YELLOWSPIRE:
CHES 28th (The Claw of Sunsets – 1492 DR)
02:45 am
Yellowspire was Merf’s initial destination, but now the trail appears to lead the 3 new associates to Candle Lane, in the Dock Ward, and the Zhentarim warehouse there. To think, that just a few moments earlier Vara Silvershield was looking for Zarek and now she is working with his associates.
Vara Silvershield and Merf have a conversation using the Arcane Trickster Spell, ‘Message’, which would not alert Aranat. Vara Silvershield suggests that she may not be the best person to assist with the initial investigation.
Vara Silvershield: “I will head to the main gates and draw any attention to me. That should allow you to catch then unawares.”
Vara Silvershield heads back down the rope and swaps places with Alley, who in turn makes her way up to the warehouse’s first floor.
Merf communicates with Alley, using his Spell ‘Message’, and the Bard points out the small bells above the other 2 door in this office and Merf then tells Alley of the bell that he set-off. Alley lets Merf know that she will listen at the 2 doors, to make sure they are not surprised by anyone or anything in the rooms. A smaller room with a window leading to 2 further smaller rooms, if Alley remembers correctly.
Merf goes over to listen at the door and hears nothing that would alarm him apart from some scabbling of a rodent or two.
Merf then goes to check the other door, which he has been told leads to the main section of the warehouse, and checks the door for more traps. No traps and so Merf opens the door slightly and listens out for any signs of Aranat or Daisy Shadowfoot. The smell of fresh manure is smelt by the Halfling Rogue.
Merf: “Maybe I was wrong about Yellowspire all along.”
Merf, seeing nothing else, invites Alley to go first as she is familiar with the layout.
Vara Silvershield starts walking towards the front of the warehouse.
Beyond the door everything is dark, dark enough for Merf to have difficulties in seeing and the same for Alley past her Daggers ability of 30’ feet. However, Alley can see no signs of Aranat, Daisy Shadowfoot or the horse they rode in on and its dropping clear to smell.
The warehouse was more or less in the same state as she last saw it, with a few less creates and more dust though. Alley then makes her way to the stairs that lead down to the ground floor, the secret trap door and the store room under the stairs, and stops to listen once more at the top of the stairs. Merf follows suit.
No sound of anything dangerous is heard by the pair, but luckily, Merf does spot the caltrops strewed about the stairs and points them out to Alley. Alley meanwhile has spotted a makeshift camp on the floor below. A cot, table and chairs, fire pit, etc.
Alley wanted to use the rope on the crane to descend to the ground floor but Merf felt it to be another trap.
Alley and Merf avoid the caltrops as they climb down the side of the stairs. Once down Merf goes and checks the camp as Alley checks the horse droppings. Alley can tell that they were fresh and it meant that Aranat must have returned here with Daisy Shadowfoot in tow. Merf finds no clues to aid them in the search for Aranat and Daisy Shadowfoot and Alley joins him by the fire. They both go to touch the embers and can feel that they are cold.
Vara Silvershield, having reached the main gates begins to bang on them, alerting not only all those inside the warehouse, but local residence and passers-by. The Paladin can see the sign warning people to not enter and a new chain and padlock around the gates.
Merf moves to the side door, next to the main gates into the ground floor section of the warehouse, and looks out for Vara Silvershield. Once spotted, Merf uses ‘Message’ to inform Vara Silvershield of their findings and to say that they were going to continue their investigations. Vara Silvershield acknowledges the message and informs Merf that she will continue her guard by the gates.
Alley then suggests they investigate the secret trap door and the secure cell below. Merf agrees and they make quick work of moving the creates to uncover the trapdoor. Merf checks the ladder that they find, which descends some 15’ to 20’ feet down to the pitch-black corridor below. Alley attempts to see if she can hear anyone below and is happy that there is no one.
Alley, for good measure, looks along the corridor and makes out the track of a single, large booted, person and there were traces of blood too.
Merf, holding the Magical Candle, moves slowly and quietly up towards the Cell. There the Halfling Rogue can see metal bars in front of a small 15’ by 10’ foot room. In the room Merf can see a small cot, a table and a closed chest. Merf and Alley enter the Cell and they both begin a quick search, Merf checks the table and sees that it is clear and so examines the chest for traps. Alley in turn, checks under the bed then the bed itself for signs of blood or recent use.
Alley collates all the information gathered and comes to the conclusion that Aranat must have returned, open and locked the padlock on the gates, uncovered and covered the trap door and retrieved something from the Cell.
Alley: “My Gold Dragon would be bet on Aranat expecting to return to the warehouse and continue to use it as a hide-out.”
Merf nods but is concentrating mainly on the chest as he finds that it is indeed trapped. The Halfling Rogue masterfully disarms the mechanism and open the chest to unfortunately find it empty. However, Merf recovers and removes an apple sized glass orb containing a yellowish smoke.
Alley steps back and out of the Cell and is thinking of Yellowspire.
Alley: “Be careful with that Merf, make sure you secure it well. We would not want the thing to smash on us.”
Merf wraps the glass sphere in some of the cot’s bedding and places into his backpack. Alley and Merf then head back upstairs, after sending a ‘Message’ to Vara Silvershield to join them at the wagon.
Having made their way back to the first-floor office, after Alley garbing at Merf to stop him from falling whist avoiding the Caltrops, Alley proposes that they should check the other offices so as not to miss anything of importance.
Merf: “Ah, I see, looking for clues.”
Alley listens at the door and hears nothing. The room beyond the office is empty apart from a table and some minor nick-knacks. In the second office there are a further 2 doors and Alley notices that the window in this room also had a wine attached to it. More simple alarms, the Bard ponders.
Alley listens at one door and Merf the other. Unsure of if they heard anything, at their respective doors, the Bard and Rogue look at each other, say nothing and swap doors so they can check them. Nothing apart from a pair of Rats that do not hear the two adventurers as they moved so very quietly indeed. They eventually notice the two intruders and scurry out of the room.
One room has several chairs and nothing more, while the second room had a table and chair, along with several shelves. Merf investigates to table and the papers and notes upon them.
Nothing, however as he was leaving the Halfling Rogue, he checked the papers once more and finds there was a faint impression on it. This he points out to Alley and she goes off and returns with some charcoal from the fire. This she gently crumbles onto the paper, blows and that reveals faint writings.
Alley: “How strange I cannot make out what it means to say.”
Merf has a sudden insight and not only realises that it was some form of code, he also discovered the key to deciphers the note and realises that the added symbols were a red hearing.
Merf: “Hell, I haven’t had to think so hard for year, but look here Alley. The first two sentences denote that the letters should be shifted along by 5 and hen 8, very cleaver. Then the note is written in Thieves Chat too, extra security.”
Alley; “What about the symbols.”
Merf: “A distraction, I guessed Daisy Shadowfoot like her distractions Alley.”
Alley: “Most excellent job Merf. I am glad you are here.”
Clues Point to Yellowspire:
The paper had a list of descriptions and then locations:
Safe house – Almondines Delight Tavern Filed Ward
Diggs – The Inn of the Dripping Dagger Selduth Street
Gear – Grinda Garloth Coin Alley
Sore Bones – Yellowspire Turnback court
Etc.
Alley: “Great work Rogue.”
02:55 am
Everyone makes their way back to the siding loading door and Alley, then Merf, climb down to the Wagon and they all make their way towards Turnback Court.
Several citizens watch the trio leave, Merf takes cover under the Canvas and Vara Silvershield purposefully sits next to Alley, as she refuses to hide like the Rogue.
Merf: “Wake me up when we get there.”
The adventurers head down Selduth Street and after some 25 to 20 minutes, reach the Street of Silks, close to Yellowspire.
Vara Silvershield spend her time conversing with Alley, hoping to appear friendly and allow the Paladin to help in their endeavour tonight. Then Vara Silvershield would interrogate them both so that she would have as much information possible on the murders of Brother Harvek Stonebough.
Vara Silvershield innocently pleads her case and explains her background and beliefs, all of which appear to be ridiculed by the Bard in a subtle yet hurtful way.
Vara Silvershield: “All water off an Arboleth’s back to me.” The Dragonborn ponders.
Alley then takes out a Scroll and begins to cast the Spell from it.
Alley: “Hand me your Longsword Vara, I will enchant it giving it Magical Ability to cause more damage. If you insist on joining us, then you best be prepared.”
Vara Silvershield is unsure why the Bard would do this and is further alerted by the situation that was unfolding
Yellowspire – Castle Ward:
03:00 am
Alley: “Wake-up Merf we are here and you will need to do what you do best and scout out the area as we have not managed to investigate it ourselves.”
Alley pulls into a close by Alleyway, in Sevenlamps Cut, and the three discuss their next move.
Merf said that he would access the Yellowspire via on of its arrow slits by climbing the walls. Then Vara Silvershield should approach Yellowspire via the front and knock on the door so she becomes a distraction. Then Finally, Alley would stay put here and keep a close eye on us both and come to aid us if required.
Alley then suggests that Merf, being a trained Rogue and small of stature, would be best placed to go and give Yellowspire a once over before they dash over.
Alley: “Zarek is not here and so it is up to you to find the ways in, count the number of the guard, note their equipment and any other obstacles or advantages that we may encounter Merf.”
Merf reluctantly agrees and he wonders off and not completely happy with the slow actions of the Bard and Paladin.
Merf: “They both lack the courage and speed of their convictions. If I see a pie I like, I take it, no hesitation. Call me a Thief if you wish, I like the word opportunist better. Or dinner, both are equally good.”
Merf slips off into the early morning shadows of the Castle Ward.
Castle Ward lies in the heart of Waterdeep, wrapping around the eastern slopes of Mount Waterdeep. This Ward is home to Castle Waterdeep, Piergeiron’s Palace and many cities’ administrative buildings. Ward of wealthy or influential people who can’t count themselves among the nobility. (Ward’s colours: Blue and Purple – Mascot: Griffon)
Merf sees Yellowspire and it looks like a dilapidated tower built by some half-forgotten Waterdavian Mage hundreds of years ago. The Tower gets its name entirely from the distinct, faint yellow tinge of the stone masonry used to build it.
On the western side of Yellowspire, the Halfling Rogue discovers that the tower is actively undergoing structural modifications. It is heavily encircled by rough, wooden scaffolding. In colder campaign seasons, this scaffolding could be described as being dangerously slick.
The Rogue, on passing the tower, notices that it is brightly lit by continual flame spells cast on wall sconces, as he sees them flickering in a rhythmically repeating pattern.
What turns out later to be a Vestibule, houses the outer door. This wooden, iron banded door has a tiny peephole with a closed iron shutter on the inside.
Having completed often placed near Turnback Court, giving it a somewhat forgotten or neglected appearance from the street.
The Halfling Rogue is also able to report that there were two Zhentarim Thugs guarding the main door, carrying a Heavy Crossbows and wearing a Mace at their side.
Merf silently returns to Alley and Vara Silvershield and tells them all that she has seen.
The plan is as follows, according to Merf that is:
Merf: “I will return to Yellowspire, climb the scaffolding and then throw the glass ball into the Tower, this will kill everyone inside and then, at the same time Vara Silvershield can occupy the 2 Zhentarim Thugs at the main door. This leaves Alley to watch and help us if we call her over.”
Everyone tentatively agrees and they take up their positions. Merf stealthily disappears off into the night’s shadows and heads towards the scaffolding leaning against the west side of Yellowspire. Vara Silvershield slowly makes her way on foot towards the 2 Zhentarim Thugs that were guarding the front door to Yellowspire. Finally, Alley waits for the events to unfold, for about 5 seconds and then she slips off into the darkness and follows Merf to Yellowspire.
Merf reaches the west side of Yellowspire without being seen. The Halfling Rogue then climbs up the scaffolding and then a further 20’ or so feet up the side of the old, neglected Mage Tower made from pale, faint-yellow bricks, that is Yellowspire.
Merf looks through the arrow slit and see the following scene:
A female Priestess of Bane, and her 4 Acolyte Followers of mixed ethnicities are dress in fur-lined robes. Black prints, of what looked like their right hands, with fingers and thumb held together, cover every interior surface of the first floor of Yellowspire.
Merf thinks hard and remembers the symbol of Bane, the Faerûnian God of Tyrannical Oppression, Terror, and Hate, known across Faerûn as the face of pure evil through Malevolent Despotism. From his dread plane of Banehold, looks very similar. These handprints mimic the symbol of Bane.
During this ceremony, the Priestess of Bane and her 4 Acolytes hold candles and form a circle around a gagged and blindfolded human commoner of eastern Faerûn origin. The imperious, middle-aged man is shackled to the floor.
This chamber, which looks similar to an Alchemist’s Laboratory, contains a soot-stained fireplace which has a lidless iron cauldron hanging on an iron hook in its hearth and an old Wizard’s Portrait on the wall above the mantelpiece.
The floor is littered with shards of broken glass, burned scraps of paper, twisted pieces of metal, and bird droppings. Other furnishings include a rocking chair, a trellis table, and the charred remains of a bookshelf, all shrouded in thick cobwebs.
Arrow slits line the walls, and pigeons’ nest in the rafters. Each arrow slit is 4’ feet tall and 1’ foot wide-big enough for a small character or a slim medium character to squeeze through.
It is at this moment that the Halfling Rogue catches something near him and he turns to see Alley climbing up the wall of Yellowspire next to him.
Merf then draws out the glass, yellow gas filled, sphere and choses his target inside the chamber.
Merf: “I will kills them all but I need to throw the glass sphere where the eastern is tied-up, that why I will get them all, including the Priestess of Bane.”
Alley looks alarmed but it too slow to be able to stop or warn the Halfling Rogue as he launches the glass, yellow gas filled, sphere at the feet of the man shackled to the floor.
Smash, there is a cloud of yellow gas that explodes from the glass sphere which engulfs the man in the chair and 2 Acolytes who were closest to the explosion. Only one of them are affect and they fall to the ground, either dead or unconscious, Merf does not stay around to find out and climbs away from the arrow slit he was at and moves to another.
Alley spends her time peering into the chamber of the Upper Level of Yellowspire.
Alley: “Aranat is not here and there is no sign of Daisy Shadowfoot either. Which means that they are on the Ground Floor, or below if Yellowspire does indeed have a Cellar or Basement Area. The search continues and as Merf has stirred up a hornet’s nest, I do not think this is the easiest way into Yellowspire.” The Bard ponders as she heads back down to the front door of Yellowspire and where Vara Silvershield had headed for.
Meanwhile, Vara Silvershield approaches the front door of Yellowspire and before she announces her presence, the Paladin calls forth her Magical Faithful Steed. On this occasion Vara Silvershield elects to conger it in the form of a large Male Elk with huge antlers. Then as she approached the Paladin then cast her Cantrip ‘Thaumaturgy’, which allowed her to create a booming voice with which to intimidate the Zhentarim Thugs.
The 2 Zhentarim Thugs, upon seeing the Paladin and her Magical Faithful Steed, decided that they needed to alert Yellowspire and take advantage of it fortified attributes, knowing that unless she uses Magic, the Paladin would struggle to enter.
In the meantime, the Priest of Bane is heard by Merf as she cast a Spell and evokes spirts from the demon realm. The Spell ‘Spirit Guardians’, were protective spirits flit around them in a 15’-foot Emanation and they are evil and they appear fiendish. They ignore the Acolytes, Priest of Bane and even the chained captive is unaffected by them.
Merf looks into the chamber sees all of this and decides to fire at the Priest with his Hand crossbow, using a Magical Arrow, causes damage to her, exit stage left, and scampers after behind Alley.
03:05 am