RoT 28: "The Rescue of Chauncey"

You have returned from Thay, a bit less unscathed than promised but still having secured the assistance of the Red Wizards. But now what? Undoubtedly the Council of Waterdeep will soon hold another session to be briefed on Xonthal's Tower and your dealings with the Thayans. For some reason you feel like events are unfolding much faster than they have been before. You can feel the tensions all over Waterdeep.

Iron Company returns to Waterdeep by way of a teleportation by Thayan Abassador Nyh Ilmich. Brehana Warpip is still livid from her experience having been questioned and tortured in her sleep completely ignores Nym’s attempts at conversation once arriving in Waterdeep and storms back to her personal chambers at Piergieren’s Palace. There she is able to finally get the sleep and rest she was unable to get in Thay.   Meanwhile, Malice Bloodmoon finds time to finally copy several spells into his ritual book during some much-needed downtime. Pubert Adams goes looking for the Uber brothers, but they are out patrolling.   After a couple of days, it becomes quite obvious that Chauncey, the ever-diligent chamberlain is not present. While he did leave a note saying he was out looking into the items he was tasked with before you left for Thay, it’s quite conspicuous that he has not yet returned. It is at that moment that there is a knock at the outer door – a door that typically Chauncey would answer to screen your visitors, but he is not there. So, Brehana goes to the door and demands to know who it is! A scared sounding young man’s voice answers “I have a message for you ma’am. I’m just a page of the palace.” Brehana tells him to slide it under the door, which he does and can then be heard practically running away.   The letter is sealed in black wax with a dragon claw emblem stamped in it. Uncertain who it is from, as you’ve not seen this sygil before, Brehana opens the note, which reads:    

To the so called "Iron Company"   You've caused us enough problems to date and it's time to put a stop to it.   We have your man Chauncey at the abandoned farm a mile north of Waterdeep.   You can either come collect him whole, or we'll send him back in pieces and then we'll pick someone else of your acquaintance and do the same.

    Brehana uses the Diplomat's Pouch to send a message to Ontharr Frume who bids you wait for reinforcements, and it sounds like a trap. But when he returns that it will be an hour or more before he can muster a squad, you head out on your own telling Ontharr to catch as soon as possible as you get the feeling that waiting could cost Chauncey his life.   When you arrive at the abandoned farm, the cultists are arrayed in an attempt to not present clusters for area of effect spells. Chauncey is tied up and clearly has been badly beaten. One of their number is attempting to hide behind a fence but Pubert and Brehana spot his movement. Their demands are simple – stop interfering with Severin's plans or they will kill you all, including Chauncey and anyone else with which you are close friends.   But you have no intention of allowing the Cult of the Dragon continue and you are not easily intimidated and so combat ensues. The cultists are quite confident and attack boldly. They are soon bolstered by the appearance of a young red dragon. Unfortunately for them, Pubert and his nearly mastered abilities as an Echo Knight quickly cuts down the beast causing the cultists resolve to be tested, but they stand their ground. But you are known as Iron Company for a reason – and they prove no match for you combined efforts and their dead bodies now litter the abandoned farm.