Session VIII: Prison Break

General Summary

After they are arrested the party is led to a small watch post in the Castle Ward. There, they are undone of their manacles and put in cells. Two City Watch members stay in the room with them. Aside from the party and the bard, there's also a sleeping drunkard in one of the cells. After about an hour, a City Guard pokes his head through the door, asking the guards to bring one of the prisoners forward. The guards go ahead and escort Xiaobo out of his cell and into the other room. While the guards are out of the door, the party quickly finds the time to converse in secret. During this time, they find out that the bard's name is Mattrim.   In the other room, Xiaobo is greeted by 6 City Guards guarding the exit and a magister - an elf with long brown hair - who begins questioning him. He asks Xiaobo for his name, his current place of residence in Waterdeep, his business in Waterdeep and finally, what happened at the Great Drunkard and in the alley. Xiaobo answers the questions, after which he is escorted back to his cell and the next party member is brought forward and questioned. This continues until everyone, including Matrrim, has appeared before the magister.   After the questioning, a full night and day go without much happening. Early the next evening, the party hears a commotion in the other room. Quickly after, Vajra Safahr enters the room followed by two City Guards who begin opening the cells. Vajra tells the party to come with her, and they do, picking up their items on their way out. Vajra leads the party to a small alley and makes sure no-one else is around. She starts explaining to the party that she actually had no autority at all to get them out of prison, and that there probably will be a man-hunt for the party when they realise this. She also tells the party what she knows about Cassius: that he is some sort of Zhent leader who has been causing trouble in the Field Ward for some time now. She suggests that bringing Cassius to justice might acquit the party of their crimes. Mattrim interrupts, telling the party that he might have contacts in the city who can help locate Cassius. He promises that one of his associates will contact the party soon and leaves, darting further into the alleys. Vajra leaves the party with a parting gift, three amulets of proof against detection and location and a satchel of dust of disappearance, wishes the party luck, and also walks away.  

I might have gotten you out of prison, but it won't be long before they figure out I had no authority to do so.

— Vajra Safahr

  The party decides its best to rest somewhere quiet and inconspicuous tonight, to make sure they're not caught again immediately after escaping prison. The eventually head to the Field Ward, hoping they might find out more about Cassius' location there. After walking around for about half an hour in the destitute, foul-smelling ward they find a small tavern with few patrons. The whole party except for Kairon enters, who sticks around outside for a little bit. In the tavern, the party is greeted with a grunt by a large, bald, human bartender with only a few teeth left in his mouth. The party orders some drinks and find themselves a table. A little while later, Kairon enters, disguised by a disguise self spell. He order a drink and sets himself at another table, keeping a good eye on the surroundings. After a good amount of everything staying calm and quiet, Kairon heads back out, drops his disguise and walks back into the tavern, joining the rest of the party this time. The party rents some... squalid rooms and spends their night at the tavern.   In the morning, Kairon and Holtz are woken up by a ticking noise on the window. They open the window, and a paper bird flies in, dropping to the floor. Holtz opens it, and finds a message and sicks tickets. The message invites them to the Lightsinger Opera tonight, and tells them they need to talk to Mirt in Private Box C during the intermission if they are interested in information. Formal dress is required. Given that this is their only lead, the party decides that this is their best bet. First though, they need some fancy clothes some materials to disguise themselves with. They head into the Trade Ward, where they find a lovely shop called Fiona's Floundering Fabrics. Inside, a middle-aged lady with long, white hair helps them to some very fancy garments. After shopping for clothes, the party heads further into the Trade Ward for some extra supplies to disguise themselves with, including black pigment for Emerald.  

Mattrim tells me you are looking for information. He bought you tickets to the opera tonight at the Lightsinger Theater in the Sea Ward. If you are interested, meet Mirt at the intermission. Private Box C. Formal attire is required for admittance.

— Anonymous paper bird

  After their shopping spree, the party rents a room in a fancy tavern in the Sea Ward, not far from the Lightsinger Theater. They change clothes, apply their disguises, discuss fake names and eventually head to the theater at around six in the evening. Their tickets are checked at the door and they are welcomed inside. The party heads to their seats and The Fall of Tiamat starts playing, an opera sung in Giant decribig the evil dragon queen's defeat at the Well of Dragons. Holtz specifically casts comprehend languages to follow the story better. During the performance, Holtz also uses Web to keep an eye on the private boxes above. He pins down two boxes that might be Private Box C, one with a noble couple in them, and another with an elderly, well-rounded male human. During the intermission, the party heads to Private Box C, which is clearly indicated, and are greated by the elderly male, who says he has been expecting them. He tells them about a talking mare, Maxeene, who pulls a dray in the Trade Ward. She often picks up interesting conversations during the day, and might have some information that could help the party further. They should head to go to her owner's house in the Trade Ward and to tell him Mirt send them.   The party wastes no time and immediately leaves in search for Maxeene, although Irven stays behind at the theather, since he finds the opera piece so interesting. When they arrive at the house, the party witnesses someone galopping away on a horse with a person running behind her and yelling to give his horse back. The party immediately commence pursuit, and Emerald, Naeri and Xiaobo are quickly able to catch up with horse. Emerald even manages to jump on the back of horse. It's Holtz though who eventually manages to halt the horse with a sleep spell, throwing both Emerald and the rider to the ground. The rides decides to book it, and at the same time, the party sees two similar horses with two similar riders come out of two different alleys and ride of into the distance. The party decides to pay the whole ordeal no mind, wake the horse and bring it back to who they think is the owner. The man who was running after the horse is indeed the owner, Eric, and thanks the party for their help. As thanks, he lets them talk to Maxeene. The party asks Maxeene if she has picked anything up about Xanathar or Zhentarim business in the city. Maxeene divulges that she transported an elf and a half-orc a few days ago, who were conversing about protecting their business from the Zhents and the Xanathar Guild. She dropped them of at the Yawning Portal. The party thank Maxeene and Eric for their cooperation and continue their search for Cassius, armed with new information.

Character(s) interacted with

Vajra Safahr
Mattrim
Fiona
Mirt
Eric
Maxeene