Hlam At Mount Waterdeep:
CHES 16th (THE CLAW OF SUNSETS)
Zarek and Alley have a few seconds to think and Zarek, and they still needed to find Hlam, moves towards the Tower in order to follow Captain Terrik. Once up at the top of the stairs the Rogue can hear the sound of Captain Terrik and another female voice and he elects to dash back to the corner of the opposing Tower.
Alley then makes the 10’ foot Jump over the canvas covered Pit Trap and hold her position, under the main wall and the corner of the Tower.
Zarek then heads to the second Tower and moves to the stairs are quietly as he can and stops there.
That is when Jeanie (a second Female Human Apprentice Wizard) rushes out of the first Tower and fires her ‘Ice Bolt’ Cantrip at the Rogue causing him damage and reduced his movement by 10’ feet for a short while. As a Reaction to that attack Zarek invoked his Tiefling ability of ‘Hellish Rebuke’, the false City Guard is momentarily surrounded by Hellish Purple Flames and burns to Death.
Zarek then moves into the second Tower looks about and seeing nothing of importance he climbs to the roof.
As he moves up the ladder, he calls for Joe Strummer to fly over the first Tower where Captain Terrik had run into. The Rogue spends a few seconds in looking through the eyes of, the Owl, Joe Strummer. The Owl silently fly’s down to the Tower roof, looks down into the Tower chamber and the Rogue can see that there were a couple of table, food, barrels and other item to suggest it was being used as a dining area.
There the Rogue also spots that Captain Terrik had propped the two tables up and had his Heavy Cross-Bow loaded and he looked from one door to the other.
Zarek attempts to intimidate Captain Terrik into surrendering but he keeps silent. Alley stays put at her position by the base of the first Tower.
Next, Zarek climbs down to the battlements and is about to move over to the first Tower and is confronted by Captain Terrik who moves out of the Tower chamber, fires his Heavy Cross-Bow at the Rogue, hits the Rogue and he climbs over and down the main wall and avoiding the Pit Trap.
Then the sleep false City Guard, Drakkan, overlooked by the Rogue wakes, draws his Scimitar and jumps down to engages with the Bard, face to face, but this allows Captain Terrik to Dash away down the path to Waterdeep.
The Rogue has to make a choice to help Alley who looks intent on finishing off Drakkan, or to chase after Captain Terrik.
Alley: “Go Zarek, I have this one cornered.”
Zarek elects to try and capture Captain Terrik, jumps down and chases up after the false City Guard Captain. The Rogue easily catches up with Captain Terrik and after a few blows, from the hilt of his Rapier and Dagger, he is able to subdue Captain Terrik.
Meanwhile, Alley was fighting with Drakkan, and looking through Joe Stummer’s eyes, the Rogue can see that Alley had picked-up a Scimitar and was shielding that and her Rapier both at the same time. The Bard, who has learnt many things at the College of Swords and this being one of them, makes quick work of Drakkan and she chooses to also Subdue the false City Guard.
Zarek carries Captain Terrik back to the outpost and he and Drakkan are both tied-up by the Rogue.
Alley and Zarek search the bodies and the Outpost and find the following:
The 3 Male Human Zhentarim all have tattoos and Drakkan, Alf and Mirka each carry a pouch with 10 Gold Dragons (their advance pay?)
The 2 Female Human Apprentice Wizard also have the mark of the Winged Serpent and Otira and Jeanie have a 50 Gold Dragons Amethyst Gem each. Otira also dropped a ’Wand of Magic Missiles’ which Zarek recovered and gave to Alley as he felt he had too many toys. 😊
Captain Terrik’s pouch contains 100 Gold Dragons and a vial of Drow Poison. The guard post otherwise contained only beds, stale provisions and five flasks of cheap bourbon. Five dead guards were also found in a shallow grave out back.
Zarek and Alley decide to leave the dead buried bodies for the Waterdeep authorities to deal with and they would continue up Mount Waterdeep to speak with, but only after Alley had cast ‘Cure Wounds’ on herself.
Speaking With Hlam:
The Heroes have defeated the Zhentarim, Zarek uses his ‘Sleight of Hand’ Rogues training tie up the two remaining Zhentarim and they trek the last half mile up to Hlam’s cave near the top.
Before the reach Hlam, Zarek send Joe Strummer away and calls forth a new ‘Magical Familiar’ in the form of a Hawk. This one he calls Sid Vicious. As the Hawk fly’s off ahead, Zarek enters the trance again, keeping Sid Vicious 100’ feet from himself, the Rogue can see a Stone Circle with an alter in its centre.
He also spots a bald, wizened Old Monk sitting cross legged and with closed eyes on the Alter.
Zarek needs to speak with Hlam and so he decides to send the Old Monk a Magical ‘Message’. The Rogue is polite, apologises for disturbing him and says:
Zarek: “I have come to talk to you regarding troubles, in Waterdeep and other things.”
The Rogue then hears Alley’s voice in his mind, the Bard is also casting her ‘Message’ Spell on him.
Alley: “You have been sent by Vajra Safahr remember and under her authority, be clear and remember you are being tested.”
Hlam puts up a single finger to silence the Tiefling. After an uncomfortable 3 minutes of silence, he nimbly uncurls his legs and slide down the Alter, before saying:
Hlam: “And so it is lost, a hundred-year-old truth nearly unravelled. I hope you have important cause to interrupt me.”
Zarek then asks politely to provide the information regarding Waterdeep and its trouble. Now realising that there was no easy way to speak with Hlam, without disturbing the Old Monk.
The stern Monk looks at Zarek and asks for Vajra Safahr’s exact words.
The Rogue attempts to recall the conversation word for word and is able to relay 85% of the information.
Hlam looks at the Rouge and Zarek feels his soul being looked into.
Hlam then provides the following dire warning:
Hlam: “Evil’s twin hides its face for now. Expect that to change before spring’s end”
Hlam: “Innocents will die on the Founder’s Day. A deal is signed, Death shall come regardless.”
Hlam: “Wolves stalk their prey from several sides”
Hlam: “The Twin, the Fiend, the Rogue, the Unhinged that hides shall bring war to the town of waters deep”
Hlam refuse to elaborate further. He remains taciturn and sombre, and utterly intolerant of disrespect, lies and other shenanigans.
Zarek then tells Hlam about their troubles getting to the mountaintop, the Old Monk begrudges the loss of life, but also shows a measure of appreciation and says:Hlam: “some of the most quiet and undisturbed meditation I’ve had in years, until you came along, that is.”