Fireball!

Chapter 3:  Fireball

Quinn Alimar

It has been a month since our last adventure in Blue Alley. Since then, word has gotten around about the dissolution of the magical alley. We’ve opened our inn and allowed the elf spirit Lif to serve customers. It appeared the life we had built for ourselves was off to a good start. My mom had even come to live at the inn and took an active role in making the inn work.

This morning, disaster struck. An unexplained explosion took the life of my mom and Yasuo’s advisor. I didn’t realize she was suddenly gone as I was too involved in tending to the wounded in front of the inn. A sadness fell upon me to be replaced with a need for justice as the explosion appeared to be some sort of attack.

My compatriots were able to glean several hints before the City Watch arrived on the scene. A mechanical man was seen on the roof nearby and apparently launched the fireball that caused so much loss. Such creations can only come from the House of Gond. Yasuo and I stormed over to the temple with Thia and Davian on our heels.

We entered the temple, seeking an audience with the head of the temple. Our request was met quickly and our story was heard. The situation we described seemed unlikely to the Gond holy man. He said our description matched that of Nim who is a nimblewright, or mechanical man. The Gond leader brought us up to the upper floors of the temple. He unlocked a door and introduced us to Nim. After a bit of questioning, Nim revealed that he had created a copy of himself.

A silence dropped over the room. Yasuo and I burned a hole in the man demanding to know how this could happen. The Gond leader began stuttering apology after apology. He brought in several servants and had them remove all the nimblewright’s tools and materials. When asked about the rogue nimblewright, he produced a nimblewright detector. Some handheld device that would spin when in proximity of a nimblewright. It only had a limited range unfortunately. We had little choice in the matter.

I made arrangements for my mom’s burial. The servants of Tempus laid my mom to rest with the most care and respect. I gave my eulogy for my mom, wishing her better in the afterlife than was offered on this plane. Her death will see justice served. This is my vow.

The next days had us covering the northern wards. Finally, we got a hit. At dusk the detector activated next to a manor. Taking a moment to investigate the manor grounds, we noted the faint sounds of battle inside. Something was amiss and we could not wait for the authorities.

We made our way over the walls into the grounds. Almost immediately, we were jumped by a trio of shadow creatures. They were dispatched quickly by our hand without alerting anyone. Surprise was still on our side.

A door on the side of the manor seemed to be the best option. We entered into a storeroom and kitchen area. The aftermath of battle was seen on the other side of the fireplace where many house guards had fought and fallen. Tempus would be pleased they died in service to their master. There were a pair of brigands going through the room, looting what they could. They would be dealt with but first we must see to the well-being of the lord and lady of the manor as well as any other innocents.

We ascended the stairs from the kitchen area and came across the servants’ quarters. The doors in this section were investigated and we found the household staff. I instructed them to close and barricade the door. We would see to the invaders.

A quick descent down the stairs again put us back in the kitchen. We snuck quickly across the main room and ran up the stairs where battle sounds were heard. The scene looked strange. The seating area upstairs was being held by a contingent of house guards, including a large half-orc. The invaders didn’t appear to be pushing too hard. Off to the side, a hardened rogue was trying to cut through a door and was being guarded by a few invaders. Whoever was on the other side of the door appeared to be in the greatest danger.

I leapt through the guards and began my assault on the man. He turned to face me, launching several snakes my way. I landed several hits and spells against the rogue before falling to the ground. The next thing I knew I was roused by my compatriots. A glance over my shoulder revealed they had taken down the main invader as well as the others.

I stood up. Taking a breath, we went over to talk to the Lord and Lady of the manor. Forgive me but the lady appeared quite annoyed with our rescue. I would have thought our assistance would be welcomed but the opposite seemed true. I took the body of the leader and made a move down the stairs, informing the lady we would be leaving. Her half-orc bodyguard came over and took the body from me. She made a veiled threat, informing us to leave the manor immediately or be considered intruders. Confused, we left the premises.

We returned to our inn in Trollskull Alley and tended to our wounds. Sleep came quickly. The next day we began to discuss the events of the battle. More questions came and needed answering. As the lord and lady of the house were not receptive to our help, perhaps the staff we saved would be more forthcoming.

We went back to the ward and staked out the manor. A butler left the house towards the market. We approached him and asked him about the events of last night. He begrudgingly spoke to us. The lady of the manor was a scary woman apparently. He had seen some strange disturbing garments bearing unholy symbols.

We thanked the butler for the help and went back to the inn. Some plot was at work here and nothing good would come of it. More investigation would be necessary to get to the bottom of this and we could not be certain of who to trust. It will be up to us. 

Thia Liadon

Flamerule 1492DR - Explosion at The House of Spirits

The day began as most other days. Davian and I were preparing the Trollskull Manor taphouse (now called The House of Spirits), for another day of business. Uumaga and Quinn’s mother had just left to do some shopping.

A deafening explosion in the street blew in the windows and door and sent billowing fire and debris...including bodies...flying. I was shocked and disoriented, and needed a moment to get myself together. Davian looked fine, so I ran to the door. What I saw was death and destruction. There were three corpses near our front door. The closest was a gnome near our front steps.  Just behind him lay two men who wore black cloaks and armor. One of the men had a tattoo of a winged snake, so the men must be Zhentarim. A movement caught my eye. A little boy tucked something into his shirt. I went over to him and kindly asked what he had found. He produced a necklace with three white globes, telling me that it had fallen into the rain barrel. He gave me the necklace and ran off. I tucked the necklace away and looked around for what to do next. There were many dead and wounded. Among the dead were Uumaga and Quinn’s mother! I was filled with disbelief and sorrow. I had known them a short time and had already grown to care about them and appreciate them. This would be far more devastating to Yasuo and Quinn.

Davian called to me, directing me to the Tally’s shop. Apparently a cloaked man had taken something (a pouch) from the gnome and was seen heading to the Bent Nail. Tally greeted us at the door and said that there was no one in the shop. We checked out back, but if someone had run to the back alley, they were long gone my now.

Quinn talked to an injured woman who said that a puppet without strings threw it down from the greenhouse. We later pieced together that “it” must have been one of the globes from the necklace. I later spent some time investigating the necklace and discovered that is is a Necklace of Fireballs. Each globe is a fireball. The necklace has three remaining globes, and three missing. So between one and three of those globes caused all of this destruction. The blast was centered about 10 feet from our tavern’s door.

Yasuo investigated the greenhouse and found a gray cloak with a silver gear symbol. It’s a toothed cog with four spokes. Later, Quinn told us it’s the symbol of Gond the Maker. Those who worship at the Temple of Gond--The House of Inspired Hands--create all sorts of mechanical items. He described how the followers had made a nimblewright (a puppet without strings) for a parade.

The neighborhood watch arrived and took charge of the situation. Sergeant Cromley questioned us and Barnibus Blastwind of the Watchful Orders of Magists Guild was also there to investigate. Yasuo, with his diplomatic ways, persuaded Sergeant Cromley to share information. It appears that the gnome who was at our doorsteps was running from three pursuers. Though only two of them were dead. The third pursuer must have stolen the gnome’s pouch and run. Neither the gnome nor his pursuers were aware of the bomb.

The cloak with the gear symbol seemed like our best lead, so we headed to the House of Inspired Hands. We arrived at the building and saw a figure sitting on the roof. It released a bird which flew at Yasuo to attack. How kind. Inside the building were marble pedestals displaying various odd items, such as a flying machine, a submersible, and a “waking helmet.” We were greeted by Valetta, a bronze dragonborn. Quinn explained the situation and we were lead to Nim the nimblewright’s room. Nim was the troublemaker who sent the mechanical bird at Yasuo. Some time ago, he had constructed a nimblewright friend. He programmed it with additional functions...It escaped several weeks ago. He created a nimblewright detector and gavit it to us. It detected the proximity of a nimblewright within about 500 feet. Valetta offered us a reward to find and destroy the nimblewright. For starters, he gave us a barking box. It’s a small metal cube that detects vibrations in the ground within 15 feet, emitting a dog bark as an alarm.

We then went to the Yawning Portal to find Yagra, who is affiliated with the Zhentarim. She introduced us to Daval Starsong, a sun elf and master of opportunity. He said that the man who fled the scene this morning was Urstul Floxin, the leader of the splinter Zhentarim group and master assassin. He is often seen in the North Ward. With that, we headed to the North Ward. But upon our arrival to the North Ward, Davian received a paper bird from Renaer saying to meet him at the House of Hands immediately. Off we went. Renaer seemed anxious. He gave us his condolences, then went on to say that the explosion might have been because of him. His father’s spies had been following him. One of those spies--a gnome named Dalakhar--was on a mission for his father (who is in Neverwinter) to find the Stone of Golorr. Yasuo persuaded Renaer to seek out Sergeant Cromley to give this account.

Urstul Floxin

We continued our search for the rogue nimblewright. Evening was approaching as we came upon Gralhund Villa, and the nimblewright detector gizmo started spinning. Yasuo heard faint sounds of a sword fight and screaming coming from the main building. We climbed the wall and fought off a shadow man and his two shadow dogs which had glided across the yard to attack us. We ran up to the main door, but of course it was locked. Quinn was unable to pick the lock, so we entered through the back door into the kitchen. We found a maid, dead, and took her set of keys. Up a flight of servant stairs, we found a room where several servants huddled. They said that their guests--ruffians--who Lord and Lady Gralhund had invited, were now killing them. Back in the large great hall, Quinn distracted some of these ruffians with a spell and we all snuck up the main staircase. We were greeted by a battle between Zhents and Gralhund guards. A man with distinct burn marks is trying to batter a door down. He has three living snakes wrapped around his arms. Quinn runs at this man while Yasuo and Davian join the battle against the Zhents. The three snakes sprout wings and fly off to attack Quinn. Urstul, the man, also attacks. He strikes Quinn with a sword, knocking him out. Urstul also attacked Yasuo, badly wounding him. I dealt some heavy damage to Urstul with Mind Spike and Davian finished him off with Chromatic Orb. Thank goodness for Primara. She healed Quinn! Lord and Lady (Orond and Yalah) Gralhund acted oddly. Rather than being being grateful for helping them, we were essentially ordered out. The half-orc, Hrabbaz, was possessive of Urstul Floxin’s body. The half-orc looked incredibly strong, and we didn’t see what fighting would accomplish, so we returned to the tavern.

Later, we would speak with one of the servants who we encountered at the Gralhund villa. One of the butlers was heading into town on errands, and we were able to speak with him. With all of the deaths at the villa, he was now Head Butler. Apparently the ghostly man and dogs we had killed was the groundskeeper. The butler said that the nimblewright puppet had been there for weeks and had disappeared that night. By the time he and the other servants exited the room, the city watch was there and the bodies were gone. He went on to say that Lord and Lady Gralhund are strange and immodest. They walk around naked, and they wear odd robes with symbols of a goat head and blood. He mentioned Corynax, a being from the lower plain who had escaped from hell and is in the shadow realm. He also said that Orond is a cowering dog when Yalah is around, but he is a tyrant otherwise.

The next day, Yagra came to us at the tavern, asking us to hide her for a tenday. She said that Daval Starsong had been arrested. The city watch was hunting down Zhentarim members for questioning and arrest. We agree to hide Yagra, knowing that she is good and not part of the splinter Zhentarim group. Plus, she agreed to pay us 500 gold! That’s just what we need to get the tavern up and running again.

Sergeant Cromley came to us with more information. They had used a spell to speak to the dead. It turns out that the gnome stole the Stone of Golorr from the lair of a beholder named Xanathar. The gnome worked for the open lord of Waterdeep. He believes that the Stone of Galorr is the key to finding a hoard of dragons somewhere in the city.

Davian Targana

“Well boy, looks like you need me after all.” Keilier gloated once things has calmed down and Davian was alone.  “In fact, I believe I’m responsible for saving multiple lives.  You’re welcome.”

Davian stewed.  “Yes, you were SO helpful back there.  Tell me how helpful you were those times when the spells DIDN’T hit?”

“That’s no way to talk to me boy.  Besides, a craftsman is only as good as the materials and the tools he is provided.”

“Says the unskilled craftsman.” Davian spat back “Just shut up for a moment, I need to figure this Corynax thing out”.  Davian’s mind raced as he thought back to his discovery of Lady Grahlund being a worshipper of Corynax, his mother’s killer.  Is it looking to gain a foothold above the surface?  Is Lady Grahlund conspiring with Corynax?  Is Corynax unaware of what she’s doing?  Was the nimblewright working on behalf of the Corynax cult when he threw that fireball at the group in front of our tavern?  If so, how did that cult even come upon the nimblewright and what did they say to convince it to work with them?  Corynax must be aware of…

“Yes, what an odd coincidence that Corynax would re-enter your life.” Keilier stated, interrupting Davian’s train of thought. “Of course, what some call coincidence, I call ‘a simple explanation for those that don’t have the mental faculties to see the cause of the effect.’”  When Davian didn’t reply, Keilier continued “Simpletons, I’m talking about simpletons!  You are the epitome of this.  You and your group blunder through this city, and you pat yourselves on the back when you get a result that you believe furthers your investigation.  Take the Grahlund manor as an example: what was your goal?  Simple, you had none!  You dashed in only because you wanted to be ‘heroes’.  What did it get you?  An angry noble, a pile of dead bodies, and two of your own joining that pile for a short time.”

With every sentence, Davian’s anger built.  It took everything he had to suppress it, knowing it would just make Keilier pleased.  Unfortunately, Davian realized that Keilier must have noticed the anger, as a feeling of smug satisfaction seemed to spread within a part of his mind.

“Fine! What would you have done?”

“Me?  Nothing.  Well, nothing for the family, unless they were between my objective and me.  You didn’t even check the stables, or have your unicorn check.  Your objective was to locate the nimblewright, saving the family wasn’t even secondary.  The nimblewright got one fireball necklace, what’s to say it doesn’t have a second?  Or something equally bad.  You also risked our capture or death by helping the family; would saving them further your mission?”

Davian was speechless, as that made a certain amount of sense.  He was conflicted, as he knew that catching the nimblewright was the purpose in being there.  As this crossed his mind, he could hear his father’s reassuring voice.  “You did the right thing.  It may not feel like it now, but saving these people was important.”

“Apparently you didn’t understand me.  As I already told you, it wasn’t the right thing, it was the emotional thing.” Keilier said “Your group let emotions take over instead of looking for the objective.  The nimblewright got away, and now you have no clue as to what your next step is.  Brilliant!”

Davian was about to respond when Keilier continued “You…present an issue I must research. I’m done with you for now anyway. Don’t think that you’ve won, as that’s not even in the realm of possibility.”  

With that, Davian felt the presence leave, but a headache, anger, and confusion quickly filled the void.

Yasuo Shimazu

The leaves are no more

The blossoms have all fallen

Cold winter has come

- Shimazu Yasuo

I arise early after a sleepless night and prepare my funeral kimono.  It is all white, the color of sorrow.  I take great pains to ensure that I am as presentable as I would be had Uumaga been here rather than there, as a show of my respect.  She had been a wise and dedicated teacher and advisor, and I have learned many useful and necessary things from her.  She will be greatly missed.

Many of the mundane duties of the funeral rites have fallen to me to perform, as there are few here who know them.  My Warriors Resolve will be heavily tested today as I strive to perform with honor while keeping my sorrow hidden.  I will not shame her memory with senseless blubbering and wailing as the people here seem to do.  There will be time enough to feel sorry for myself when I am in private.  It is not for the dead that we mourn, they have moved on to the next life and do not care.  It is for ourselves and the hole our loved ones leave behind them.

The local priests have lain Uumaga's body in a fine wooden coffin at my request, facing north, and have performed their rites as they see fit.  I must now use my regrettably meager skill and knowledge of the traditions of my homeland to fill in the gaps.  I may have seen this performed many times at the palace but I am by no means a priest.  I can only pray that the spirits of my ancestors guide me.

I have chosen the most auspicious day for Uumaga to start her journey into the next life, and to bring what mourners may come.  This I can do well, at least.

As I approach the shrine I see the white paper streamers of the Kamidana Fuji wrapping the shrine to protect it from mischievous spirits, and I enter to begin the final rites.

The first thing I do is sprinkle water on Uumaga's lips, The Water of the Last Moment.  Next I lay my very best tanto on her chest, that she might be able to defend herself from evil during her journey.  I have asked one of the priests to consecrate a new name I have chosen for her, one using one of the more uncommon characters of my native tongue, one only scholars remember the meaning of.  A sign of high honor.  The burial name is necessary to allow the spirit to continue uninterrupted on its journey to a new life.  Without that precaution the spirit might hear its name being spoken at the funeral and try to return to its body instead.

I place a small table next to the coffin and on it I place flowers, incense, and candles.  I place a fresh white kimono in the coffin with her, even though she is currently wearing one pristinely white as well, so that at the end of her journey she might change to meet her fate with perfect dignity.

When those and other preparations have been completed I place myself on the tatami mat reserved for me and pick up my prayer drum.  It is small and thin, and the skin is painted with Uugama's name so that when the spirits hear it they will know who it beats for, and speed her on her way across The River of Three Crossings.  I light a stick of incense and begin to beat the drum slowly, and the priests begin to chant.  Three times I offer incense during the ceremony, maintaining a perfect beat.  Once the third is lit the ceremony ends, and those few who know her offer their condolences one by one.  The line is not long.

After the last person has paid their respects I bow low to Uumaga and offer a final prayer before making my way back home as well, to await word of her cremation.

Sometime later a priest arrives to escort me to Uumaga's ashes, and we travel together in silence.  I sift through the ashes to find and sort the bone fragments so that I may place them in the urn in proper order.  It would not do to place her upside down, and I trust no other to perform this task.

When Uumaga has been placed in the urn that I have had commissioned for the purpose I seal it with white prayer paper and wrap it in a small silk bag.  I seal that in a well-padded crate that, along with passage for it back to my native land, has been generously provided by my host.

Finally, when all my duties have been tended to, I make my way back home where I proceed to get good and professionally drunk.

In white robes I sit

The rain pounds mercilessly

Or is that my tears?

- Shimazu Yasuo