FIREWINE ALLEY – CHIMERA:
Zarek notes the players In the Chimera mystery as he leaves the Almondine’s Delight Tavern.
- Kemper Copperfury – The female Dwarf that is keeping tabs on Bodee.
- Zhentarim Operative – The mysterious male figure that has been tracking our heroes.
- Lady Allegra Almondine – The Female Gnome and owner of the Almondine’s Delight.
- Barbarians of Alasha Gaige – They work for Alasha Gaige, King Pin of Tent Town.
Zarek and Alley leave the Almondine’s Delight Tavern and make sure they are not being followed this time. Happy that they are not, they avoid being seen by the Barbarians who are now talking to the civilian that had seen both Zarek hiding, when he wanted to have a look at the pouch that he found and then again when He and Alley fought with Oli and his two addicts.
They head off to visit Dudley, knowing that he would most likely being working all hours. Zarek states that they are still not sure who the Alchemist was and Allet then suggested providing two samples and making sure that one was from the stall and the other with added Chimera to see if Dudley would conclude that they were tainted or not.
“I have known him since I have been in the Field Ward and I do not believe that Dudley is the Alchemist, but I am not sure of anything anymore.” Says Alley.
“We can only trust each other for now Alley.” Zarek states.
Luckily, the Dwarf Senior Constable was not on guard and Caspar and Melchior were alone.
Alley spends some time with the two guards, asking how their families were and even gave Melchior something when he told how his brother had been taken by the Chimera.
Inside the makeshift morgue, Dudley greets the two heroes and agrees to help analyse the 2 samples of Coffee after Zarek persuades the Cleric of its importance. In turn Zarek offer their help once more and he and Alley are tasked with washing and wrapping the bodies while Dudley works on the coffee samples.
After several hours Dudley returns and informs the two detectives that both coffees do indeed contain Chimera, with one having more than the other sample. Zarek and Alley thank Dudley for all his help and convince him that they will do everything in their power to stop the use of Chimera in the Delacourt’s Kaeth (Coffee) and continue their search for Jaxim and Dallas Delacourt.
The pair then discuss their findings and decide their next course of action. Once again, they both take the time to look about to confirm that they are not being followed.
Alley feels the Dudley can be eliminated as being the Alchemist and that the list of suspects has one name removed.
Alley was also unsure as to Ivan’s explanations and information as she thought there were too many inconsistencies and misinformation.
- Why did the note come from Bodee and not Ivan?
- Ivan knew Zarek’s full name, as if he knew about Alexander Brightlamp’s journal.
- Ivan said he had visited the Dhavian Trill Theatre to see the devastating effects of Chimera, why?
- Ivan believes those that use Chimera get what they deserve?
- Bodee handed over something to Ivan and made sure no one can see what it was.
- Is someone like Bodee or Alonzo, who doesn’t take Traveller’s Dust or Chimera, more to be the Alchemist?
- Why was it that Bodee didn’t know Zarek’s name?
- Kemper Copperfury has been tracking Bodee, but Why?
- Who is the Zhentarim that keeps appearing and why is he chasing us?
- Is Alasha Gaige, and her Barbarian allies from Tent Town, friend or foe?
- Are Warble Bandlewagon, Hargadon Dudley and Alonzo Redhawke still to be suspected to be the Alchemist?
Alley and Zarek are determined to find out what has happened to Jaxim & Dallas Delacourt and devise a plan to investigate the tent, used as a home by the siblings, and gain any information possible about the tainted Delacourt Kaeth (Coffee). Alley suggests that she will try to sneak into the tent from the back, while Zarek distracts the two addicts running the Coffee business.
“I think it is a good idea to disguise yourself as a fellow Ruffian or Bullyblade, to gain some respect and fear from the two addicts.” Suggests Alley.
“A very good idea indeed Alley.” Confirms Zarek.
Zarek approaches from the front, while Alley moves as quietly and hidden as she can. Zarek take to opportunity to look over the addicts and the stall whilst waiting to be served.
The two addicts, Romain and French Steve, were not carrying weapons openly, but Zarek saw that Romain had a blade and French Steve had a club at his side. The blood was still visible on the cart, but be easily mistaken for Coffee if you had no idea that the Delacourt’s had gone missing.
Zarek spoke to Romain, the one in charge, whilst he kept a close eye on French Steve who was serving the Coffee. Zarek tells Romain how he has some Chimera and that he wants to sell it on. Romain at first, with the Illusion of being protected by the Alchemist, jokes how they do not need any more Chimera and if he has some then it must not belong to him and it would be a good idea to hand it over.
Zarek uses the guise of the Bullyblade, crated by his ‘Disguise Self’ Spell, to intimidate the addict Romain into thinking twice about being so brave.
“I don’t think you understand what I am telling you, I want a meeting with the Alchemist and I won’t be giving you anything, understand?” Zarek stares at Romain and his hand moves towards his Longsword.
“Ok, Ok, mate don’t let’s get hasty my friend. I can arrange for a met but I don’t know who you are. You be from the City Watch, are you?” Romain nervously asks the Bullyblade.
Romain asks something to French Steve in Thieves Chant and French Steve goes under the counter and produces a small cup of tainted Coffee, which he hands over to Zarek in his Bullyblade guise.
Zarek then remembers that he said that he would use his ‘Message’ Spell to see what Alley had uncovered. Zarek asks Alley what she has found and she replies, sobbing, “I have found their bodies and a bag of Coffee, they’re gone Zarek.”
Zarek does not want to drink the Coffee and attempts to scrumptiously pour the drink away without the addicts noticing. Zarek is successful and manages to persuade Romain of his wiliness to take narcotics. Romain does not let on to who the Alchemist be.
“I am not lucky enough to have meet the man but if, as you say, you have some of his property I am sure he will want to recover it.” Romain utters.
“What was that noise, it came from the tent?” Says a worried French Steve.
“Take a look, while I keep an eye on things out here.” Romain replies whist looking at Zarek.
French Steve unties the cords holding the flap closed and enters the tent while Zarek nervously looks on. Zarek engages in conversation with Romain in a try to distract him whilst Alley hopefully makes her escape. There is a noise from inside the tent as if something heavy was dropped onto the ground.
“Well done French Steve I hope there is nothing to worry about.” Romain says outload.
Zarek, still in the guise of a Bullyblade, offers to check the tent while Romain looks out for the City Watch.
Once inside the tent Zarek finds is met with Alley and French Steve on the ground and Alley on top of him. Zarek can see that French Steve is laying still, faced down on the ground with blood coming from his head.
Alley shows Zarek the bodies of Jaxim & Dallas and the bag of Coffee that she both found.
“We need to get out of here fast before we are discovered.” Zarek exclaims as he looks about the tent.
“What about him?” Alley points to French Steve on the ground.
“Lay next to the body and I will hide you both with a Spell be quick now Alley and be brave.” Zarek encouragingly tells Alley.
Zarek casts ‘Minor Illusion’ to make the ground look empty and so hide French Steve and Alley.
Zarek then pulls back the tent flaps, oh err, and shows Romain that French Steve had fled out of the back of the tent. Romain turns to Zarek and asks him to look after the stall while he goes to inform the Alchemist.
Zarek darts back onto the tent having taken the un-tainted coffee from the cart.
“I will search French Steve and then we need to go.” Zarek tells Alley as he bends down to search French Steve. Zarek find a pouch of 16? Dragons (Waterdeep Gold Coins) and a curious pendant around his neck. With all the deaths and narcotics being sold Zarek imagines that there would be a surplus of Magic Trinkets changing hands.
This Amulet looks like a grain or cereal and Zarek recognises it as Hops. Then as he is taking a closer look, he finds it is made from old, ale-stained wood.
Zarek and Alley exit the back of the tent and Zarek searches for Romains tracks and they follow them, walking off south and then west. Zarek loose the track of Romain but they head towards the Dhavian Trill Theatre and the two heroes follow their nose.
Once at the Dhavian Trill Theatre, they find very little traffic, as it was around midnight, and only one addict carrying the tell-tale Red Mark of a dealer sitting on the steps of the building.
Alley reminds Zarek that he is still in character and that they should use that to their advantage.
“You can use the same ruse again and insist on seeing the Alchemist, that way we will at least know if he is there or not. You will also not be recognised.” Is Alleys advice and Zarek agrees.
Zarek and Alley approach the main doors of the Dhavian Trill Theatre and the addict in none the wiser as they expect he thinks we are another pair of addicts looking for Chimera.
“You fella, what’s your name?” Asks Zarek still in the Magical Disguise of the Bullyblade.
“Good evening, Mellor, Mark I mean, are you looking for a good time?” Asks the addict looking around and acting slightly nervous due to the Longsword hanging by the Bullyblades side.
“We have come to meet Romain and he said that we should wait inside and I think the quicker we are inside the better for everyone, don’t you think?” Asks Zarek to Mark Mellor.
“Yeah, that right, and we need our fix see.” Adds Alley in a dockside accent.
Mark is taken by Alleys innocent beauty and is more than happy to allow us access pass him.
Zarek can open the wooden boards blocking the doors with ease and the two enter the Dhavian Trill Theatre once again. Zarek stops and listens out for any possible treat ahead and is happy that they are alone, for now.
“Alley, stick close to me a s I know your human eyes are not accustomed to the darkness.” Zarek explains to Alley as he offers her his arm.
The two young heroes silently move forwards hoping not to meet anymore addicts or anything worse. Once again, the walls will flicker dimly with golden light as the pair enter the Foyer. After both listening out once more, Zarek decide to investigate the dim light further and notices that they go out when they leave and come back on when h enters the room once more.
“Hold on I can’t remember the walls flickering when Alley join me last time and they didn’t light when the addicts left either.” Zarek asks himself.
“How was it also that Alley made her way to the stage area to help me last time with her limited human vision, strange.” Ponders Zarek and is not able to devote it the time heeded to reach a conclusion.
Everything is pretty much it was the last time and the pair head all the way up onto the stage area. Zarek makes his way up the stage stairs and to the area, in the centre of the stage and, behind the scenery.
Alley stay down in the seating area, behind cover and ready to use her Spells if required.
Zarek intends to say all the words and phrases he thinks are connect to the Alchemist or Chimera and may open the secret door. Zarek also believes that the Amulet of the Hop, wore by French Steve, is also part of the Magical enchantment used to pass the secret door.
“What shall I say first?” thinks Zarek to himself and then he remembers that Ivan kept using one word quite often and he thought it strange.
“BRAVO” Utters Zarek and the secret door reveals itself and opens up to reveal a carved-out tunnel behind the tattered background scenery on the stage. The air that comes up from the tunnel is damp and acrid and the passage is long and dark.“So, Ivan knew more than he would have us believe, did he get his narcotics from here too and just wanted us to leave well enough alone? Bravo.” Thinks Alley to herself.