The Viewing

Mirtul 1, 1493 DR

Before long we all departed to see our potential new real estate in the North Ward of Waterdeep. Along the way we passed a very impressive property that Volo identified as Massalan Villa, owned by the Massalan family. Upon arrival at our destination we cast our eyes upon a large three and a half storey building with a turret and several balconies. It was quite evidently vacant, but impresive nonetheless.

I climbed up to the second floor to have a look but couldn't see much beyond the balcony. I noticed that everybody else was headed inside so I climed down and joined them. Inside I was greeted with an honestly very nice looking tavern arrangement albeit covered with debris and dust. What next caught my attention was the fireplace which was fantastic. It could absolutely house a most cozy fire.

My attention was then drawn to a painting behind the bar. It was a portrait of an individual who looked just like Ránath! That was quite curious so I let him know. He rushed over, shoved me out of the way, and appeared to be extremely confused by what he saw. He stated emphatically that it was not him although the man in the picture was wearing an amulet just like Ránath's. I examined the painting and upon touching it immediately felt a chill breeze wash over me. I started which attracted everybody's attention so I told them what happened. No cause for the experience could be found.

We continued to explore the remainder of the building. Ránath and Mingnist took a quick look in the cellar but found nothing interesting. Upstairs presented numerous rooms with many more fireplaces! The view from the turret was quite nice too. Ránath found a ladder up to the top of the turret but the door at the top was unable to be opened. Several of us attempted to open it but were inexplicably thrown back from it. I ran outside and climbed to the top window of the turret to look inside, but all was empty.

Ránath asked Volo from whom the property was purchased. He stated that he bought the building from a dwarf named Fildreck Bottledrew. Apprently Fildreck instructed Volo to never move the picture from the first floor. That seemed particularly odd. Ránath wanted to meet the former owner presumably to ask about the picture. It was decided that we would spend the night at Trollskull Manor and meet with Volo the next day along with Fildreck.

The remainder of the day would find us splitting up into groups with various tasks to perform. Ránath and Ketalysen would be heading to the library at The Shrines of Nature. The rest of us would be heading to the docks to meet up with the Dancing Delight although Mingnist would be leaving us to visit the Metalmasters' Hall. It was then decided we would all meet up at Frewn's Brews later on in the evening. The place was a bit run down but it was certainly convenient.

At that we parted ways.

Obligations Before Breakfast

Mirtul 1, 1493 DR

It was a lengthy night of food and drink with Volo, Floon, and Renaer at The Yawning Portal. I may have dozed by the fire for a time before everybody wandered off for sleep. I did, however, awake before everybody else. Well, I thought it was everybody but I did encounter Lypher taking part in some sort of ritual or something outside. He inquired what I was up to so I let him know that I was checking in on my job at the Vintners Distillers and Brewers Guild. He seemed concerned that I wouldn't be back to view Trollskull Manor. I assured him that I'd be back in time.

At the guild I was given the task of delivering some alcohol from a ship at the docks to a place named Frewn's Brews. As it turned out, the ship bringing in the merchandise was the The Dancing Delight! Excellent! I was excited at the prospect of seeing Stands in Tar again. It had been far too long. Additionally, the recipient of the delivery was located on Trollskull Alley. How utterly coincidental and convenient.

I returned to The Yawning Portal to find everybody down in the tavern for breakfast, Volo, Floon and Renaer included. It seemed that the private room was becoming our regular spot so I began to write a sign indicating as such, but realised I didn't know what to write on it. Volo suggested Volo's Vanguard. Ketalysen voiced her disapproval so I scratched that out. Lypher suggested The Trollskull Gang so I wrote that on the paper and pinned it to the curtain. Ránath seemed confused at the name so I translated it into Elvish for him and wrote the name in Elvish on the paper as well.

All the talk of troll skulls raised the attention of Bonnie who suggested that Durnan still had the skull from the battle two days earlier. Lypher was quite excited (a little too excited I thought) at the prospect so Bonnie said she'd let Durnan know. In the mean time we ordered some food and the topic of tea came up. Lypher was really focused on this and the ability to locate something called chai tea to the point of suggesting a return to some location or another down in the sewers. I wasn't really following along.

With breakfast concluded it was time to view our potential real estate acquisition.

Volo's Bargain

Greengrass 1493 DR

When Ránath and I arrived back at The Yawning Portal I immediately spotted Threestrings getting ready to play so I went to talk with him. Ránath sat in front of the fire and I could see Mingnist, Lypher, Elora, and Ketalysen at a table across the room with Floon and Renaer. Things looked to be under control which is certainly a change for the tavern as of late.

Ketalysen began rounding us all up for supper. I could see Ránath and Mingnist standing at the door to the private room staring awkwardly at the patrons inside who finished up in short order and left a bit nervously. Our group all filed in for supper and during that time I asked Threestrings if we could play a song together. We kicked off the evening with a rendition of Smoke Over Waterdeep which got everybody clapping along. Soon into the song I spotted Danica nearby and waved her over to join us with her singing. It was loads of fun.

After the song I introduced her to Threestrings and they began having a rather awkward conversation. I tried to smooth things over as best I could and suggested they should find something to play together. That got them talking about a common topic and I excused myself to join the others for supper.

As luck would have it the stew for the evening was fish! We all got drinks (milk for me) and waited for the food to arrive before which Volo joined our table. He thanked us enthusiastically for rescuing Floon and gave him and Renaer big hugs. Ketalysen invited Volo to join us for supper.

We gave Volo a quick summary of our adventure locating Floon, and Renaer summarised the reason for their capture by the Black Network, that is that they are looking for information about the whereabouts of the money that his father, Lord Neverember, embezzled from Waterdeep. At this point Lypher began looking expectantly at Volo who sheepishly admitted that he was short of the monetary reward he promised. Not only that, but he did not have a copy of is book for me that he also promised. Instead he offered to transfer the ownership of a property in Waterdeep called Trollskull Manor.

There was definite reluctance from everybody else about owning property in Waterdeep. I, however, was quite interested in potential habitation within the city. This building was located in the North Ward which was a rather nice part of town. I admitted that I was soon to be in need of a place to stay, so this was a very attractive proposition for me. Renaer told us that he was the current owner of the property and would transfer it to our group as recompence for their rescue. Many questions were asked about the property and it was decided that we would all gather mid-morning the next day to view the structure to make a more informed decision on our plans to proceed.

Lypher in particular was quite distrustful of our employer and seemed unwilling to let him and his compatriots leave his sight to which Volo suggested drinking through the night with us. Out of nowhere Ketalysen asked about the location of Ardeep Forest. At any rate, it appeared we were going to be staying at The Yawning Portal for the night.

Ránath Returns

Greengrass 1493 DR

We headed to the Shrines of Nature in the north of Waterdeep where the Greengrass Festival was held. We sort of hauled Ránath along with us in the hope that he might receive assistance whilst we were there. Inside we could hear music and laughter and as we entered we were all presented with floral wreaths to wear around our necks. Inside people were singing and dancing and eating amongst the trees. It was really quite fantastic.

No sooner had we entered when a young woman greeted Elora enthusiastically. She introduced herself as Danica and asked Elora if she had spoken to somebody named Mattrim. I asked who this person was and Danica responded with a name I knew: Threestrings. I told her that I knew Threestrings and that I played music with him. It turns out that she really wanted to meet him and to sing with him so I invited her back to The Yawning Portal that evening to play with us. She seemed very receptive to the idea.

After that I wandered off to take in the spectacle. I found many musicians to listen to and dancers to admire. I spent some time wandering around and enjoying the festival. It really was quite the marvel.

After a while I heard my name and saw Lypher approach with fish! That was a most welcome surprise. I followed along back to the rest of the group whilst eating delicious fish. During the walk Lypher asked me some odd questions about my clothes and group affiliations. I wasn't really following along at first until he mentioned the Xanathar Guild. I informed him that I was not part of either the Xanathar Guild or the Black Network. He seemed to be pretty happy with that response. At that point we rejoined the others of our party who were talking with some people I didn't know.

Elora and Mingnist were waiting with Ránath to speak with Lady Gwenall who was already engaged in conversation with somebody named Sir Ambrose. After a short while he wandered off and Elora asked Lady Gwenall if she could assist with Ránath's recovery. We gave her a brief description of what had occurred. I was distracted and headed off for something to eat. Moments later Lypher joined me.

I was enjoying some excellent fish but noticed that a dwarven woman was attending to Ránath. I was intrigued by this new person and wandered back to the others. Some time later I noticed that Lypher did not follow along. The dwarf was identified to me as Kilgena and had indicated that she would be able to help return Ránath to his normal self. This was excellent news! But there was a price to be paid. There's always a price.

Lady Gwenall looked to Ketalysen and requested that she assist in the recovery of a family heirloom, the Amulet of Siveril, that had been lost in the Ardeep Forest. For this she was to research Lady Gwenall's family history for information on its whereabouts and, ideally, to retrieve it. The deadline was the 20th of Mirtul when Lady Gwenall was leaving Waterdeep. Ketalysen gladly accepted to help Ránath. Once agreement had been reached Kilgena sprinkled some sort of dust over Ránath, touched his forehead, and he became once again aware.

Kilgena requested a favour from Ránath for her assistance. (Yet another price to be paid.) She asked that he pledged to fight orcs in any future outpouring accross her land. Ránath agreed enthusiastically to my astonishment. There was some grumbling from everybody about the many costs associated with the recovery of Floon and Renaer.

Everybody was letting Ránath know what happened whilst he was out of it when a human suddenly appeared and inquired about Bonnie. He introduced himself as Marwood and knew Ránath. Marwood went on at length about Bonnie and stepped away as suddenly as he had arrived. Very odd fellow.

Now that Ránath was back to his self Ketalysen asked him if he was hungry and I excitedly led him around and introduced him to the various food stalls and entertainment that I'd discovered throughout the day. Eventually most everybody returned to The Yawning Portal but Ránath and I continued exploring the festival. Ránath seemed somewhat distracted but I didn't let that concern me. Near suppertime we met up with Eilsys and Marwood with whom we returned to The Yawning Portal.

Missing Memories

Greengrass 1493 DR

I awoke feeling rather refreshed albeit quite confused. I was in a strange room and Mingnist was there. I had some particularly jumbled memories of a woman talking to me and something about a favour owed. All I knew was that I was cold in this unfamiliar room.

I was ravenously hungry and Mingnist led us out of what turned out to be a room at The Yawning Portal. The others were staying there too and we all headed down for breakfast. Ránath came along as well, but he was not really cognizant of his environment. I didn't really know what was wrong with him. Floon and Renaer met us in the tavern.

It was at that point that I realised how malodorous my fur was. That was unacceptable so I immediately bolted upstairs to the baths as directed by Bonnie. Ketalysen graciously offered a portion of her precious lavender soap which I gratefully accepted. Several others headed to the baths as well and I returned to breakfast waiting at the table and ate enthusiastically although it wasn't fish. The others were talking about some matters but I was unable to focus on their conversation.

Just as I finished somebody named Eilsys approached our table. Ketalysen and Elora knew him from their journey to Waterdeep and he was here to remind them of the Greengrass Festival today and invited the rest of us as well. Elora inquired if he might know somebody who would be able to help Ránath. He suggested somebody named Lady Gwenall.

I took that moment to make my offering to Nula. I was a day late as I would normally perform the rite on the tenth day.

I was also able to gather some of what happened during my loss of memory. Lypher managed to defeat the quadrupedal brain but the party was left with the problem of how to escape the sewers with three incapacitated people. Fortune was with Elora though because she discovered a hidden passage that led to the basement of a halfling couple, Agnes and Angus, who allowed us through their home and back to the streets of Waterdeep. A cart was flagged which brought us all back to The Yawning Portal.

It was here that the woman I remember, Obaya Uday, came to the room in which Mingnist and I were staying and treated my condition. She did ask that I assist her with the retrieval of some sort of magical item from the Undermountain in the future as payment. I remembered very little of any of that. One thing I did recall was that Obaya mentioned another Tabaxi in Waterdeep. Interesting.

For a variety of reasons it was decided that we would all visit the Greengrass Festival. I'd not been to that event in Waterdeep before.

Nice Help Lady Me

?????, 1493 DR?

So warm. She says nice thing but I think she says nice thing but I things to me. I things to me says nice thing but I don't really understand. There. So warm. She asked me. I thing but I don't really unds good. There. She asked me sounds good. There's a woman here. So warm. I don't really understand. There. I things to me sounds good. Sleep. She asked me. So warm. Sleep sounderstand. So warm. I must sleep sounderstand. There's a woman here's a woman here. Sleep somethink she says nic...

Quarry Found

Tarsakh 30, 1493 DR

In short order we encountered a room. The first thing I noticed was a half-orc with its foot placed on a man I surmised to be Floon. He was crying out in pain at his treatment. To his right was another of those ugly floating creatures with the eye stalks and behind them all was something I did not want to see: a mind flayer holding what appeared to be a brain with four legs.

The mind flayer looked to the half-orc and said, “Grum'shar, take care of this rabble,” and then walked to a door and exited the room. At that point the battle began.

I managed to get a shot from my bow off straight away at Grum'shar and killed him with one arrow. Unfortunately he crumpled directly onto Floon. Sorry, Floon.

Shortly after that the quadrupedal brain charged at me and hit me with some very sharp claws. That did not feel good. Then it did something to Ránath after he missed it with his Yklwa. Ránath's eyes glazed over and he just stood there motionless. That's not good either.

Mingnist arrived next to me and made two dagger attacks at the floating thing and killed it with expert strikes. Then I managed to get a solid hit on the brain thing after which Elora hit it with a spray of poison. Revenge felt good.

Whatever it did to Ránath the brain thing also did to Renaer. He suddenly went limp and glassy-eyed and sort of checked out. Then it hit Mingnist hard with its claws. Mingnist wasn't looking too well. That was the last thing I remembered.

Negotiations Gone Bad

Tarsakh 30, 1493 DR

I proceeded on ahead through what appeared to be living quarters of some sort. I entered a room with six crude beds but was otherwise empty. I listened at the door on the opposite side of the room and could hear a pair of worried sounding voices. One sounded like Krentz. I informed the others and let them know that I was going to proceed into the room to attempt to make a deal.

I opened the door upon another living space to see Krentz and a Duergar frantically stuffing blankets under a door on the other side of the room. I spoke up and said, “Hey, Krentz. What seems to be the problem?” He was rather shocked to see me and asked me to pass some blankets to him. I did but the Duergar did not trust my presence at all.

I once again asked what they were doing and Krentz said there was something in the room behind the door that was apparently disolving some goblins. I had no idea what that was about, but we were here to get Floon so I asked if he was here and that I wanted to make a deal for him. Krentz said that Nihiloor would not make a deal for cash. It sounded like they were looking for information so I offered that I may have another way to get that information.

The Duergar, who turned out to be named Zemk, just wasn't buying what I was selling. The two were whispering to each other trying to decide if they could trust me. Zemk wanted to take me to Grum'shar and led me to another door. I followed along.

Just after passing through the door he asked me how long I'd known Krentz and then just attacked me. What a jerk!

Zemk took a swing at me with a war pick but didn't even come close. I returned with a thrust from my rapier and made a rather solid contact at which point the rest of the party entered the room. Now the fracas was in full swing. In mere moments Zemk was defeated by Renaer and Krentz surrendered to our overwhelming force.

It was conversation time so I invited Renaer over to question Krentz. Renaer asked where Floon was and Krentz said he was with Grum'shar and pointed to the door that I was being led through earlier. Lypher, however, was specifically focused on the door that they were attempting to seal with blankets. Renaer and I insisted that we get Floon.

It was quite tense for a moment but we eventually convinced Lypher that Floon was the important task. Lypher knocked out Krentz with his quarterstaff so we bound him and proceeded toward our quarry.

Trust Issues

Tarsakh 30, 1493 DR

Elora and Lypher were chosen to sneak up on the two napping goblins in an attempt to subdue them for questioning. However, their sneaking abilities were not stellar. The two goblins woke as they were approached but were rapidly restrained. Ketalysen, Ránath, and Mingnist then rushed in to bind them for questioning.

I did notice that Lypher was inspecting their arrows for some reason. I have no idea why that may have been. He then began speaking to the goblins in a language I'd never heard before and offered a letter to one of them. That was quite curious. The conversation continued for a bit and I noticed Lypher getting a bit more aggressive toward the goblin when I heard it say the name Krentz. I asked about that and was informed that he was a guard up ahead of us.

Soon Lypher gathered us for an update in the adjacent room. He let us know that Floon was here in the custody of somebody named Grum'shar who Elora suggested was a half-orc. There were also two guards in a room ahead, one of which was Krentz. That seemed to be the totality of information we would be able to get from the goblins. It was decided that we would leave them bound here and proceed ahead.

I suggested attempting to make a deal with Krentz for the custody of Floon. Ketalysen asked if I knew Krentz personally but that was a tough question to answer. My response was merely that I had done some errands for him. Lypher asked if I was aware of Floon's kidnapping plan ahead of time. I was sensing a great level of distrust in the room.

Ketalysen then said to Ránath and Elora in Elvish, “Do you think that Lock led us over here so that they could rob us?”

I responded in Elvish, “No, I did not lead you here.”

I assured them that I would attempt to broker a deal with Krentz. At that, we proceeded onward and I could feel an icy cold at my back.

Follow the Yellow Chalk Road

Tarsakh 30, 1493 DR

I snuck up behind the nearest creature and struck with my rapier which burst it like a bubble. One down, one to go. Moments later a fire bolt whooshed by and struck the other and also popped it. I looked back to see Mingnist with his hands raised in the direction of the fallen creature. That was the fastest combat I've ever been part of.

Ránath climbed a ladder located at the site of our unbalanced battle. He opened the cover at the top and reported that he discovered a storeroom full of food and drink. Lypher followed up to inspect as well. Ránath indicated that it seemed to be associated with a tavern of some sort. After a few moments the pair returned to the stench of the sewer.

We easily located the next symbol and continued our trek to locate Floon and followed them for approximately twenty more minutes. We found ourselves at a much narrower tunnel that was just as putrid as before. We stealthily progressed forward. Well, we tried. I heard far more noise from behind than I would have preferred. At any rate, we seemed to be in an older section of Waterdeep's sewer system where a room with arrow slits was discovered. I gave a quick search for traps but found nothing at all. Next I cautiously entered the room and peered through one of the slits. I could see the feet of a small sleeping individual.

At that moment Ránath sprinted off down a tunnel to the south. I had no idea where he was going but I looked through the second arrow slit on the opposite side of the room. Inside I noticed two sleeping goblins on the floor. I don't think these guys were fulfilling their duties. At that moment Lypher noticed the next yellow symbol for us to follow.

I listened at the door indicated by the symbol as Elora and Lypher headed off to fetch Ránath from whatever he was getting up to. There were no sounds beyond. Just as I was pondering opening it the three missing party members returned from their mini excursion. Ránath was talking about some rat or something down there. I lost interest before he started to be honest.

I proceeded through the door and into a bendy passage that was also equipped with an arrow slit beyond which I could hear the sleeping goblins once again. The next door opened upon a room full of detritus to my left and the room of the goblins to the right. I suggested that we sneak up on them, restrain them, and question them.