There was a fumbling at the lock outside the exterior door to the larder. The Mystics of Trollskull Manor readied their weapons. The severed limbs of humans, elves, halflings, and other inhabitants of Waterdeep dangled from hooks in the ceiling.
The door opened. The cold light of the winter day poured into the larder. Snow swirled around the dragonborn standing silhouetted in the doorway. Thrakkus the Butcher put the key back into his apron pocket. He picked up his heavy cleaver and entered the room. He was shocked to see five intruders - the meddling interlopers who had recently bothered him in his shop - asking about that stupid stone!
His reptilian eyes flashed with anger. The secret of his larder had been discovered. He roared in anger.
The intruders rushed towards him. Thrakkus brandished his giant cleaver, inhaled a deep breath, and breathed a searing cone of flame upon his oncoming attackers!
- Winterfrost of House Silverspear - Neutral Good Moon Elf Noble and Fighter. The daughter of elven diplomats, raised among dwarves.
- Etlenda, aka "Exile" - Neutral Good Eladrin Outlander and Paladin. Exiled from the Feywild and raised by wolves. While exploring the Feydark he crossed over into the Underdark and emerged into the Mortal World.
- Tempus Vegvisir - Lawful Good Human Trade Sheriff and Cleric of Helm. Husband and Father.
- Push-ta Tok - Neutral Half-Orc Former Smuggler and Rogue.
- Kem Hearthfire - Chaotic Good Half-Orc Former Gladiator Priestess of Gond.
Ten Days Earlier
The Mystics of Trollskull Manor followed the nimblewright's map to the ancient windmill in the Field Ward that now served as a butcher shop and apartments for squatters. The sign outside the shop said "Thrakkus closed - back in ten-day". The door was locked and no one appeared to be home so the team left, making plans to return in a ten-day.
That night they patrolled the graveyard and encountered a mysterious halfling necromancer.
DM - In order to keep track of who was doing which plot with whom and where they were, I had to play it day-by-day, asking each player in turn where they were and what they were doing in 8-hour "shifts". They didn't HAVE to do anything. I just had to keep track of where each character was in case they needed help from the others.
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
1 | Morning | Windmill | Windmill | Windmill | Windmill | Guest |
Afternoon | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
| |
Night | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Sleep |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
2 | Morning | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
|
Afternoon | Bronze Dragon | Bronze Dragon |
| House of Inspired Hands |
| |
Night | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
3 | Morning | Yawning Portal | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
Afternoon | Yawning Portal | Researching Stone | Talk with Volo about Leif | House of Inspired Hands | Procastinating | |
Night | Sleep - pre-dawn | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
4 | Morning | Yawning Portal | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Shopping List, Find Halfling Dasher Snobeadle |
Afternoon | Yawning Portal | Aboleth Research | Research Axe | House of Inspired Hands | Find Halfling Dasher Snobeadle | |
Night | Sleep | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
5 | Morning | Yawning Portal | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
Afternoon | Sleep | Open Lord | Search for Dasher | House of Inspired Hands | Search for Dasher | |
Night | Yawning Portal | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
6 | Morning | Talk to Blackstaff | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
Afternoon | Yawning Portal, talk to in person | Research Open Lord | Finder | House of Inpsired Hands | Find Dasher | |
Night | Sleep? | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
7 | Morning | Track Down Meloon's friends | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
Afternoon | Tavern | Tavern | Meet Dasher | House of Inspired Hands | Meet Dasher | |
Night | Sleep | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
8 | Morning | Yawning Portal | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
Afternoon | Yawning Portal | Yawning Portal | Yawning Portal | House of Inspired Hands |
| |
Night | Sleep | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
9 | Morning | Yawning Portal | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep | Sleep |
Afternoon | Yawning Portal |
| Yawning Portal |
|
| |
Night | Sleep | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Day | Time | Tempus | Etlenda | Winterfrost | Kem | Push-ta |
10 | Morning |
|
|
|
|
|
Afternoon |
|
|
|
|
| |
Night | Sleep | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery | Cemetery |
Thought Crimes
The next day, Tempus received a message from the Blackstaff. She had a mission for him. A member of Force Grey had been acting strangely of late. His name was Meloon Wardragon, and his happy-go-lucky demeanor had soured. He’d been hanging around the Yawning Portal more than usual. Tempus was tasked to observe him for a tenday, then report back to to the Blackstaff.
Tempus spent the next several days watching Meloon hanging out in the Yawning Portal. Meloon was dour. He went out of his way to dissuade anyone from descending the great well into Undermountain.
Tempus asked the bartender, Durnan, about Meloon. Durnan replied gruffly that what he had known Maloon a very long time and that what he knows about Meloon was between him and Meloon and no one else. However, he uncharacteristically told Tempus that Meloon had been acting strangely, often having long conversations with himself in his room before dawn.
The next morning, Durnan allowed Tempus into the Yawning Portal before dawn. Tempus sent his familiar, Edward the Bat, to sneak into Meloon's room to observe discretely. He saw Meloon having a tense argument with his axe, Azuredge, as if he was speaking to an invisible person that couldn't be heard. Meloon's voice was different. He said, "It doesn't matter. He's mine now, which means YOU'RE mine now! - I don't care! - You will do as I command! - Enough!" The argument ended with Meloon having a silent staring contest with his axe for nearly an hour.
At first, Tempus suspected that Meloon was somehow being controlled by the axe. After doing some research on the axe an its history, he changed his assessment to suspecting that Meloon was being mind-controlled by some other force which the axe was resisting.
He brought his conclusions to the Blackstaff on day six. The Blackstaff admitted that she had already suspected this and was trying to determine who or what was controlling him. She instructed Tempus to continue observing. She needed more information.
Tempus later enlisted the aid of the other Mystics of Trollskull Manor to engage Meloon in conversation in an attempt to draw out more information.
He gave his final report to the Blackstaff after a full ten-day. She told Tempus that she believed that, during his last foray into the Undermountain a year ago, Meloon had fallen victim to an "intellect devourer" which had consumed Meloon's brain and had subsequently taken control of his body. Tempus mentioned that he had encountered such a creature before within the lair of the Xanathar's Guild. It was a pet of a strange humanoid with the head of an octopus. The Blackstaff said his name was Nihiloor, second in command of the Xanathar's Guild. She wondered if Meloon's maladay was related in some what to the Guild.
She thanked Tempus for his aid.
An Awkward House Guest
Meanwhile, Push-ta's house guest, the dwarf named "Jorn", was making himself at home. Push-ta was spending his nights with Etlenda patrolling the cemetery. He would return home at dawn each day and sleep until noon. A few days into his stay, Jorn began making very specific requests of Push-ta - such as requiring pastries from a very specific shop on the far side of town, sending Push-ta on long multi-stop errands, and kicking Push-ta out of his own room in order to facilitate meetings. Push-ta came home to find all his own furniture replaced with Jorn's. Push-ta was reaching the end of his patience.
Jorn hired workers to make repairs to the house, technically fulfilling part of his deal, but the repairs were done to Jorn's specifications, overriding those of the Mystics.
One night, while he was leaving early to go visit the Yawning Portal, Tempus saw a female dwarf wearing night clothes come down to the common room, prepare a drink, give Tempus a familiar nod, and return to Push-ta's room.
The other Mystics occasionally saw winged snakes fly out of Push-ta's windows, only to become immediately invisible. Winterfrost even found a flying snake curled up sleeping in the hall!
Push-ta had just about had enough. He had vowed to himself that after this was over, he would work to get his revenge on Jorn. He endured, however, and after ten days Push-ta returned from the cemetery to find that Jorn returned moved out. His furniture had been returned. On his bed was Jorn's hat, a bag full of platinum suns, and a note that said, "I apologize for the inconvenience of the last ten days. You have done well. You have earned this reward and you have earned a promotion within the organization - Wolf of the Zhentarim."
On Dasher
On the fourth day of his guest's stay, Jorn gave Push-ta a mission. Jorn told Push-ta, "Waterdeep’s richest halfling family, the Snobeedles, is offering 500 gold pieces for information leading to the safe return of a missing family member named Dasher Snobeedle. Those dragons sure would look good in our coffers! Investigate and see what you can learn, but don’t get in any trouble. The City Watch already has it out for us."
Winterfrost joined Push-ta and the pair went outside the city to the Snowbeedle estate. There they met Blossom Snobeedle, an elder druid and matriarch of the Snobeedle family. She told Push-ta that her grandson, Dasher, had ran away from home. She didn't want Push-ta to return her grandson against his will. More than anything else, she needed to know he was alive and safe.
Push-ta took the job and spent several days asking around the Southern Ward. Their inquiries paid off and Push-ta convinced some halfling street toughs to arrange a meeting between Push-ta and the wayward Dasher.
Dasher met them at highsun at huge signpost near Waymoot by the Southern Gate. Dasher had greased back hair and wore a leather jacket. He informed Push-ta that he had rejected his old family, he had a new family! He turned around and showed the logo painted onto the back of his jacket - the Shard Shunners!
Push-ta and Winterfrost looked around and saw several other halflings wearing similar jackets - there were at least a dozen others.
After Dasher told them to get lost, they returned to the Snobeedle estate to provide an update to Blossom. Blossom thanked them and arranged their payment.
Exterminate Us
On the evening of the seventh day, Savra Belabranta of the Order of the Gauntlet visited Trollskull Manor to deliver Tempus a mission: "Guards at the Endshift Tavern, located on Endshift Street in the Field Ward, are being robbed nightly, and the innkeeper says he’s seen giant rats prowling around the back alleys. Sounds dull, but it’s a plea for help that we can’t ignore."
Tempus took the mission. Etlenda accompanied him to the Endshift Tavern. A little while later three guards from the city watch entered the tavern. It was snowing outside. They were cold and tired and unhappy with having to patrol the Field Ward in search of Zhentarim. The trio proceeded to order tankards of ale.
Tempus spotted three halflings eyeing the guards suspiciously. Once the guards got up to leave and return to their barracks, the three halflings got up to follow.
Tempus and Etlenda intercepted the halflings and warned them against committing any crimes. The halflings, taken aback by being called out, nervously agreed. They exited the tavern with hats held in hand, bowing and nodding.
Tempus sent his bat, Edward, to follow the halflings. He saw them run into a side alley where they turned into giant rats and scurried into hiding places.
Tempus told Etlenda what he saw. Etlenda agreed that taking on were-rats was far beyond their areas of expertise and decided to let it go.
Suffer Not the Liars
On the ninth day, Etlenda received a message delivered in a melodious male voice by a white cat, "Etlenda, the Emerald Enclave is in need of your services. Doppelgangers threaten the balance of power in Waterdeep. Rumor has it a group of them are meeting in the Yawning Portal tonight after sundown. Root them out and rid the city of them if you can."
Etlenda enlisted the services of his companions and met Tempus already at the Yawning Portal. They asked Durnan if he knew of any doppelgangers meeting in his establishment. Durnan replied gruffly that the business of his patrons is their own and not for him to disclose. But, however, he was a concerned citizen of Waterdeep nonetheless. If there were anything like that going on, it wouldn't be for another hour or so and would have to be in the private room.
The Mystics of Trollskull Manor positioned themselves to covertly observe the room. At the indicated time, several individuals entered the tavern, each entering alone, and furtively made their way to the back room. Durnan gave a silent nod indicating that all were present.
Push-ta and Kem Hearthfire were positioned outside the tavern to prevent escape through windows. Tempus and Winterfrost stood watch outside the door to the private room. Etlenda listened at the door. He heard snippets including "The time to strike draws near!" and "Our plans are finally coming to fruition. We are all in position - exactly where we need to be."
Etlenda threw open the door and entered.
A woman, a housekeeper by her appearance, was standing at the head of a table of various representatives of Waterdeep, each from various classes and positions of power. "Excuse me! This is a private meeting!"
"Enough!" shouted Etlenda, his short but massive frame exuding menace, "I was sent here by the Emerald Enclave. We know who you are and know your plans. I am here to tell you that you have failed! The Emerald Enclave is giving you this opportunity to flee the city with your lives."
There was a pause. The char-woman glared at Etlenda. She then took a deep breath, "Well, I guess the jig is up. All right. You caught us. There's no point in pretending anymore if our plans have been foiled." She turned to her group, "Comrades, we have failed." She turned back to Etlenda, "We will leave Waterdeep tonight. You win."
Etlenda escorted them to the gates of the city.
Thrakkus the Butcher
After a ten-day had passed, the Mystics of Trollskull Manor returned to the old windmill in the Field Ward. The ground was covered in several inches of snow. There were several empty bottles lying scattered outside the door to the butcher shop.
They entered the butcher shop and met a burly dragonborn butcher with a hangover and a bad attitude. They asked Thrakkus about the stone of Golorr and demanded he tell them where they could find the stone. Thrakkus dismisses their questions with monosyllabic answers and low growls - he was in no mood to talk with outsiders.
With no valid reason to antagonize the butcher, the Mystics retreated to the alley outside. Since the rest of the building looked dilapidated with some doors standing ajar, they decided to take a look around.
Squatters
They entered the run-down structure that was once a windmill and heard the sound of crying children among women and men talking - the structure was filled with squatters.
They entered a nearby room and found a pair of squatters - two women - who cowered in fear at the intrusion. They said that Thrakkus allowed them to live in the structure and even gave them meat to eat as long as they did what he said. They knew nothing of the stone of Golorr nor had they any knowledge of a conspiracy.
Winterfrost offered the pair some trail rations to eat. One squatter wrinkled her nose at the hard dry biscuit while the other whispered, "Take it! Its better than what Thrakkus feeds us. We don't want to wind up like the others"
The other cautioned the first to keep her mouth shut - they didn't want to wind up like "the others".
The Mystics asked where Thrakkus lived and the pair indicated stairs at the end of the hall that led to an upper level.
The Mystics explored the upper level, finding more empty bottles - evidence of a week of binging and celebrating newly acquired wealth - as well as a new crossbow emblazoned with the symbol of the flying snake marking his affiliation with the Zhentarim, new clothes, and a recently repaired window. The other upstairs rooms had dangerously rotten floors or were home to pigeons.
The team returned downstairs and were met by a different squatter - a man. The man offered his help while holding out his hand and clearing his throat. He was offered a silver coin but the man shook his head, wiggling his fingers.
Etlenda became annoyed, "Really? This better be good!" and gave the man a golden dragon.
The man said that he has no idea where Thrakkus got his meat - deliveries happen in the middle of the night - but that he had been selling his butchered meat to shops throughout Waterdeep even in the depths of winter, when the culling of animals was typically curtailed. He said that his last delivery was a ten-day ago to a man named Justyn Rassk, a representative of the Guild of Butchers. He was instructed to deliver the meat to Cuttle's Meat Pies in the trade ward and was paid extra coin for the special delivery. Thrakkus must have been well paid for that meat for he closed his shop for a ten-day and spent much of the time drinking.
Each extra bit of information cost an additional gold coin.
The Larder
When asked where Thrakkus kept his meat, the man indicated the larder at the end of the hall. The door to the larder was made of stout wood and was padlocked from the outside. Push-ta used his picks to open the lock.
They entered a cold storage room filled with severed human limbs hanging from hooks or lying in piles on the ground.
Thrakkus the Butcher had been receiving human bodies, butchering them, and selling the meat to local establishments throughout Waterdeep!
The more intact bodies showed evidence of strangulation, cut throats, and other forms of execution. Many were members of Xanathar's Guild.
There was a fumbling at the lock outside the exterior door to the larder. The Mystics of Trollskull Manor readied their weapons. The severed limbs of humans, elves, halflings, and other inhabitants of Waterdeep dangled from hooks in the ceiling.
The door opened. The cold light of the winter day poured into the larder. Snow swirled around the dragonborn standing silhouetted in the doorway. Thrakkus the Butcher put the key back into his apron pocket. He picked up his heavy cleaver and entered the room. He was shocked to see five intruders - the meddling interlopers who had recently bothered him in his shop - asking about that stupid stone!
His reptilian eyes flashed with anger. The secret of his larder had been discovered. He roared in anger.
The intruders rushed towards him. Thrakkus brandished his giant cleaver, inhaled a deep breath, and breathed a searing cone of flame upon his oncoming attackers!
Fire engulfed Push-ta and Winterfrost. Tempus sent his bat familiar to harrass Thrakkus. Thrakkus swung his giant cleaver, catching the small bat against the wall, causing it to disappear in a puff of silvery smoke.
Tempus swore, "Dammit! Stop killing those! They cost me ten gold each!"
Thrakkus was soon overwhelmed by his opponents. The dragonborn fell to a bolt launched from Push-ta's crossbow.
A quick search of the larder revealed nothing else of value. Winterfrost was sent out to retrieve officers of the city watch to report what happened here. She returned an hour later having found none in the Field Ward.
The squatters stood in the doorway watching. The squatter who had given so much useful info said, "You don't have to stick around. We'll, uh, we'll take care of it." - indicating the body of Thrakkus. "Leave it to us." He grinned greedily and the other squatters behind him giggled suspiciously.
Etlenda told the other Mystics it was time to go. They had to find Cuttle's Meat Pies.
Tempus protested, "We can't leave them here - do you know what they're about to do?"
Etlenda used his arms to direct the others towards the exit, "Yes. I know. But I wish I didn't. Come on. Let's just go."
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