The Prequels: Week 1

So begins our pre-campaign campaign.

Patron Players & their Orders for the Week are as follows:

House Gralhund

The Lady of the House sought to strengthen their relationship with Manshoon (presenting him a gift of 2 fine Objet d'art: 25gp a piece), while leaving the House's business ventures to her husband (4 weeks of Work - 1st Week brought a 20gp profit). They sent Urstal Floxin (and 2 Spies under his direction) to do some Carousing, seeking leverage and contacts within the City Watch (making 2 allied contacts with the Watch in the rougher parts of the city).  

The Gardener Hurv was able to purchase 2 ferocious Mastiffs for the estate.

2 other Spies were sent Carousing to gain some contacts within the Merchants Guilds of the City (making 2 allied contacts amongst the dockworkers and labourers). A Spy was tasked with following up on the leads the House had on the current Masked Lords (a period of Research that bore no new leads), while the final Spy was sent to gain employment at the Waterdeep Wazoo (88 Reaction Roll - Immediate employment).

Because of the successful Social Interaction, they were able to spend 50gp further ingratiating themselves into the new office culture (as though Carousing - middle class).

Someone is attempting to Blackmail the noble couple to the tune of 50gp.

The House's investments yield 25gp in dividends.

Manshoon:

Took a meeting with Lady Gralhund, accepting her gifts only after ensuring they were neither poisoned nor trapped. 

Manafrat Cherryport spent a week fruitlessly search for magic items for his master. 

Urstal Floxin picked up a decent contract for assassination, though barely recovering after nearly botching the job he is paid only half the contract price. Worse still is it is in the form of an easily identifiable item that clearly can't be fenced in this region: A rather risque portrait of the current Open Lord.

Havia Quickknife earned 10gp for working as a bouncer, along with Mookie Plush. Who got lucky taking home 20gp, and a 25gp tip after dealing with a customer getting rather handsy with one of the establishments best girls. Vevette Blackkwater put in a solid shift at the docks and was paid 20gp for her troubles.

The real stars were Yorn the Terror, who swept the local Pit Fighting, and was crowned King of the Ring, netting a 200gp prize purse. And Agorn Fuoco whose perfomance captivated the entire audience, earning him 20gp in wages and a further 25gp in tips.

Meanwhile, Kaevja Cynavern followed up on House Gralhunds ground work and narrowed in on the identities on 2 of the Masked Lords of the city!

Ered Payno's inquiries into the Harper's operations in the city netted him a name and a location. While Havi Termoock only got the name of a member of the Lord's Alliance they could lean on.

Savara Firethorn's probing uncovered a name among Force Grey and that the older wizards in the city consider the current Blackstaff (leader of Force Grey) to be a young upstart, but are wise enough not to voice such feelings in public.

Manshoon's Spies brought back whisperings of Devil Cults and rumours of Dark Elves.

While his Thugs went around collecting "protection" money from the warehouse owners and shop keeps of the Dock Ward. A nice haul of 85gp, though they may have bankrupted one of the owners in the process.

Force Grey:

The Blackstaff herself throws some Moonfest eve celebrations for the City Guard, and earns the grateful respect of several of their ranking officers.

Meloon Wardragon goes to carouse with the lower members of the organization, but finds that drinking with your superior can make for an awkward atmosphere.

Barnibus Blastwind puts his prodigious grey cells to use in unravelling a small discrepancy that was noted in the city’s finances. His consummate partner in crime, Saeth Cromley, relaxes in Blackstaff Tower, free to enjoy a rare week off.

The bean counters grant Force Greys budget request, releasing 32gp. To cover expenses.


Jarlaxle:

Under one of his many guises, Jarlaxle went schmoozing with the city’s elite. Earning several invitations to call upon them at a later date. While he wined and dined his trusted lieutenants Fel’rekt and Krebbyg led a pair of squads (an elite drow warrior and 3x drow) to hit different prosperous merchants.

Both jobs went sideways and the crews managed to get away with only an easily identifiable item worth 50gp, which cant be fenced in the local region.

His last Lieutenant Soluun went out to carouse amongst the lower class and came back with an incredible hangover and only a fuzzy memory they had done something very, very illegal. They did remember not doing it alone, however.

The Drow Mages under his command hit the books, digging up everything they could about the Lords Alliance and the Wards which protect the city. Coming up with some interesting titbits.

The remaining Drow had an eventful week as well; 1 barely pulled off robbing a struggling merchant, 2 lost out gambling, and ended up owing the establishment. The last 2 entered the local fighting pits, but were knocked out in the 1^st and 2^nd rounds respectively, much to the annoyance of the few people who bet on the dark horses.

He paid the docking fees for two of the ships of his fleet, the flagship anchored in the harbour.

Xanathar:

With the aid of two Intellect Devourer driven flesh puppets, attempted to find a magic item of very rare quality to steal. He was unsuccessful in finding very rare magic items. Which could be due to the two Edgar the Bug types he had acting as agents on the surface.

Instead he received word on the locations of: a Potion of Hill Giant Strength, a Robe of Useful Items (with 10 Special patches), a Robe of Useful Items (with 11 Special patches), and a Saddle of the Cavalier. 

Thankfully his Majordomo and a pair of bandits were having more success in ripping off a struggling merchant. 

The rest of his lieutenants less so:

Nar’l Xibrindas barely escaped his failed heist; Nihiloor completely botched his job and was picked up by the Watch; Noska Ur’Gray barely escaped, and Korgstrad Uxglum did slightly better, but both now have bounties on their heads; and finally, Grum’Shar also barely managed to escape after biffing his smash and grab against a struggling merchant.

2 Bandits managed to successfully rob a struggling merchant, 2 Goblins managed to escape with half the loot from a struggling merchant they robbed, as did an Intellect Devourer driven skinsuit and 7 Kobolds.

4 Bandits found their job cancelled after the Big Boss failed to locate a juicy enough target.

2 Bandits tried to carouse with the middle class, but those attending found their presence off-putting.

4 Duergar managed to earn a small amount working for the shady Dark Harvest Market in Skullport. Which was better than the hand full of silver 6 Kenku scrapped together.

3 Duergar tried the luck gambling but ended up walking away with half the coin they started with.

Several members of the Guild pressed their luck in the Pit of Blood and Fortune, for the Beholders amusement: An Intellect Devourer when out in the 1^st round, the Bugbear went out in the second round, as did the Grell, a Hobgoblin and another Intellect Devourer. The last two Hobgoblins went out in the 3^rd round.

Which left 4 Gazers, a Half-ogre, 6 Kuo-toa, 4 Kuo-toa Whips, and 4 Merrow guarding the Lair.

House Cassalanter:

The Lord and Lady of the House spend a week flitting between the salons and soirees of the city’s elite, gaining several invitations to call on at a later date. Leaving their trusted batman to skulk through the servant’s quarters, picking up little titbits that could be used as future leverage. 

Which left the houses security to the lesser devils (2 bearded devils) under their command.

Using the Lady’s knowledge of whose who and who is steering the committee for next years Founder’s Day festival, several of their cultists attempted to infiltrate the organisation. The cult fanatic was kicked out immediately before realising they had been pickpocketed, and the 2 cultists also failed to gain employment as the Guilds were mostly handling it in house.

They, did however make some friends with the labourers who would be working on the displays and grandstands. The remainder of the Cult (2 cult fanatics and 3 cultists) went out to spread the good word and came back with several new converts.

The tiny devils (5 imps) under the cults control dispersed across the city to pilfer from struggling merchants, getting away with several ill-gotten gains, and driving a couple to financial ruin.

Finally, the House’s investments paid no dividends but there were no short falls.

But manage to bring several new members into the fold.

[Next Poast]