| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

FR Waterdeep - Session 1

Page history last edited by Jon Goranson 12 years, 9 months ago

Already in the Thick of It

 

June 9, 2011

 


It’s a new group and they are working for others.  They spent several months doing some small errands to get to know Waterdeep.  They don’t know all of its secrets but have at least learned to get around the city.  They are staying in various Inns around the town, not having decided on a permanent residence. 

 

They get a message from their employers.  They are to find the ring and staff of winter.  They know a few things about, having heard it’s a very powerful set of artifacts that can make winter last months after it should be over.  It also has a lot of lesser powers dealing with cold, such as ice conjurations as walls or razor sharp shards.  This is a powerful thing that should not be in the wrong hands. 

 

The group calls upon their contacts and after talking with them, they find out that the items are in the area but aren’t in Waterdeep but Skullport.  They also find out it’s going up for auction there and find out when.  However, they still need a way to get to Skullport.  Again, one of their contacts says an elf named Elaith Craulnobar knows the way and knew he was going to be at Mother Tathlorn’s that evening. 

 

The group goes to the festhall in several different groups.  They can’t get to the upper floors easily, at least not without an escort, and while not against that, it won’t help them find Elaith.  Eventually, an elf comes in that matches the description they have.  Lucan makes contact with him but he’s not impressed by a “lackey.”  He tells them if they deliver a message to Danilo Thann, that he will give them a way to Skullport.  The group immediately agrees.  Elaith gives them a sealed scroll tube, telling them it will cause the recipient no harm except by its words, and then makes arrangements to meet later at the Fiery Flagon when it’s done. 

 

The group has to wonder around North Ward a bit before they find Danilo.  Danilo is out carousing with some other fops and dandies, having a gay old time.  Danilo really annoys them with his carefree attitude toward everything.  He’s obviously rich and good looking.  Ladies flock to him and his coins flow as easily as the Dessarin river.  He plays a good harp, switching from high songs to bawdy ones, yet still managing to come off as a spoiled noble.  Vahn immediately hates him. 

 

Lucan waits for a break in his set and when he is away from his friends, a group of five other noble lords and ladies, before approaching him and giving him the tube.  He’s interrupted in how he wanted to give it to Danilo but it gets to him.  However, Danilo ignore is while they are still at the Gentle Mermaid.  Their group leaves and heads to the Misty Beard and the group follows at a distance.  Lucan watches Danilo open the tube and read what was inside and is satisfied they have done their part. 

 

The group gets some rest and then waits the next day, ready to meet Elaith.  Eventually, they go to the Fiery Flagon.  The Fiery Flagon is a strange place for them to meet.  It’s in Sea Ward, the most expensive ward, and the group knows that even walking there will attract attention.  Paavu’s insistence at having his axe and armor at all times makes him stand out anywhere but especially in Sea Ward.  The Watch will definitely notice him as he will stand out.  Lucan and Paavu arrange for Paavu to be the bodyguard and it works for the most part.  The group realizes they may have to get some items to help Paavu not stand out so much at times. 

 

The Fiery Flagon ends up being a welcome surprise.  While not as rough as any taverns in South Ward, much less Dock Ward, it’s more like a tavern they are used to than a tavern in the rich area.  The group realizes this is the tavern they had heard about.  It’s the tavern the young nobles go to when they want to experience what it’s like in a rough tavern.  The group chuckles.  The Fiery Flagon is no Bloody Fist, possibly the worst tavern in Dock Ward.  It’s not even the Beer Golem, where the chance for a bar brawl is an option.  This is a nice place to drink but you don’t have to worry about a dress code!  The group snorts at the noble’s ideas of “rough tavern.”  They find a table in the common area, which is still very comfortable and nice, and wait. 

 

Elaith arrives later and sits at another table, making the group come to him.  Lucan rolls his eyes and sighs at the power play but plays along and goes to his table.  Elaith knows they delivered it and tells them that the entrance they seek is here.  They have to go through a door, say a phrase to a guard (“Tel’ men a’ amanth”, which means ‘The way to your doom,’ loosely translated.) and then use a key, which Elaith provides, to get to the entrance.  Then it’s still a walk down a long passageway but it will come out near Skullport. 

 

Vahn jokingly asks if he wants Danilo killed.  Elaith looks at him and takes him to another table, casting a sound bubble.  Elaith asks if Vahn is serious.  Vahn says yes but if Elaith contracts him, the target dies.  That’s it.  Elaith says yes and gives him a hundred platinum to do it.  He then drops the sound bubble and tells the group they have what they wanted. 

 

The group looks at the items and they don’t have to go down until tomorrow.  Vahn asks if the others want to help with the job.  (john’s) says yes and that night, they stalk and manage to kill Danilo with a poison that Vahn put in his drink.  They watch until he goes down and then leave. 

 

The group rests and then heads out the next day to go to Skullport.  They use the door, the secret passphrase and the key and get to a spiral stair in the tavern, going down.  They head down and after many turns, it has lead them to an entrance into a cavern.  The group warily starts going down the passage. 

 

Undermountain is prepared for them.  They barely get twenty paces from the “safety” of the stairs and the walls crumble as creatures come out and attack!  Two Hook Horrors and an Umber Hulk break out of the walls, looking for fresh meat.  The group isn’t ready to be that for them, so fights back.  Unfortunately, the creatures attacked from all sides, and the group is split in how it has to deal with them.  The creatures are obviously quite hungry, lunging in with claws and hooks, and nearly shredding party members into filets.  Being split doesn’t help but eventually one of the hook horrors goes down and that frees up more to help with the others.  The umber hulk dazes the group members with its gaze but they still manage to defeat the remaining hook horror and then the umber hulk.  The group catches their breath and then keeps going. 

 

 

 GM NOTES

  • Skullport – meta game as it should be a “story” but it’s obviously real
  • Realism versus game.  I wasn’t intending to seem like I was trying to cripple Brook in playing Paavu with the mention of arms and armor.  I was explaining that it’s like a police officer walking around a town in full riot gear, to have plate mail and an executioner’s axe.  I want them to know the feel of the city and how it can be done but it draws attention, in case they don’t want to do that. 
  • Lots of role playing!  Lots of fun with it and then we ended on combat that was tough. 
  • I liked that they didn’t have a direct healer in the group but had potions.  I’m sure that will change. 

 

 

BACK

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.