Patron Orders: Week 1
The first week of the campaign proper.
House Gralhund:
Lady Yalah and a pair of Spies attempt to make contact with the Cult of Asmodeus operating in the city, though as a known entity she has little luck. Her spies, more at home in these murky waters, bring her 3 possible contacts
Lord Orond, after his disastrous handling of the Houses business, was given an ultimatum by his lovely wife. And was forced to join the Dungsweepers work team, as they scoured the sewers for the thieving vermin that were plaguing the City.
He will be forced to endure this indignity for a period of 25 days.
For which House Phaulkon would furnish him the sum of 100 gold pieces.
Thankfully, with his glib tongue and a little palm greasing, he found himself being put in charge of a small squad of 'Rat Catchers', with 2 stout Lieutenants to command a 20 strong rabble of peasants.
So begins his first week of active duty as the head of P.U.F.F., and along with the boys under his command encounters no serious dangers while on patrol.
Hrabbaz and Hurv managed the Estate, while the Nimblewright guards Lady Yalah as inconspicuously as possible. The Flying snakes only needed to brave the cold when a message desperately needed to be delivered.
Urstul Floxin and one of the remaining Spies, headed down to the Dancing Dragon to wait for Bryant Stigandr, but the highwayman did not appear.
When Yalah suggested he wait there until he met the man, the Spy Master rounded on her. Reminding the good lady that he was only at her service at Manshoon's convenience and that this kind of grunt work can be left to underlings. Any complaint she might have should be taken up with his Boss.
One Spy attempted to track down the person who had been brazen enough to sell a fake pair of Sending Stones.
None of the Thieves' Guild's forgers had done the work. Though they did say it would be easy enough to bypass any quick inspection with a scroll of Nystul's Magic Aura. But that kind of thing wouldn't hold up under closer scrutiny. And after leaning on the middle-man who had connected Lady Gralhund with the seller, the Spy learned a name; Gimgen Ironfist.
Though the frightened man couldn't say whether it was real or fake.
Yalah had one of the other Spies look into the robbery on the 27th of Nightal, hoping the reports of a "Shadowy demonic creature" could bring her closer to finding the dark powers she sought.
Utilising (read as: expending) the contact at the Wazoo, her Spy was told something that didn't make it into print. The Watchful Order had identified the creature as a Shadow Demon, most likely summoned by someone.
The wintery weather had driven all the juicy gossip indoors, and the Spy working at the Wazoo only earned 2gp for his stories.
Thankfully, the Trade caravan Yalah had sent to Amphail returned on the 7th of Hammer, after a successful run, netting 400gp in profit.
Force Grey:
Vajra Safahr spends a fruitless week buried in the bureaucracy of the City, unable to regain the favours she'd called in. While Meloon Wardragon handles the security of Blackstaff Tower, Force Grey's base within the city proper.
Saethe Cromley begins his interrogation of the recent prisoners; the Dwarf and Bandit who took part in the Mind Flayer jailbreak. Both are tough nuts to crack. The Bandit swears to any god he can think of that he was just hired to do a job, and the stubborn Dwarf deflects any real line of questioning with minotaur facts.
A subject he is incredibly well versed and passionate about.
Barnibus Blastwind begins to look into Laeral Silverhand, the Open Lord of the City.
She's as clean as one would expect from the public facing leader of the City Council, but he does find out she is said to disguise herself and slip out of the Palace of Waterdeep every so often.
Jarlaxle:
Jarlaxle continues to spread rumours about Luskans plans for the upcoming festivities. Fel'rekt, Soluun, and Krebbyg fanned out to dig up any information about the calling card that had been recently left behind. It turned out to be the calling card of the Black Viper, gentleman thief.
Though they find the Black Viper was not above mugging and pickpocketing. They may also be linked to several unsolved assassinations. The Black Viper was active within the City over a century ago, and was never caught.
One Drow Mage continues his studies, while the other visits a prisoner to tie up a loose end. Joffery Epstein was skeptical about the drows promise to secure the funds needed for his release, so he barely had time to react when the Shadow Demon took his life.
The Elite Drow Warriors hit the fighting pits and came away netting a prize purse of 150gp
The last drow mage and all the drow at Jarlaxles command spent a tense first week trying to pass themselves off as the Waterbarons Envoy.
However, on the 9th of Hammer another calling card is discovered. Along with the disappearance of 10gp. The Black Viper has struck again.
On the 10th of Hammer his spy the Xanathar Guild relayed to him that the Eye Tyrant is after something called the Stone of Golorr, which was recently stolen from his lair and seems tied to Neverember's embezzled funds. He also mentions that the beholders right-hand Top Guy got pinched springing the Mind Flayer, but the Watch don't know who they have yet. They think he's just some low level flunky.
House Cassalanter:
Victoro & Ammalia attended gatherings, where they tried to approach the Guild to allow them to join the committee for the Founder's Day celebrations, or at the very least put forward a small "donation" to aid with the events cost, but they were politely turned down.
Their time wasn't completely wasted as they did manage to make a few friends (2 of which were inducted into the Cult).
Crowelle on the other hand had more success.
In the guise of Sister Iovita, priestess of Mystra, he visited "Hong the Farmer". The incarcerated criminal who had attempted to reach out to the House on a couple of occasions to extort them. "Hong" sought to extract just enough funds to pay the criminal damages he was liable for.
But because the House hadn't budged he was sent to the Amendsfarm to do hard labour, to pay off what he owed. Performing hard labour from the 1st of Nightal (December) until the 10th of Tarsakh (April).
The two had a spirited conversation, and Crowelle returned to petition his Master to release a sum of 50gp and have the Houses barrister begin to draft the proper legal paperwork to secure the 'poor farmers' release.
As Crowelle had discovered "Hong" was in fact a Doppelganger, like himself, who worked the City as part of a gang of Doppelgangers who called themselves [The Collective].
With the 'protection' the House could offer, they were more then happy to come work for them.
[99 on Social Interaction, followed by a 20 on the subsequent Persuasion check]
The Barded and Bearded Devils continued to guard the Estate.
The Cult Fanatics attempted to capitalise on the information Crowelle had previously secured regarding potential blackmail victims. One waited all week at the Dancing Dagger, but saw no sign of Bryant Stigandr. Another was chased away by her guards, before they got a chance to see Lady Urmbrusk. Though the last one did manage to find and speak with The Captain.
Who acquiesced to their demands.
For it to appear above board, he "took out a loan" with the House for 3000gp, a weekly "repayment" of 300gp.
3 of the Cultists continued to spread the 'good word' among the lower class, making a couple of new friends. Successfully converting 1 of them. Though 1 Cultists got so steamed on cheap ale, they went streaking through the Southern ward.
The last 2 cultists approached struggling merchants who had been left financially ruined by the recent crime sprees. One thanked him for the offer, but said he needed some more time to think.
[38 - 69: Uncertain. (6) The creature offers no help but does no harm]
While the other was so appreciative, he took out an 8000gp loan (800gp/week in repayments).
[76 - friendly immediate action. Not high enough to be inducted into the Cult]
The Imps stopped their crime spree in favour of spying; several headed over to Castle Waterdeep, they are mostly preparing for the upcoming Lord Alliance meeting on the 1st of Alturaik. The other pair kept tabs on House Margester.
The Cult tithed: 204gp.
Manshoon:
Manshoon pens a letter to Thardouk Starbuckler, but no extra large cinnamon swirl appears in the bakers window. The hidden hand attempts to further pressure the baker with more rumours, for the cost of 19gp. His Simulacra goes drinking and manages to make Meloon Wardragon an allied contact.
Manafret Cherryport continues his search for the magical items his boss wants. Unfortunately, the seller he does eventually find is killed before the sale can be completed. Urstul Floxin tries to collect on the outstanding bounty on the gang of Kobolds.
Learning that the gang belongs to the Xanathar Guild, and they have a front on Vellar's Lane, a fence known as Orsabba's Fine Imports. His knocking heads however has burned the bridge with one of their lower class contacts.
Havia and Mookie attempt to collect on the outstanding wages. Their previous employer is apologetic, and is able to scrounge together the 10gp he owes.
Yorn the Terror returns to the City's fighting pit circuit. But the ex-champion has been resting on his laurels, and only goes a couple of bouts before being knocked out. He takes home a prize purse of 50gp. Agorn plays a few feasthalls during Wintershield making 10gp in tips.
Vevette goes looking for information on the red playing card. She comes away finding out it is the symbol of the Black Viper; Gentleman Thief.
Kaevja manages to approach the newly weds but they are uncertain of her offer. Treating her as some sort of kookie mage, who wants them to aid in conducting spell research.
The 3 Apprentices continue chanting to keep the Barlgura slumbering.
Zhentarim Pest Control continues at a pace, earning 112gp, but failing to capture any of the vermin.
On the 10th of Hammer another business under Manshoons protection is robbed.
Urstul Floxin, is in a foul mood. He relays that Lady Gralhund is getting uppity, and might need to be reminded of her place. He is Manshoon's Spy Master, not some servant to be bossed around.
Vevette's digging seems to have come too close to something as another red playing card is found and 10gp missing.
The Black Viper has struck again.
By the 10th of Hammer word gets back to Manshoon that his agents had secured Neverember's son, to begin interrogating him for information regarding his fathers ill gotten gains.
However, he comes to find that Xanathar's men killed his agents and kidnapped the man, the Watch then raided the warehouse which was a front for his safehouse, and to add insult to injury, a band of adventurers looted the hidden stash there.
Making off with 300gp worth of fine art, and 750gp worth of 10lbs silver trade bars.
Xanathar:
The Eye Tyrant rampaged around Skullport seeking the Stone of Golorr, but found nothing. Thankfully, the Intellect Devourers with him manage to dig up that the winter weather has grounded any of the smugglers from moving anything out of the City.
Nar'l, Nihiloor, Grum'shar and several Bandits went about researching ways to spring Ahmaergo and the Bandit, drawing on the recently returned Nihiloors experience. Several Bandits started going about trying to sow rumours to aid in springing Ahmaergo and the Bandit.
They were still working on it at the cost of 17gp.
A pair of Bandits languish in the Amendsfarm, bidding their time waiting for a chance escape.
3 duergar were off in the Underdark, under taking the 'Dangerous Task' they'd agreed upon.
I used the Named NPC Deaths to determine how this went.
The Blood Pit sees Bugbears, Deurgar, a Half-ogre, Grell, Hobgoblins, and Intellect Devourers clash coming away with a purse of 650gp. Though someone approaches one of the Hobgoblins, in a bid to have them throw a few of their matches.
Thankfully, he values his life more than any quick coin he could have gained.
Several struggling merchants are robbed by an Intellect Devourer, a pair of Goblins, a crew of Kenku and a gang of Kobolds. Netting 200gp. One of the victims of this crime spree approaches one of the Bandits affiliated with the Xanathar Guild in an attempt to ask for them to solve the robbery.
The lair is guarded by the Gazers, Kuo-toa, Kuo-toa Whips and Merrow.
On the 9th of Hammer, the prisoner transfer cart rolls into the Amendsfarm to drop off new arrivals and pick up what little the Prison-farm workers have produced. The 2 Bandits are able to slip out unnoticed, though their hastily donned disguises won't stand up to much scrutiny. Thankfully the rumours their Guildmates have sown have done their trick, the guards on this run seem distracted.
The weather also helps. A light snow has been falling all day, a light wind whipping it around, further reducing already poor visibility. The chill of the season causing the whole group to not wish to tarry too long away from the warmth of their guardhouses.
The Bandits manage to return to Xanathar's side, smelling slightly of cabbage.
On the 10th of Hammer Xanathars spy in Force Grey relays to him that Ahmaergo and the Bandit are being worked over, but haven't cracked yet.
Also, though battered and bruised the 3 Duergar return from paying off their debt.
It is reported to the Xanathar that one of his men is acting oddly.
By the 10th of Hammer the Eye Tyrant finds a strange item has been added to his collection: a crimson calling card.
It takes several hours before the beholder realises 50gp is missing. He has been robbed, again!!
The Kuo-toa and Merrow sink beneath the waters to avoid his wrath.
Before the crime-lord can rampage too much, word gets back to him that a bunch of adventurers raided one of his hideouts, in a vain attempt to rescue Neverembers son.
It turned out his Kenku's had kidnapped the wrong ginger fancy man.
They managed to waylay Noska and Korgstrod long enough for Neverember to escape, but the lieutenants did bring back 4 prisoners, to do with as he pleased, in an attempt to assuage the beholders anger.
Though Nihiloor was pretty pissy about the loss of one of his Intellect Devourers.
**********
I have to say, sometimes the dice just want to tell a story.
This week both the Patrons, who sought out information regarding the strange red calling card, were visited again by the Black Viper.
The Dice came up complication when rolling Lifestyle for Jarlaxle and Manshoon, both of these complications came up as [Burglary - 10gp].
So naturally, I interpreted this as the Black Viper striking again, pulling off a small crime as a means to deter the Patrons from looking further into them.
I doubt it'll have the effect the Gentleman Thief desires.
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