Our story begins like so many do… in a Tavern. But, in this case it is a particularly notable tavern: The Yawning Portal. Waterdeep’s most famous inn, named for the large “well” within its walls that down into the dungeon of Undermountain is a common destination for would-be heroes, and this evening there’s a chance for five ‘would be’ heroes to step up and begin the journey to become the real thing.
Mantis Django Heraclitus Evereska: Local scribe with a quick wit and a taste for adventure
Shazuu: A Teifling, and Righteous Paladin of Hoar, stuck between his infernal bloodline and his duty
Shining Brow: A Tabaxi nobleman from a far off land, in Waterdeep searching for a future for his clan
Vandar Ashenblade: A recent arrival to Waterdeep, with a shaded past, and on a personal mission
Tang Kamma Wu: Secluded warrior monk, in the world for the first time, looking to seek his fortune
(Write-up by Jim)
We Meet at an Inn
The Yawning Portal is very crowded. With only a single table available, Mantis, Shazuu, Shining Brow, and Tang are all seated together. Each newcomer is given “Welcoming Ale”, except Vandar, who is at the bar talking to someone. A flamboyant, wealthy looking man with a hat is seated at a table with another shady looking individual. Some thugs soon enter behind him (identified as ‘Grady’ and ‘Dwindlejoy’ by Mantis). The front window crashes in, and a carriage bursts through. Animated broomsticks fly out and sweep the patrons, beating them about the head. The thugs use the confusion to push through the masses, grab something from the man in the hat, and run. Initiative!
Tang tries to save a man thrown into the portal. Brow hides. The others keep drinking. Brow aids him, then attacks the brooms. Everyone else try to stop Grady and Dwindlejoy. The man in the hat begins yelling “Stop Thief” as the other individual at his table jumps up and tries to run, carrying a package. Shining Brow deftly steals the package, while the party thumps the two thieves, recovers the sword, and interrogates the thug. The fight ends as quickly as it began, and the city watch shows up to clean up the mess (as do some members of the local carpenter’s guild).
The thug, Grady, says they were working for Xanathar’s Guild, and were hired to get the sword before a rebel faction of Zhentarim soldiers storm the inn later! Durnan throws the thugs out, and he offers the party room and board to help guard against these ‘rebel’ Zhents for the night. The party examines the sword. Mantis examines and compulsively reexamines the sword. There’s something weird and magical about it, but no one can figure it out.
We meet a half orc woman (Yagra Stonefist) and a human nobleman (Jalister Silvermain). They are concerned about the Guild (Xanathar’s) and Zhentarim. A man named Urlon Vroon will be at the show, and they want the party to kidnap and interrogate him in exchange for a favor from the real Zhentarim and the Lords Alliance. Urlon apparently knows where the Zhentarim leader, Manshoon, is.
The show begins with Urlon in front, and during the second act, the Skullport Circus open a huge paper mache pie. A bunch of kenku leap out and attack. “Xanathar sends his regards!” one of them croaks. Goblins appear from behind the curtains. Shining Brow pretends to be from Manshoon and tells Urlon that there is safety upstairs. Tang covers the stairs. Urlon gets shot and pushed behind cover. Vandar drops a Kenku. Mantis Thunderclaps a few goblins. Tang whips a dart into another.
The party kills the last enemy and moves the mark upstairs. Tang ties him to the bed and knocks him out. Shazuu heals him. The rest of the party, eventually, wanders up there. Shining Brow and Tang wait outside and start to clean up the blood. Urlon claims to live at the corner of Selmor and Nindabar, in North Ward. Both Factions are looking for the Vault and the keys. As he begins to tell the party where Manshoon is hiding, he erupts into green flame and is incinerated, leaving nothing but ash behind.
The bodies of the kenku and goblins have a curious tattoo. A Circle with a handful of radiating points. Perhaps some sort of thieves guild symbol? The group meets with Yagra again. It looks like the assassins were marked with the sigil of Xanathar’s Guild. She is pleased with our work, even though we didn’t get the location of the hideout.
Still, what’s in the vault and where are the keys?
Zhentarim and Lords’ Alliance – +1 Rep Point.