Session V: Life in Waterdeep

General Summary

After checking out their new asset in Trollskull Alley, the party performes a few small tasks. Kairon goes to exchange their money into Waterdevian coins, Emerald and Xiaobo go on an unsuccessful search for some gambling establishments and Holtz goes to the Font of Knowlegde to look for some information on Renaer and his father. In his reading, Holtz learns that Dagult Neverember, Renaer's father, was once the Open Lord of Waterdeep, but he was cast out a few years ago for malpractices and fraud, just to name a few. He also reads a rumor about a hidden cache of dragons left behind by Dagult somewhere in Waterdeep.   After all that, the party makes their way to meet up with Volos at the Hawk Man. During their walk, they hear a young town crier yelling about Lliira's Night, rising criminal activity in the city, and tensions in the Kraghorn Mountains after an attack on Kullag-Nur. After meeting up with Volos they head to their appointment for the transferral of the deed of Trollskull Manor. After some signatures and a payment of 25 dragons, the Manor is officially under ownership of the party. The party goes and checks out the inside of the tavern, and finds mainly empty rooms, old furniture and cutlery. They also find a Paper Bird - a magical means of sending messages - and three books: two cookbooks and one book talking about Pharra's Alley, an alley behind the House of Wonder which is known for its circle of skulls that occasionally comes to life. Kairon goes and searches for a carpenter, and finds a shop called 'The Bent Nail' closeby. There, he places an order for a few beds for the tavern.   Day quickly turns into night and the party spends their night in the tavern. Holtz puts Web on guard duty behind a window, who sees someone putting up a welcome sign on the door. The next morning, Holtz and Kairon decide to go and investigate Pharra's Alley, while Emerald and Xiaobo decide the further their search for a gambling establishment. Before they get very far however, Holtz gets a telepatic message from Varja Safahr, the Blackstaff, who invites them to Blackstaff Tower. Holtz gets extremely excited and nervous at the same time and immediately begins heading for Blackstaff Tower. He sends a message to Emerald and Xiaobo regarding the change of plans, and the party soon arrives at Blackstaff Tower, a large pitch-black tower close to the Mordai Academy. Inside, they are greeted by Varja, who takes them to a private room to talk.   Varja explains that she has heard of the party's impressive rescue of Renaer and Floon, and that she wants them to join the Gray Hands, an introductory program to Force Grey, and elite band of mercenaries and heroes that can be called upon for the protection of Waterdeep. The party members mull it over quickly, and decide that joining would be a good idea. They immediately receive their first mission: to seek out Hlam, who lives in a cave in Mount Waterdeep, and to ask him if he has heard about any threats to the city.  

Where do I sign?

— Holtz Fennebrau, immediately after being offered to join the Gray Hands

  And so the party makes its way over to Mount Waterdeep and begin their climb to Hlam's cave, during which both Holtz and Xiaobo get very tired. Kairon and Emerald have to help them get further up, and eventually also down, the mountain. When they arrive in the cave they find and old, bald man in gray robes sitting crosslegged in a small room with only a bed, a closet and what seems to be a shrine to the god of justice and protection, Helm. Hlam calmly greets the party and inquires after their purpose. The party explains that Varja send them to get possible information. Hlam agrees to give them the information, but only if they prove themselves worthy to Helm by performing a good deed.   The party makes their way down the mountain again and each member goes on their way to perform their good deed. Emerald and Holtz head to Helm's Hall to see if they can help out with something there. They talk with a priest who suggests that they can help with cooking meals for the homeless. Emerald goes and gets the cookbooks they found in Trollskull Manor while Holtz already begins helping out in the kitchen. Both Emerald and Holtz help out making meals the whole afternoon, and Emerald even joins the priest in distributing some food throughout the city. In the meantime, Kairon goes to the trade district to buy carts full of food and has it delivered to multiple temples in Waterdeep. Last but not least, Xiaobo begins spreading pamphlets welcoming anyone looking for food or a roof over his head in Trollskull Manor. He also begins declaring the same message at the market, where he is approached by an elderly woman named Esmeralda and her four children, who has heard his message and is interested in his offer. Xiaobo takes the family to a tavern for a good meal, buys some bales of hay to make makeshift beds, and then takes the family to Trollskull Manor.   There he finds Kairon, who had arrived a little bit earlier and found the door open and a couple of tankards of ale set out on the counter. Xiaobo introduces Kairon to Esmeralda and her family, and Kairon decides to get some extra food and blankets to make actual comfortable beds from the market. Emerald and Holtz also arrive a little bit later. The party talks about what they want to do with the building, and while they are a bit reserved about running an inn, they are opening up to hiring a crew to run it for them. They even offer Esmeralda a job as a barmaid if they ever open the inn, who is very happy with the offer.   The party has another good night's rest and the following morning they head to Mount Waterdeep again. This time only Kairon and Emerald climb the mountain, as Holtz and Xiaobo are still tired from their previous climb. Kairon and Emerald meet Hlam in his cave again and talk about the many good deeds they performed. Hlam is impressed, and presents his information:  

Evil's twin hides its face for now. Expect that to change before winter's end.

— Hlam

  Kairon and Emerald descend the mountain and the party makes its way to Blackstaff Tower to tell Varja what they have learned. Varja thanks them for successfully completing the mission, gives each member a reward of 10 dragons, and welcomes the party to the Gray Hands. Holtz inquires about any books containing information of Trollskull Manor, but Varja doesn't think she has any books with such information. She does know a previous owner of the tavern though, and promises Holtz she'll try to set something up. Happy with the conclusion to their mission, the party heads back to Trollskull Manor, where they find that several plates that they found earlier have been smashed to the ground.

Rewards Granted

40 dragons for the completion of the Gray Hands mission

Missions/Quests Completed

Ask Hlam about threats to the city

Character(s) interacted with

Volothamp Geddarm
Varja Safahr
Hlam
Esmeralda