Gralhund Villa:
CHES 26th (The Claw of Sunsets)
00:00 am
Alley and Zarek know they need to visit the Gralhund Villa and bring to justice those that had a hand in Iomhar’s death. However, currently they are left with 2 dead Duergar bodies and one unconscious Duergar called Zemk, who was the Duergar that they fought in the Xanatharian Outpost in the sewers of Waterdeep. The Secret Trap Door was situated under Fishgut Alley, which is also where the Urchins live.
Zarek searches the bodies of the 2 Dead Duergar and only finds a few coins, 9 Silver Shards. There was also the note from N’arl Xibrindas.
Before you proceed, get properly outfitted by Grinda Garloth. Her workshop is located in Mistshore.
– N’arl Xibrindas
The eventually decide to first interrogate Zemk, trying to intimidate the Duergar into revealing the location of their Outposts or Lair, but the Rogue has problems.
Zemk now knows that they have knocked him unconscious twice now and so he believes that the Tiefling is not the cold-blooded killer he makes out to be.
Zarek attempts to terrify Zemk into talking but at first, he ignores the Rogues words as he speaks in Common and it’s not until he tries to communicate in Dwarven, that the Rogue can understand his words.
Zemk is not impressed and the Duergar does not feel threatened by the Rogue and does not divulge any information. That is until Alley, using up one of her few remaining Spells, casts ‘Command’ on Zemk as the Rogue questions him.
Zemk (Dwarven): “Your words are empty and filled with craven lies boy, I will tell you nothing.”
Zemk (Dwarven): “Your words are empty and filled with craven lies boy, I will tell you nothing.”
Zarek: “We know of the operative Urstul Floxin and where you are hold-up in Yellow Spire, we will give you to him.”
Zarek: “We know of the operative Urstul Floxin and where you are hold-up in Yellow Spire, we will give you to him.”
Zemk: “You know nothing.”
Zemk: “You know nothing.”
Zarek: “Tell me all about Yellow Spire.”
Alley then casts her Spell ‘Command’ and compels Zemk to tell all related to Yellow Spire.
Alley: “Disclose.”
Alley: “Disclose.”
Zemk: “The boss knows a guy name Floxin, one of those Zhent bastards, was following that Gnome dungbag; the boss has got eyes on Floxin at Yellow Spire now.”
Zemk: “The boss knows a guy name Floxin, one of those Zhent bastards, was following that Gnome dungbag; the boss has got eyes on Floxin at Yellow Spire now.”
Zemk is tied up by the Rogue before Alley makes him go and call the City Watch to have him taken into custody. Alley can see that Zemk has touched a nerve with Zarek and any more interaction may have cost Zemk his life.
Zarek hears the noise of the Bard giving the tied-up Duergar a kick and the returning grown from Zemk.
Zarek: “Good old Alley.”
Zarek returns with the City Watch and he explains that the Dwarves set upon each other and that they should take Zemk into custody.
The Rogue then insists on going to the Gralhund Villa, seeing that it was right next to Trollskull Alley, and they could get an initial impression of the location and gather any information that may help them when it came to the Gralhund Villa Heist.
Gralhund Villa:
00:30 am
The Rogue and Bard make their way to Saerdoun Street and the Gralhund Villa. Zarek cast a Spell on himself, ‘Disguise Self’ and tells Alley to stay put, hiding and watching out for any enemies. Alley stays hidden and watching the rear of Gralhund Villa.
Zarek has disguised himself as a Member of the Dungsweepers Guild and attempts to act as if he was working the Streets of the North Ward.
Zarek makes an initial investigation of the back section of the Gralhund Villa and the Rogue can see that there were 3 buildings, the Main House made up the western section of the wall and there was an actual wall.
The Rogue can see that the streets around the Gralhund Villa have pedestrians and coaches travelling along them at all hours, though traffic is would be heavier during the day.
The Gralhund Villa is enclosed by 12’ feet high stone walls that must be climbed by hand to negotiate without the aid of climbing gear or Magic.
The Rogue, disguised as the Member of the Dungsweepers Guild walks along Saerdoun Street until he reaches the western side of the Villa. Once there he can see that this side of the Main Building, some two stories according to the windows that he could see only on the First Floor of the Main Building.
There are no other features on the western side but the Rogue, with his keen eyes and the need to not mess-up the opportunity to make those that killed Iomhar pay for his murder, sees the shadow of something moving on the street and, as he looks up at the Moonlit night, sees that there is a figure on the roof of the building opposite the Gralhund Villa.
Zarek: “It looks like there are some guards watching over the Villa from the rooftops.”
To make sure that this was the case, Zarek summoned Boris, his Tarantula Spider Familiar, and sends it to the roof while he himself continues to pretend to be cleaning the Streets. Once on the roof, the Rogue then stands on the corner of Horn Street until he realises that he is out of range of Boris and would need to get closer. Zarek makes his way to the courtyard in between Horn Street and Saerdoun Street.
Once there, the Rogue sits and pretends to be sleeping or resting while he enters that trance that will allow him to look through Boris’ eyes.
Two Males wearing Black Leather Armour and carrying Swords are located on the roof of the building opposite the Villa. As the Rogue spends sometime watching them, he spots that they stealthily changing their position from time to time. As to why they have been placed here, the Rogue is unsure but he believes that they are members of the Gralhunds team and are keeping an eye on the Villa. They have a sack and other trapping that suggests that they will be posted on the roof for some time.
The Rogue then senses that he is being watched and as he comes out of his trance see someone looking in his direction from one of the residencies. Zarek gets up and makes his way to the next side of the Villa, the north side, on Horn Street.
Once on Horn Street, the Rogue can see that the wall runs all the wall along the north side and there is a pair of Ornate Iron Gates, presumably the Main Entrance. Through a set of Ornate Iron Gates, the Rogue can see a yard with several large trees, as well as two footpaths that lead to a two-story brick mansion and eastward toward a detached brick building. 2 Guards, wearing the Red of the Gralhunds, stand guard behind the Iron Gates.
The Rogue looks about again, more from habit than anything else, checks for any more Guards lurking on the rooftops and spots the curtains of the third floor of one of the houses opposite the Villa move but there is no light within the room.
Zarek: “Well that is suspicious as I have ever seen, more Gralhund Guards keeping an eye on the Villa.”
Zarek continues on his way, hoping that the 2 Guards keeping watch will not find his actions suspicious as he pretends to look about and clean Horn Street. The Rogue heads off south-east along Horn Street intent of making his way to the last side of the Gralhund Villa.
Then that voice in his head makes itself known again and he hears:
Iomhar ‘Bodee’ Rackham: “Don’t think Zarek, it wastes my time and yours. Check, check and check again. Nothing unexpected should be coming at you from behind, unless you pay for it that is.”
The Blushing Mermaid comes to Zarek’s mind as he remembers that that was always a favourite of Iomhar, though the Rogue had never been.
The Rogue aims to look at the window on the third floor but thinks he would be spotted by the Gralhund Guards, until he remembers Boris and send the ‘Spider Familiar’ up to the rooms window. This time the Rogue is able to stand by the corner of Horn Street and Selrin Street, go into his trance and see through the eyes of Boris once more.
Once at the corner, the Rogue looks into the room and can see that there are other eyes on the Villa. A watch team has been stationed by the front door, which is on the Opposite side of the house from Gralhund Villa, and the observation team is on the top floor. The team in this room is made-up of 1 Drow Gunslinger and 2 Drow.
The Drow Gunslinger looks out of the window ever now and then, will the Drow are sitting next to a table. Drop cloths cover most of the furniture in this room.
Zarek: “So Jarlaxle has sent a team to raid the Gralhund Villa tonight and this on the same night of the Parade and our successful Eyecatcher Heist.”
Something did not feel quite right about the Drow observation team but Zarek overlooked this and decided to continue his scouting mission around the Villa, hoping that he had not been spotted by any of the Factions watching the building.
The last side of the Villa wall was close to the backs of adjacent homes and an alleyway ran along the wall. Still in the guise of a Member of the Dungsweepers Guild, the Rogue continued down the alleyway looking both for ways into the Villa that were best hidden and for more Gralhund Guards.
It was not one, two or three that the Rogue viewed, but four, four separate Gazers flying or hiding in the harrow spaces between the home or behind cover.
Zarek: “4 Gazers here too, that means that Jarlaxle and Xanathar have aspersions of steeling the Stone of Golorr from the Gralhunds. They must have all gathered information leading back here as a result of the ‘Fireball’ in Trollskull Alley?”
The Gazers do not confront the Dungsweeper and, in turn, he continues on his way as if he had not seen them.
Once on Saerdoun Street, the Rogue can now smell the familiar sent of Horses and knows that the south-east corner building must be Stables. Zarek makes his way to where Alley was waiting for him and they both make their way to a courtyard out of sight from the watchers.
Alley: “Now we know why the Gralhund Nimblewright ran eastwards, he came here.”
Zarek tells the Bard of all the observation teams and how even the Gralhunds had men on the roofs watching the Villa.
Alley: “Are you sure? It’s just it appears that…?”
Gralhund Villa Observation Teams:
01:00 am
Zarek expresses his desire to hide and watch for the Heist, or Heists from the Factions, and from there they would either enter under the confusion or liberate the Stone of Golorr from those that take it, easy.
Given how their recent adventures have unravelled, the Bard is not too sure that they were ready to execute either operation.
Alley: “We do not know their numbers and those that Zarek has seen do not feel like assault teams. We do not know the layout of the Villa leaving every room and corridor unknown to us and potential traps or dead ends. Hell, all the rooms could be trapped or have Magic protecting them, we would go in blind.” Alley thinks to herself.
Zarek and Alley find a place to hide, but know that come the daylight, they would stick out like a sore thumb, and wait for the Heist and play it by ear from there.
Alley: “Why is it me that would prefer more information regarding the layout, security and numbers within the Gralhund Alley. I feel Zarek is affected by todays funeral and is trying to prove something to himself. Even Iomhar sked for help.” The Bard thinks that she should talk to the Rogue about her concerns.
06:00 am
Lady Luck is out enjoying the festivals as the Rogue and Bard do not see anyone attempting to penetrate Gralhund Villa’s security. They feel that by 06:00 am it was time to leave as the various servants and staff, for the surrounding Villas and homes, began to arrive via foot or public transport, this consists primarily of two-story, horse-drawn Drays that travel set routes along main boulevards for 2 to 4 Copper Nibs, and smaller Hire-Coaches for personalised travel.
Alley: “Do not worry about Iomhar’s Funeral Zarek, I knew that this might happen and I have arranged everything so you do not need to.”
Zarek: “What do mean?”
Alley: “You’ll see.”
Alley and Zarek head back to Trollskull Manor and have a few hours’ sleep before they get ready for Iomhar’s Funeral.