Session 05: The Gang Learns the Consequences of Embezzlement

General Summary

The session begins with the party waking up to start their day, the peaceful morning is shattered by an explosion (determined to be a fireball) across the street from Trollskull Manor. Right before the explosion, Masie saw that a humanoid figure was hopping along the roofs but lost track of them.  

At Trollskull Alley

At the crime scene the following badly burnt/charred victims were found:

• One elderly female human who was out for a walk

• Two cloaked male humans clad in leather armor with sheathed longswords.

• Two female humans and one male half-elf dressed in plain clothes

• One male gnome wearing a burned cloak and clutching a dagger.

• Two female halflings who were playing a flute and a fiddle, and two male halflings who were dancing

  When investigating the scene closer, Gwen Olsen found the following:

• One of the dead male humans has a black, winged snake (the symbol of The Zhentarim) tattooed on his right forearm.

• The dead gnome had dry waste on his boots and cloak, suggesting he spent time in the sewers recently. He also had a pouch containing five 100 gp gemstones; which Gwen pocketed

  Shortly after this the City Watch arrives to start their investigation;

• Barnibus Blastwind and Saeth Cromley leads the case, asking the characters about what they saw.

• It was deduced that the gnome was headed towards Trollskull Manor, with the agents in pursuit.

1. Both parties had been suprised by the fireball, suggesting a third party was involved.

  While speaking to eyewitnesses, the following is learnt;

• A badly burnt cloaked man took something from the body of the dead gnome, and overall was acting suspicious. He headed east.

• Before the blast, a puppet shaped like a man was on the rooftops. It hurled something into the crowd that caused the explosion. It's not known where they went.

• A little boy had found a necklace that fell from the roof while he hid in a rain barrel to escape the explosion. Gwen bullied the kid into handing over the necklace, which was quickly found to be a necklace of fireballs (2 beads remaining)

  When Gwen payed a cleric to cast speak with the dead, the following was learnt about the Zhentarium agents;

• The agents worked for Urstul Floxin and resided at Gralhund Villa.

• Their job was to get the artefact from the gnome and it would make them as rich as kings.

  When Maisie payed a cleric to cast speak with the dead, the following was learnt about the Gnome;

• His name is Dalakhar.

• He stole an artifact called the Stone of Golorr from the lair of a beholder known as Xanathar

• The Stone of Golorr is the key to finding a hoard of dragons (gold coins) hidden in the city.

• He was intending to task the party with safekeeping the stone while he shook off his pursuers.

• And Lord Dagult Neverember knew he had the stone

  When sharing some of their findings (and handing over the necklace) to the Watch, the investigators decide that when things are secured here, they'll go to the House of Inspired Hands (a temple dedicated to Gond)   The party goes back to the tavern to discuss things more privately and actually eat breakfast. While doing this, Renaer Neverember pays them a visit to check in with them.   When presented with the findings, Renaer shares the following;

• He's been followed by spies employed by his father, the gnome being one of them.

• This gnome went missing about two tendays (weeks) ago, and was one of the people his father trusted the most.

• Dalakhar’s friends told Renaer that he was on a special mission to retrieve the Stone of Golorr and was afraid that the Zhentarim and the Xanathar Guild were close to catching him.

• He had heard about Renaer's kidnapping and rescue, and was wanting more information about the party.

• Renaer thinks Dalakhar was planning to pay the party to deliver the Stone of Golorr to his father in Neverwinter.

Following this, the party decides to check out the temple before going back to the Villa once night falls  

At the House of Inspired Hands

When arriving at the temple, the party believes they were getting attacked by the one behind the fireball. After a short encounter; the rush inside the temple with a priest of Gond called Valetta close behind them.   The following is learnt;

• The Nimblewright here is not the one behind the attack, it had tried to make itself a companion but it was flawed. About a month ago it fled in confused terror.

• Nim doesn't know where his creation is now.

  Nim's tools and inventions are immediately confiscated by temple staff so that more dangerous inventions can's be made. Masie is also given a Nimblewright Detector.  

At Gralhund Villa

• Once night falls, the party successfully sneaks into the villa; but it quickly becomes clear that something isn't right as the fresh corpses of slain servants lie around.

• The party quickly subdues two thugs (one is killed, the other is knocked out) before continuing their investigation.

• More corpses lead to a battle upstairs; several Zhent agents are fighting against guards employed by the homeowners.

• The party helps subdue the remaining Zhent agents but as the Stone is mentioned; the lady of the house Yalah Gralhund orders the guards to kill the party.

• During this Gwen and Madame H also find Urstul Floxin trying to kick a door down. Madame H wants information from him but Gwen seeks bloodshed as he's a traitor to the Zhents.

• The last thing that occurs in Masie teleporting into the room with Yalah and her body guard, only to get downed by the body guard.

 

Session ended 17/06/1492 at 9pm; 17th of Kythorn (The Time of Flowers) 1492 DR, the Year of Three Ships Sailing