don’t know what I’m doing.  But I helped save a few people, well meaning people, so I guess I’m doing the right thing.

Waterdeep is, wow, it’s this thriving place.  So much noise, it’s tough to think sometimes.  Thank goodness we spent half of today in that sewer, so much more quiet than above.  Looking back, I do have to chuckle, going from a spotless room in the inn to the filth of the sewer, in only a few hours.

 

I killed.  Not to eat like when we were in the forest, I killed an intelligent being.  Part of me felt…good.  It scares me a bit.  I mean, death is a part of life, it’s the inevitable end, but I was that end.  It was the right thing to do, to spare an innocent, but even still.  I wasn’t even in Waterdeep for a full day before I was killing these giant mosquitos, the blood flying everywhere.  And then this giant lumbering beast, I think they said it was a troll … I helped end that life.  The next day it was some bird people, and there was one that was left to suffer, to be our guide and to die first if his friends tried to hurt us.  It just felt wrong, and yet, deep down, a part of me was glad to see our enemy suffer before his inevitable death.  The people I’m with, they don’t seem fazed by death at all.  There’s a cleric, a wizard (or at least I think she’s a wizard, yeah, she, I met a woman), and some big guy who kept talking about honor.

I found Volo, your old guild mate.  He’s…odd.  We saved his nephew, assisted by the nephew’s drinking buddy.  The buddy’s fascinating.  Went from cowering to self-professed hero.  I guess it will take a while before I understand people. 

I think I laid eyes on a real mindflayer, like what you used to tell stories of.  I wonder if any of the ones you encountered had a brain as a pet.  I’m sure we’ll face him at some point, he may be looking to seek retribution for the death of his pet, and maybe of the half-orc that was also with him.

The deaths seem to have fueled some sort of change in me, I feel like I’ve tapped into some well of power, my skin is still tingling.  I’m both concerned and elated, waiting anxiously to see what this means.

Good night father…oh, habits die hard….

Yasuo

Mighty tree trembles

Cherry blossoms fall freely

The sword has cut deep

- Shimazu Yasuo

Eizo-san, I humbly offer my report of my service to Geddarm Volothamp.  All things have a beginning, and I will start with my first encounter with Volo-san.

When I answered the summons to the Yawning Portal at precisely eight bells, I found it to be full of people from all ranks.  I did not see Volo-san so I found a place to sit where I could be watchful and guarded.  It was louder and more raucous than similar establishments in Doiyu, but not much different other than that.

In the center of the common room was a very large pit, somewhat like a dry well, that lead to the depths bellow.  This apparently gave the establishment its name.  It seems that occasionally people go down there looking for adventure.

After a short while I saw a group of street thugs enter.  One of them had an eye tattooed on the side of his head, whom I would meet again later.  They seemed to have an issue with a rather large Orc female and her Half-Elf companion.  I would later find out that the Half-Elf was Alimar Quinn, a Priest of Tempus.  A brief, harmless fight broke out and the thugs fled.  I only mention the incident because it is the first time that I saw Quinn, my future companion, and he with the eye tattoo.

In the commotion no one noticed a creature climbing up out of the pit with something like blood bats hanging off of it, and three more flying about its head.  The moment I saw its hand appear from below I knew that I must engage it, and strode forward to do so.  I was not alone.

The Elven Wizard Liadon Thia cast a bolt of flame at one of the bat-like things but it evaded her.  Regrettably the bolt continued on to strike an upper balcony and set it on fire.

As we continued our assault we began to see that most of its wounds healed, making this a considerable foe.  The bats were a trivial matter.  Eventually we prevailed, subduing the creature until the proprietor doused it with oil and set it on fire.  This technique will be a good one to remember.  I am told that the creature was a Troll.

As we kicked the burning corpse over the ledge and back into the pit Volo-san entered the room, congratulating us on our victory as if it had been a great feat rather than the simple fight that it was.  I continue to have trouble understanding these people whom you have brought me amongst.

Introductions were made as we got down to business.  Alimar Quinn, Liadon Thia, and Targana Davian, an Aasimar Sorcerer.

Volo-san needed a party to look into the disappearance of his nephew, Blagmar Floon, with whom he had been recently drinking.  They had parted ways in an unseemly tavern, and Floon-san had not been seen since.  Volo-san asked if we would look into his disappearance, and contracted our services to do so.

We retired to our respective lodgings and prepared for the excursion.

The next day we set out in search of Floon-san, visiting an opium den along the way just out of curiosity.  From there we continued gathering information about the last sighting of our quarry.

Our information lead us to a warehouse owned by one of the cities gangs, who are predictably engaged in one of the turf wars that seem to be required of such organizations.  The warehouse was locked, but thanks to The God of Many Mirthful Voices a ‘key to a lost lock’ Quinn had procured at the opium den miraculously opened the door.  The Oni of Waterdeep clearly have a sense of humor.

Arrows flew out of the pitch-black darkness as soon as we opened the door, and fire bloomed as our sorcerers set our birdman assailants alight.  I charged in to engage them, killing one on arrival but suffering grievous injury for my troubles.  I regret to inform you that I nearly fell in battle.  As I lay there and watched the last of my blood  flowing out onto the floor I felt such shame as I can not adequately express.  Not that I would die in battle, for he who would avoid death only finds it quicker.  No, my shame was my failure to return Floon-san to Volo-san, and that by doing so I would not properly show honor to you and to my father.  This I could not bear.  As my shame burned inside of me I experienced a new surge of life as I refused to abandon my duty.  With a scream of rage I invoked my indomitable spirit, exacting retribution as I stood.  The battle was soon over.

The others in my group looked for spoils of war as is the duty of the lesser classes.  In doing so they found the hostage Neverember Renaer, son of Neverember Dagult, who as a friend of Floon-san soon joined our party.   Dagult was an important noble from Waterdeep’s recent past, I am told.  His son is a self-promoting buffoon, but he did pull his weight.

We learned important details from the birdman we had left alive for interrogation, which sadly lead us into the sewers.  I used the birdman as a shield as I lead the way through the unfortunate refuse as we wound through the maze of tunnels.  We eventually came to a chamber with a floating eye creature that was presumably guarding a junction room that had a ladder up and a marked passage forward.  Quinn bluffed the eye into letting us pass, and we continued down the tunnel.

We soon came to another guarded chamber, this one with guards behind arrow slits and a central column blocking our view into the rest of the room.  Quinn and Thia attempted to sneak up and kill the guards before they could raise a warning, but were not successful.  Thia summoned a ball of exploding ice that instantly killed her target, making a huge racket in the process, while Quinn's attempt regrettably did nothing more than alert the guard on his side.  The guard managed to sound the alarm before being ended, but fortunately no one answered.

This chamber had a door leading out of the muck and into a more civilized series of rooms.  We explored this area until we reached a place where we heard voices on the other side of another door, voices we determined were unfriendly.  I immediately kicked down the door and my party engaged the occupants.  I was surprised to see the thug with the eye tattoo, who was on his knees trying to stuff rags into the crack beneath the far door as if trying to keep out smoke from a fire.  The other occupant was a grey dwarf I would later learn was of the race Duergar.  The dwarf grew in size as he attacked, and his blows landed with the strength of two men.  He almost killed Quinn during the fight, but our combined might was sufficient to prevail.  There were no special tricks like there was for the Troll, it was just honest sword work.

We continued on after we restored Quinn, eventually coming to a chamber with more of the bizarre creatures that seem to proliferate in this area.  There was an Orc mage too, torturing Floon-san.  I regret to inform you that I did not immediately rush to Floon-san's aid, so taken aback was I by the Oni in this room.  It was a human-like entity with the head of an octopus, petting a brain-like creature.  I could immediately sense the evil power emanating from it, power confirmed as it shrugged off the attack from Thia as if it were nothing more than a child's whisper.  The brain-like creature entered the battle and I quickly dispatched it.  The Oni casually walked away from us like it had nothing to fear, and sensing the truth in that we chose not to pursue it.

We killed the Orc and saw to the wounded, and briefly surveyed the room.  There was an escape hatch in the ceiling and we took it.  It lead into the kitchen of some peasants who were most surprised to see us, as one would imagine.  Floon-san demanded soup as his due as a lord, and I was satisfied that they quickly complied.  We then made our way back to deliver Volo-san's nephew.

I have experienced much in a short time, and have been forced to face the fact that sometimes all of the training and all of the skill are not enough to guarantee the fulfillment of duty.  I shall have to reflect deeply on this.

Brightly shining star

Implacably enduring

Show me your secrets

- Shimazu Yasuo

Father

I arrived in Waterdeep safe and sound with Uumaga, who has been a most insightful teacher.  I feel like I have a good grasp of the common language of these Western people.

On landing we were met by the Cassalanter House, who generously prepared lodgings in the Golden Harp.  The Golden Harp is a prestigious establishment that got its name from a harp that periodically appears in random areas, playing music before disappearing again.

The people here are very diverse, but very few understand honor or show proper respect.  I am beginning to understand that the nobles here are shamefully obsessed with wealth and other disgraceful things, and that this is not only tolerated but it is the expected behavior!  What manner of people are these, that can willfully abandon honor and propriety in the name of self-indulgence and gluttony?  There is no greater good here, there is no community effort, it is everyone for themselves!  Everyone is claiming credit for everything, regardless of whether or not they had a hand in it, and everyone proclaims that they have done it alone rather than as a result of accumulated effort!  It disgusts me.  I recently had cause to go into the local sewers and a prevailing thought was that it might be full of shit but at least it is honest about it.  In some ways that made it preferable to life above them.

I struggle to apply the lessons I have learned to Waterdeep and it's people.  I have much to think about and much to learn.

I met Volo-san, the author that I am told you once hosted.  He was in need of assistance and I was honored to help him in your name.  He sends his regard.

Oyasuminasai, father.  I hope this finds you and mother well.

Thia Liadon

1 Mirtul 1492DR - First Day in Waterdeep

My first day in Waterdeep began by waiting in a long line to enter the city’s South Gate. Upon reaching the gate and paying the toll, I was given a copy of the city’s Code Legal. Apparently, Lords and Magisters have the authority to determine guilt and assign sentences. Obviously I won’t be breaking any laws, but I will be sure to avoid the appearance of breaking laws, as well. I don’t want to be judged and sentenced on the spot for something I didn’t do. Thankfully the man at the gate informed me that using magic in the city is illegal unless you are registered. He directed me to the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors guild, and I swiftly headed there to register.

After registering, I asked where I might find Volothamp Geddarm. My father sent me here to acquire a copy of Volo’s new tome, after all. I learned that Volo is at the Yawning Portal Inn every evening, so I asked for directions and made my way there. I was told that the Yawning Portal was named for a large hole, resembling a well, in the floor that leads to the Undermountain. All sorts of adventurers gather at this inn. I’m bound to hear great tales if I spend time here. The establishment is run by ex-adventurer Durnan. He seems like decent guy, and good judge of character and skill. He came over to me and said that I wasn’t going down the well. Ouch. Well, I suppose I have no serious adventuring experience, so it’s for the best. I just wish my lack of skill wasn’t so obvious.

While waiting for Volo, four thugs--one with a tattooed eye on the side of his head--entered and picked a fight with an orc. I wonder if this is a typical occurrence. A half-elf--who I would later learn to be Quinn Alimer, Cleric of Tempus--jumped in to help her. After the thugs were defeated and left, a troll climbed out of the well! Three giant mosquitoes (called stirges, according to my later research) were attached to the troll and started flying after patrons. People were running and screaming. I tried to help, but my aim was off. I need more practice with my fire bolt spell. Training at home with targets is one thing, but actually facing a frightening monster and putting that training into practice is a challenge. An Aasimar sorcerer, Davian Targana, killed off all three stirges easily with magic missile. I should have thought of that. A samurai named Yasuo Shimazu, and the cleric from the earlier, Quinn, fought off the troll until Durnan could kill it and toss it back into the pit.

Right after the fight, Volo Geddarm introduced himself and asked us to find his nephew, Floon Blagmar. Volo described Floon as a handsome, harmless buffoon, and said he might have been kidnapped. He said that violence in the city has increased, with more fighting between the factions. To encourage us to accept this quest to find Floon, he gave us each 10gp upfront and promised us each another 100gp when we find him. Hopefully we find Floon, but I doubt we will see the 100gp even if we do. Volo’s purse seemed a little empty. Before he departed, I explained that I had been sent to Waterdeep to acquire his new tome. At this, he signed a copy of his previous book, Volo's Guide to Monsters, and gave it to me. (While also taking back 5gp as payment.) He said to come see him later about his new book, Volo's Guide to Spirits and Specters, which he hasn’t finished yet. Drat. My quest was almost completed. But while I wait for his new book, I get to go on my very own adventure, like in my mother’s stories!

Side note: While at the Yawning Portal, a woman gave Quinn a snake coin. I'm unsure of what it means at this time.

The four of us--Yasuo Shimazu, Quinn Alimer, Davian Targana, and myself--agreed to meet back at the Yawning Portal the next morning to look for Floon. Volo had said that Floon was last seen at the Skewered Dragon two nights ago, so that’s where we will go. I made my way to the Font of Knowledge, also known as Oghma’s temple and the Great Library, to stay the night. But how could I rest while surrounded by so many books? I didn’t, at least not right away. I spent hours exploring the library and reading the book that Volo gave me before finally calming my mind to meditate.

2 Mirtul 1492DR - Finding Floon

Bright and early, our adventuring party met at the Yawning Portal and departed for the Dock Ward. At the Dock Ward, we encountered a crime scene with six dead bodies. I wonder if that's normal. Maybe it's part of that escalating violence that Volo mentioned.

We passed by the Old Xoblob Shop, a curiosity shop with a stuffed beholder in the window. That dew our attention so we stopped in for a look. Everything in the shop was purple. Everything. Quinn bought a purple key, though the proprietor didn't know what lock it belonged to. The eccentric proprietor kept asking if we wanted to try smoking a pipe, saying it would expand our minds. The room was filling with fumes, so we stepped back outside. I suppose we can head back there if we want to buy purple trinkets.

Around the corner from the Old Xoblob Shop was the Skewered Dragon. Quinn played cards (badly) with some locals. Probably a clever adventuring tactic to win them over. It worked! They provided some additional information related to Floon. Years ago, Dagult Neverember was the Open Lord of Waterdeep. He went off to rebuild the city of Neverwinter, and while he was gone, he was ousted from Waterdeep. Neverember’s son, Renaer, was here at the Skewered Dragon with Floon the other night. They were followed out by four men from the snake-tattoo faction (that we later discover is the Zhentarim). These members hang out at a warehouse on Candle Lane. The warehouse is marked with a snake symbol. Fun fact: Candle Lane is a dark street, but is continually lit by one flame that cannot be extinguished. Hence the name.

We found the warehouse marked with a snake symbol. After waiting for people to show up and knocking on the door with no reply, Quinn tried the key he just bought from the Old Xoblob Shop. I kid you not, it opened the door. Inside the warehouse were twelve dead bodies. The smell of death was horrible. Four hooded bird folk, known as kenku, appeared from behind crates and attacked us. A fight ensued and all but one kenku were killed. My fire bolt actually hit this time! Though, I’m not sure if fighting was necessary. Could we have talked it out, instead? Yasuo guarded the surviving kenku while Davian and I searched the warehouse. We found Floon’s friend, Renaer. He explained what happened, but I didn’t quite catch all of the details. He said a lot of “Z” and “X” words, and it was confusing to me. It’s frustrating to be missing pieces of information. I think he said that Floon was taken by five Zhentarim thugs who were heading north on Asper Street. I think there was some mistaken identity; that they thought Floon was Renaer. Zhentarim are the ones with the snake tattoos. So that means that the twelve dead men in the warehouse are Zhentarim.  They were looking for the Stone of Galorr and thought that Floon had the stone. But the stone is actually in the hands of the Xanathar Guild. I might have misheard that part. I’ll need to ask Renaer about that. Anyway, the twelve Zhentarim were killed by the kenku, who were talking about a “stash.” Renaer said that the kenku are with Xanathar. I don’t know what all of this means. But since they were talking about a “stash,” Davian and I kept searching the warehouse. Upstairs, we found a blank, magic piece of paper and a rope attached to a bell at the north wall. We heard the city guards coming and didn’t have time to investigate further. (We would return here after freeing Floon.) I took the piece of paper and grabbed a shortbow and quiver of arrows from among the dead. The kenku was parroting, “follow the yellow signs in the sewers” regarding where Floon was taken. So we headed to the nearby manhole rather than wait for Sergeant Staget of the city watch, and the guards to arrive. Who knows? Maybe they would have thrown us in jail or worse! I question the justice system here. Best to avoid getting entangled with the law.

Sewers are disgusting. The smell was horrendous. Let us never do that again. We navigated the labyrinth of sewer tunnels by following yellow chalk signs on the walls. The signs were a circle with ten spokes. Some spokes were smudged, like they were being used for navigation. All the while in the sewers, Yasuo was pushing our captive kenku along. The pitiful thing kept repeating, “run away home little boy, run away” or something like that. It clearly wanted us to let it go, and that clearly wasn’t happening. We encountered a grapefruit-sized sphere with four eyestalks guarding a ladder. The creature, a gazer, was kind of cute. In a commanding voice, Quinn told the tiny gazer that we were here to see Krentz. It stepped (floated) aside. Rather than heading up the ladder, we continued forward following the yellow chalk symbols. We came to an open chamber and heard snoring. Quinn and I snuck forward to check out the area. There were two sleeping goblin guards behind arrow slits in the wall. We each took a wall and attacked in unison. My ice knife spell worked! I missed the arrow slit, but the explosion killed the goblin. I struggle with the idea of killing a sleeping foe. I don’t know if that was the right thing to do. Quinn’s gobblin woke up, though, and shouted an alarm. I rushed over and killed it with a fire bolt. No other goblins showed up. There was a door in the center of this sewer chamber, so we entered it, assuming that this is where the yellow markings were leading.

The door took us out of the sewers, but still in an underground area. We came across a room and could hear people on the other side saying something about stuffing cloth under the door. Yasuo barged through the door to find that same Zhentarim, Krentz, who had fought Quinn and the orc at the Yawning Portal. There was also a dwarf, Zemk the Duergar. They were at the door on the other side of the room. Of course a battle ensued. Even though Zemk grew in size for the battle, we managed to defeat them with difficulty. I rushed over to the door and finished stuffing cloth under it. I could hear a hiss or something on the other side. I don’t know what they were trying to keep out, but we probably didn’t want it in the room, either.

In the next room we found Floon being pinned down by a half-orc wizard and a mind flayer with his pet (that I later discovered to be an intellect devourer...I think), looking on. I sent a fire bolt at the mind flayer, but that did absolutely nothing. He whispered something to the small brain with legs, and it came scurrying towards us. Meanwhile, the mind flayer walked out of the room, conversing with someone through an orb he was holding. All I could see in the orb was was a giant eye. We defeated the pet brain and the orc, freeing Floon. Floon is definitely a buffoon. He ignored the fact that the guys did all of the work defeating the orc, with me making little or no contribution, and instead was tripping over himself saying how he’s forever in my debt and so forth. Anyway, the defeated wizard had a spellbook which I excitedly took. I look forward to learning these new spells!

We exited the large room through a hatch in the ceiling. It led to a cellar in a family’s home (on Fishgut Alley, in the Dock Ward). They were alarmed and frightened to see us walk into their kitchen, but glad that we weren’t there to do them harm. We told them about the entrance and they were glad to hear of it so they could seal it up. They introduced themselves as the Peabodya. I think they are our new allies!

Quinn Alimer

Day 1

The day began without much fanfare. My fellow hammers and I woke early, conducted our morning prayers, ate breakfast and went about our duties for the day. While routine and at times monotonous, my tasks contribute to the greater good towards the temple. I thank Lord Lanset for that fateful night where he set me on this path and I thank Tempus. During afternoon cleaning, a scroll was delivered to me. My superior, Stalwart Freddert was put into a foul mood in discovering the scroll instructed me to meet Volothamp Geddarm at the Yawning Portal at the chime of eight bells. I couldn’t spare much thought as to his reaction to this news given the occupation of why anyone would make a request of me. However, I would not think to second guess

Rauthat Triston as his wisdom and experience as a swordmaster far exceeds my own.

I set out for the Yawning Portal, allowing enough time to navigate the busy streets. The nightlife at The Portal was in full swing when I entered. Immediately among the throngs of people my attention went to the arm wrestling going on next to the open portal to the Undermountain. There, Yagra Stonefist yelled over for me. I joined her and asked of her recent adventures and conquests. Before we could get into it, four members of the Xanathar gang filled the doorway, calling Yagra out to fight. Yagra stood tall and met the challenge head on. Tempus hates a coward and running from a fight where a friend is in need. Four on one hardly seemed fair so I joined the frey. Tempus also hates a fool. Growing up in Waterdeep, four new corpses would not be welcome regardless of status without a very good reason. A bar fight would not be sufficient reason so I kept my blows non-lethal. The four Xanathar thugs got the better of Yagra quickly and the flow was going to turn quickly unless I did something. With their attention diverted, I was able to deliver a knockout blow to one of the thugs while performing a battle heal on Yagra. Tempus was watching over me, guiding my hand and I felt empowered. The others noted my contribution to the fight and shifted to me. The next minute provided a quick exchange of misses on their part and solid hits on my part. The remaining thug retreated from The Portal with the usual threats bullies like to make.

I helped Yagra up and saw to her wounds, admonishing her for having such a quick temper. The evening’s excitement had just begun however. A shrill shriek was emitted from the hole on the main floor followed by the entrance of blood bats and a troll. The City Watch wouldn’t mind this corpse and might even wonder if one didn’t contribute to ending this threat. I launched myself into the path of the troll. Durnan the bartender jumped into the fight as did three others although I’d be slow to call it assistance. Durnan kept fumbling with his sword and one of the magic-users set the upper floor on fire after missing the troll. A foreign sword fighter stepped up, trying to land blows with his swords but to no avail. I struck the beast with my rapier and caught a quick series of flying magic arrows tracking down the bats out of the corner of my eye. That is where everything went dark for me as the last thing I recall is a huge clawed hand raking down the front of me.

I came to on the floor in the spot I fell. There was an aftertaste in my mouth that tasted of a healing potion. I’ve not had the need for one personally but was happy it was there. Falling to a troll was no way to leave this life to go meet Tempus. As I was helped to my feet by my allies in the fight, a clapping came from the doorway. A strangely dressed gentleman with a long, curled mustache was looking in. He quickly came over and introduced himself as Volothamp Geddarm.

We put a table back on its legs and grabbed chairs to sit around it. Yagra thanked me for jumping in and having her back. She gave me a coin with a snake on it and said if I was ever in need of her services, present the coin and she would return the favor. I thanked her and saw her out the door.

After rejoining the others, it was at this point I learned my scroll was not the only one. Each of the other three had also received an invitation for this meeting. Volothamp Geddarm jumped right in before any of us could get a word in. He explained he was looking for his nephew Floon Blagmar. After a visit to Floon’s domicile, Volothamp discovered he hadn’t been there for at least two days and was worried. Volothamp described Floon as a handsome man but not all that bright. A shady place called The Skewered Dragon was the last location he knew where Floon was seen. I knew of the place in the Dock Ward. Not a great place to be lost. Volothamp provided each of us with a down payment and offered ten times that upon the return of his nephew. Seeing as Rauthat Triston had put my name forward, I couldn’t disappoint him and Volothamp was clearly in need of help. I accepted the offer as did the other three.

After saying “yes” to Volothamp, the four of us who were invited got acquainted. I seemed to be the only one living in Waterdeep. The others came from far away lands and for various reasons. The human samurai was seeking to test himself and ultimately prove himself worthy of the honor of his people. The elven magic-user was quite interested in Volothamp and knowledge in general. There is certainly plenty to learn in the vast libraries of Waterdeep. The aasimar magic-user was an odd one, even for this city. He did shoot down all the bats in one go making him my kind of odd.

We retired for the evening where I returned to the temple. Stalwart Freddert met me upon my return and had a list of chores to be completed. I informed him of the night’s events and how my services had been requested and authorized. This fact didn’t sit well but there was nothing he could do. It was a late night for me completing the list but ultimately the deeds were done. I retired for the night.

Day 2

The next morning, after first light’s prayers I returned to the Yawning Portal. The other three from last night had returned and all were on time. I do appreciate punctuality. Seeing as I was the only Waterdeep citizen, I took the lead guiding us to The Skewered Dragon. We passed by a City Watch investigation which appeared to be the aftermath of a deadly altercation between rival gangs. The Watch wasn’t allowing for anyone to get too close. We altered our path and steered clear of it and moved on.

As we approached our destination, a peculiar shop stood out. The Old Xoblob Shop was one I had heard about and decided to pop on in. Immediately upon entrance to the shop, we were met by a purple cloud and an exotic, strange odor. The bald gnome shopkeeper welcomed us in as he sat and partook in his pipe, which was the origin of the strange, malodorous, purple cloud. My curiosity got the better of me as three items caught my attention. A strange key, a pipe and an old soldier’s insignia. The history of the insignia made my curious mind wander. I paid for the three items and stepped out before my head filled with the purple cloud. My companions followed.

We entered The Skewered Dragon to find the guests in various states of inebriation from the prior night. I spied a group of gamblers in the corner and decided to get in on a game. With any luck, I might be able to glean some information from them. I took the first hand but lost the second. My instincts told me they might be cheating but winning this game was not my purpose. I seized the opportunity to ask about Floon. The gamblers seemed quite talkative after their recent win. They told us of two finely dressed, drunk buffoons who had been there two nights ago. They stumbled out after an evening of drinking but were followed by four men with snake tattoos. With a bit of further probing, they said the second man was the son of Dagult Neverember, the previous Open Lord of Waterdeep.

That was an interesting fact and offered up a motive for their disappearance. The gamblers made mention of the similarity between the two. I thanked them for the game and joined my companions. We made way to Candle Lane, the street given by the gamblers. The street was eerily quiet and dark, save for one ever-light lantern. Making our way down the street, a gated warehouse came into view. It bore the snake mark. This seemed a good place to investigate.

The warehouse was devoid of any windows or indication of what might be going on inside. We approached a door and knocked. No answer. We went to the side of the warehouse and knocked on a second door. Nothing again. Not to by stymied, I tried the door only to find it locked. Figuring the need for answers outweighed the need for strict adherence to the law, I attempted to pick the lock. Unfortunately, something about the lock defeated my efforts. Thinking back to the shop, I gave my newly purchased key a try. Lo and behold the key opened it. Yasuo the Samurai opened the door and before anything else could occur, we were ambushed.

Four dark-cloaked figures with bows opened fire from behind some crates. I was a bit quicker than them and was able to scoot behind cover after shooting a Tempus guided bolt at the creature on the left flank.  It struck the creature but didn’t put it down. Figuring a corpse couldn’t provide any answers, I elected to try to keep one of them alive. I ran out in the midst of the fighting, closing the distance with the one I had hit. I cold-cocked the creature, laying it out. Yasuo was quite impressive in the skirmish. He took several hits which I’ve seen bring down the heartiest of fighters. After a deep breath, a second wind came to him and he charged forth once again. The fight came to a quick conclusion and my companions began searching the warehouse.

There were twelve bodies that had been jumped and killed here. I was about to question the creature I had kept alive when the pair of magic-users announced they had found a prisoner. A thin, definitely eccentric man came bouncing out from a closet under the stairs. We untied him. He thanked us deeply, informing us that he was Renaer Neverember. He and Floon had indeed been drinking at The Skewered Dragon. They left and were jumped by several thugs. The thugs drug them to the warehouse. After restraining the pair, the thugs resumed their activities in the warehouse after placing Renaer into the closet. Then, all of a sudden, the sounds of a fight broke out. After all the screaming and sounds of metal on metal died down, Ranaer heard several muffled voices.

I then turned to our captive. The creature was identified as a kenku; a strange intelligent bird-like creature that had no voice of its own but could imitate other sounds. We learned that they had ambushed the 12 in the warehouse and taken Floon, thinking Floon was Ranaer. They took him through the sewers using yellow chalk symbols as a navigation aid. “Follow the yellow signs in the sewers,” echoed the kenku.

The pair of magic-users, Thia and Davian, went through the warehouse looking for anything that might be of interest. They found a magic bit of parchment and nothing else of interest. I decided to check where the nearest sewer entrance was located by looking around outside. I spied the City Watch making their way towards us at a quick pace. Sticking around in a warehouse filled with corpses most likely wasn’t going to go well for us and at best, would result in us being detained for the day. Time was not on our side. I called for my companions to come along. Yasuo took the kenku by the scruff of the neck and exited the warehouse. I glanced over to Ranaer and asked if he would like to join our band. To his credit, he picked up a sword and a bow and came along. I could feel the approving smile of Tempus.

We quickly descended into the sewer system and not a moment too late. The City Watch surrounded the warehouse as we dropped the sewer lid back into place. The first chalk symbol appeared to us. We made our way through this labyrinth putting our faith in the marks being accurate. The kenku kept squeaking about wanting to run home. We needed him in case additional answers were needed. Our band stopped short upon entering one of the larger junctions. A gazer was floating in the area and was annoyed at our appearance. I decided to see if we could bluff our way past. I took up a harsh tone with it stating we were on our way to see Krentz, the leader of the ambush party. A long second passed and the gazer backed off. We quickly went into the next tunnel with the yellow mark and continued on our path.

An interesting intersection came into view. We slowed our pace and crept forward. There was the sound of snoring coming from ahead of our position. Thia and I, being more stealthy approached the sounds. There were a pair of arrow slit windows. Thia took one and I the other. Upon my approach, I stepped on a rat and let out a quick, involuntary yelp. It was enough of a noise to rouse one of the guards. Thia and I both leaped to action, casting our magics. Thia’s spell erupted just on the other side of the slit, shredding the guard. My spell did not have nearly the effect I had hoped. Cursing my inattention and carelessness at my attack, I ducked the guard’s counterattack. Thia came over and cast her own bolt taking down the guard but not before it shouted out an alarm. I quickly called upon my skill in thamaturgy to shout out in the guard’s tongue “We got them!” After a long moment pausing, nothing else happened.  We were in the clear thus far.

There was a small door near the slits. We entered and found ourselves on the other side. The guards were goblins. I’m happy to relieve the world of these vermin. Nothing good has come of them. We navigated our way through the hideout and came to another door. There were two voices coming from behind it. They seemed to be pre-occupied, arguing with one another. Taking this as a good sign, Yasuo kicked in the door and we charged in. The thug who had picked a fight with Yagra last night was here with a dwarf from The Undermountain. They were piling up furniture to barricade the opposite door. We sprung into action to take them down.

I dug deep inside and cast one of my more destructive spells at the brute who knocked down Yagra. Tempus heard my prayers and granted me a glorious hit, taking down the thug in a single blow. His companion wasn’t going to let that action go unanswered. He uttered a spell of his own, causing him to double in size. He came after me and while my offensive skills were sufficient, my defensive skills need work. The giant-sized dwarf took me out of the fight.

I came to with the now familiar after taste of a healing potion in my mouth. Don’t get me wrong. I am happy to still be drawing breath and be in service to Tempus. I’d like to be more effective in a fight however. I’ll continue to practice and hone my skills. As my head cleared and the world came into focus once again, my companions were eyeing the barricaded door. They reached a quick conclusion that whatever was on the other side should indeed stay on the other side.

We brushed ourselves off and continued our way through the hideout. After a few more turns we entered a large room. Roughly 50 feet inside the room we took note of an orc mage torturing what we presumed was Floon Blagmar. This was quickly confirmed when Ranaer shouted out his name in excitement. Our eyes were then drawn to the end of the room where a humanoid creature with a tentacled maw sat. It was petting a smaller creature that resembled a brain with legs and antennae.

Saving Floon was my first priority. I sprung into action advancing quickly into the room. I cast sacred flame on the orc, bringing the holy light of Tempus upon our foe. The orc winced but was not brought down. My companions became fixated on the creatures at the far end of the room which was completely understandable seeing the grotesqueness of them. The humanoid with the tentacles around its maw moved with purpose. My companions noted it siccing its brain pet upon us before leaving the room through some mystic portal. I’m thankful they dispatched the thing before it got close enough to engage. With our combined efforts, we brought down the orc mage with Ranaer delivering the finishing blow.

After tending to Floon and binding our wounds, we set upon exploring the room. Thankfully the evils within had been dispatched and fled. We had won the day. A hatch was discovered, which we elected to take. Thia was rather motivated as she did not care for the sewers in the least. I cannot say I blame her. With a few twists and turns we emerged in the kitchen of a halfling family. They were alarmed at our appearance. We managed to bring calm to the situation. Floon, being half starved helped himself to their food. The rest of us did what we could to seal the secret entrance to the hideout. We then set out to the Yawning Portal to deliver Floon back to Volothamp, feeling good about our victory.