The Urchins:
This is what Alley and Zarek learned about the Urchins who are now new members of their growing gang, Lif the Poltergeist also included.
While resting in the Master Bedroom, being fed and cared for by Alley. She provided a clean bed, starts a fire with her ‘Flame Bot’ Spell and cooked up their adventure’s rations. That is when the Urchins enter and ask for Jenks’ items and also give their tanks for saving Squiddly’s life. Jenks had “arcane components” (chalk, candle stubs, bits of string) in his bag.
Squiddly, one of the Urchins, is a scrawny, devilish-looking, 9-year-old Tiefling boy with ruddy red skin, short horns that curl slightly, and wild black hair. His mismatched eyes (one gold, one brown) give him an impish charm. He wears a tattered tunic several sizes too big and a belt with a stolen cutlass (far too big for him) tucked through it.
Now that his friend, Jenks in not in danger, e is brash and overconfident, Squiddly sees himself as a great swordsman, despite having little actual skill. He idolises swashbucklers and wants to be a pirate captain someday. He often boasts and picks fights he can’t win, relying on his friends to bail him out.
Zarek and Alley note that, as one of the Urchins, he loves to play pirate, shouting commands at his “crew” (the other urchins). He also has an exaggerated “pirate” accent when talking to adults.
Next, we have Jenks, a chubby 9-year-old Turami Human, dark-skinned boy with curly brown hair and oversized stuffed Owlbear. His patchwork robe is made of repurposed fabric scraps, stitched together haphazardly. He clutches a wooden wand (really just a stick) and carries a book of scribbled notes that he claims are “Spells.”
Jenks is sweet and timid; Jenks is the most cautious of the trio but also the most intelligent. He believes in Magic wholeheartedly and wants to be a great wizard like Mordenkainen. He looks up to adventurers but is easily frightened by danger.
Zarek and Alley noticed that he had a nervous stutter when he was scared and they first met, but now seems to speak confidently when talking about Magic. The Urchins will be of use to Zarek and Alley as time goes on.
Lastly there was Nat, the obvious leader and big sister to the other Urchins. Nat is a stocky, tough-looking girl with tanned skin and tightly braided black hair. She wears ragged but well-patched clothes and carries a makeshift wooden sword. Nat is mute and communicates using hand signals and facial expressions.
Nat acts like the most level-headed of the three, Nat takes on a big-sister role, keeping the others out of serious trouble. She dreams of becoming an adventurer and fiercely admires the City Watch, often mimicking their movements and practicing swordplay.
Nonetheless, despite her small size, she’s physically strong and has a solid stance when fighting. She is very expressive and Zarek and Alley have both noted that her glares can make Squiddly and Jenks behave.
Both Alley and the Urchins loosen up and reveal things about themselves and Zarek pays close attention.
Jenks tells the adventurers where they live, without Nat seeing him do so. Behind a collapsed warehouse in the Dock Ward, near the corner of Spices Street and Fishgut Alley.
Zarek and Alley offer the Urchins all a bed for the night but they just take the hot food and clean water offered to them and leave soon afterwards.
The two Heroes of the Field Ward then takes to their beds, Zarek spending an hour investigating the Magical Powder that he found on the unconscious body of the Duergar in the Xanathar Guild Hideout in the Sewers of Waterdeep.
Zarek finally realises that he has in his possession Magical ‘Pixi Dust’. This ‘Pixi Dust’ allows the user to Fly if the Dust is sprinkled on themselves.
The next morning the Zarek and Alley have breakfast in the Den on the first floor without the Urchins this time. They then notice that something has been scrawled on the damp floor.
Lif: “Front Door.”
Zarek goes out of the first floor and makes his way all around Trollskull Manor to the front door, to see if the Urchins were about, as there is no other way of reaching the ground floor, other than going down the side stairs. At the front door Zarek finds a basket of fruit and vegetables from Corellon’s Crown. Zarek deduces that it must be the building opposite with the glass fronted third floor and all the plants. Zarek returns to the first floor, having left the basket in the Trollskull Manor Kitchen, in a cupboard and out of the reach of the local Rat community.
Alley: “We must remember to thank Corellon’s Crown and meet the rest of our neighbours.”
Zarek: “indeed, maybe there is a bargain to be struck or a discount to be had.”
Zarek and Alley plan their day and they list the things they need to do:
- Find Volo, organise the transfer of ownership.
- Negotiate for Volo’s services, patronage and advice along with that of Renaer.
- Register Zarek for the Waterdeep Tax.
- Register Zarek with the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, as he is a use of Magic.
- Find Someone to help with the Pseudodragon’s in the Attic of Trollskull Manor.
- Find more information regarding Trollskull Manors previous owners and history.
- Report the dead body of the dead Rogue to the City Watch.
Zarek and Alley take a brief look around Trollskull Alley before they head for the Yawning portal.
At the Yawing Portal they find their new associates all sitting together and all very much hungover from the celebrations of the night before.
Zarek then smells something familiar but he can’t quite place his finger, or nose in this case, on it.
Zarek and Alley join the group and insist on having a drink to celebrate their new business endeavour, after Zarek attempts to chastise Volo for his lack of information regarding Trollskull Manor. Volo tells the adventurers all he currently knows about the Manor.
Volo: “Trollskull Manor was once a tavern in these parts, back when the North Ward wasn’t quite as well off. Some crisis or another, can’t remember which one. Anyways, as far as I heard, the owner lost everything and eventually died there. Place was abandoned for years before the city put the deed up for auction. I was chatting with one of the neighbours who told me about the spirit, who seems to have been good at keeping people away.
Though I did have some competition when I bought the place from the city, funny little man, can’t remember his name.”
Zarek: “You also neglected to give us with the keys to the property.”
Volo: “The blame does not lay with me; I wasn’t the one buying all the drinks. It just slipped my mind”
Zarek believes in Volo’s sincerity and orders more un-watered wine for everyone and Volo groans out loud, while Renaer Neverember and Floon Blagmaar drink and toast Trollskull Manor.
Zarek and Alley then re-tell their encounters and finds within Trollskull Manor. Volo is fascinated, as he can continue to write his new works ‘Volo’s Guide to Spirits and Spectres’, took notes and explained this was the first reason he bought the Trollskull Manor, research.
Renaer Neverember sat quietly listening to all that was said and Floon Blagmaar enjoyed his drinking.
Zarek then remembers the smell, Chimera. Not the smell it produces but the lingering acrid small of an addict whose very sweat wreaks of the foul drug.
Zarek: “I must have been someone close in the Tavern.”
Zarek sees no one that he suspects to be a Chimera addict.
Volo sets up a meeting with a Tiefling magistrate named Kylynne Silmerhelve, for later on that day at highsun.
The brief session takes place outside Trollskull Manor in the North Ward at highsun. Magistrate Silmerhelve witnesses the transfer of the deed, rendering the new ownership official, with the impatience of one who has more important matters to attend to. She also collects an estate transfer tax of 25 gp, which is normally paid by the new owners. Renaer Neverember, had makes sure that Volo had a pouch of coins to cover the expense.
Kylynne Silmerhelve and Zarek have a brief conversation, some in Infernal, and Zarek seams to have made a favourable contact, as long as he keeps with the Law the Rogue thinks to himself.
Zarek invites Kylynne Silmerhelve to the Grand Opening of Trollskull Manor and Kylynne Silmerhelve leaves the response open and does not reply. Zarek make a metal note to send an invitation out to her.
Alley: “Remember, the Law not look favourably on, lets call them incentives, but if its only an invitation the Open Lord of Waterdeep can’t object.”
Zarek: “Should I send them one?”
Alley: “Laeral, are you mad? Best you stay away from her she has a way of manipulating everything you say in her favour. And she’s always asking how you are feeling, so boring.”
Zarek then notices that the front door to the Taproom was slightly ajar and he would have sworn that he had locked it and all the other exterior doors. Zarek tells Alley to wait for a second as he believes he know who it is and silently move to the door and listens out for any sounds within.
Hearing nothing Zarek moves into the Taproom, which had been tidied up somewhat by Alley and can see no one within. The Rogue then makes his way to the Bar Counter and that’s when he hears a familiar voice behind him.
Iomhar ‘Bodee’ Rackham: “Alright young scally, looks like you’s be dead if I was from the Black Network, where’s your backup, young Alley, she should be watching your back?”
Zarek, Alley and Iomhar catch-up and Iomhar tells how word spread to the Filed Ward in connection to the massacre in a Warehouse and on the streets. Some said a young Tiefling, a girl and some Nobs were questioned and released.
Iomhar ‘Bodee’ Rackham: “I’ve been keeping an eye on you both and can see you can handle you’s selves when it comes to small monsters but you need to watch out for the Black Network.”
Zarek is so pleased to see Iomhar, and that he had spent some time and coin on his appearance, that he insists on opening one of their three bottles of Whirling Wind Calimshan Red. Iomhar is reluctant to let Zarek open the bottle as he suspects that is would fetch a fair few Dragons, if sold to the Nobs of Waterdeep.
Zarek asks Iomhar if he know where he offload his swag and the Rogue Mentor says that the Filed Ward has fences but it is better to get rid of them within Waterdeep, more clientele.
Iomhar ‘Bodee’ Rackham: “I will make inquiries and if I do find anything more helpful, I will be in touch.”
Iomhar hugs both Zarek and Alley and they both note the clean smell of a washed person, no longer concerned to hide his appearance.
With Deed in hand, Zarek and Alley start to plan for the midnight raid of the Zhentarim Warehouse on Candle Street. As they still had the Cart which they hired, the plan was to have Alley hide under covers, in the back of the cart, and have Zarek drive the cart around the Zhentarim Warehouse to look for City Watch and any possible Zhentarim operatives.
Zarek and Alley both cast ‘Disguise’ on themselves. Both choose Male Human Labourers.
Zarek spots the City Watch about the Zhentarim Warehouse:
- 2 City Watch, young recruits, outside the main gate.
- 2 City Watch, 1 young recruit & 1 Armar (Sergeant), in the yard.
- Lights inside the Zhentarim Warehouse.
Zarek parks the cart a street away from the side of the Zhentarim Warehouse, with the intension of climbing up the side of the wall to the siding first floor loading door. Then the Rogue would have a brief look around before he uses, his Spell, ‘Message’ Alley and throws a rope down for her to use.
The Rogue successfully avoids being seen or heard as he moves to the Zhentarim Warehouse and climbs up to the Loading Door. Once at the ledge, in front of the door, The Rogue can clearly see that the door was opened, leaving a gap of a few inches.
Zarek slips inside of the Zhentarim Warehouse and into one of the offices. The Rogue closes the door and then spots a coiled-up section of rope by the door, which had been anchored and attached so as to be used to climb up or down from here.
The Rogue then looks at the 2 bells in the office to see if they had been reattached. They had been left as they were. Zarek kneels down to search the room for sighs of the owner of the rope, but the recent searching by the City Watch meant the Rogues Skills were not as good as he would have liked.
The Rogue then listens at the door out onto the Warehouse gantry and can just hear the noise of talking but was not capable of finding out who they be or what was being said. Zarek goes to open the door and find this also slightly open.
“This means that we have an uninvited guest also after my Silver?” Zarek thinks to himself.
Zarek send a ‘Message’ to Alley, who also quietly moves over and climbs up the wall of the Zhentarim Warehouse to join Zarek.
The Rogue sneaks out onto the gantry, looks about and squats behind one of the many creates. Zarek can see that the City Watch had gone through all of the creates and barrels. Then looking down to the main floor, the Rogue also spots 2 further City Watch, they are also both young recruits. The Rogue also spots that all the Zhentarim Equipment had been removed.
Zarek: “Now I just need to check they haven’t found my Silver.”
The Rogue realises that this will be a problem as they had 4 City Watch outside the Zhentarim Warehouse and a further 2 more inside.
Zarek sends a ‘Message’ to Alley and tells her what he can see and that he wants to go down.
Alley replies to be careful, if they get caught in would be a big problem.
Zarek moves silently to the top of the stairs followed by Alley. There they are suddenly alarmed thinking they had been spotted. The pair can clearly hear the sound of a shrill tin whistle being blown, then another in the distance. The heroes duck down behind the crates.
The 2 City Watch inside the Zhentarim Warehouse then rush to the door and exit the building. The sound of the gate being opened is also heard.
Zarek: “What’s going on?”
Alley; “Now’s our chance.”
Zarek: “I’m not too sure…”
Zarek and Alley head down to the window, just south of the secret trap door and look-on as the 3 City Watch from inside the Zhentarim Warehouse and the 2 in the yard head out and west. The remaining 2 City Watch young recruits close the gate and continue to keep watch.
Alley: “I will keep watch while you move those creates and check for the Silver.”
Zarek: “On my way for my Silver, cheek.”
Zarek spends more time than he would have wanted on moving the creates and that was just the time need for the uninvited guest to appear and dash down the stairs to attack Alley. The desperate fight begins.
The large human fighter is first to react and gracefully move to engage Alley, without making a sound.
“He is after the Silver and does not wish to be arrested, then again, neither do I.” Zarek thinks as he draws his Hand Cross-Bow. The Fighter wears dark cloths, dark armour and wields two Scimitars.
The Fighter attacks with both weapons and is capable of hitting Alley with one of his attacks, then its Alley and Zarek that attack in turn with both of our heroes inflicting damage on the dark clad Fighter.
Zarek then backs away and is in two minds if he should Hide or Help. He chooses the latter, hoping to take advantage of Alleys nearness to the Fighter, allowing the Rogue to use his Sneak Attack.
The Fighter looks in a bad way, yet he smiles at Alley, not caring about the Rogue, for now. He then flexes his muscles and seems to have gotten a second wind, doesn’t look as worse for wear than he was. He Attacks once more, missing with both his Scimitars.
Then the Fighter once again seams to exert himself and slashes out once more at Alley.
Alley and Zarek strike again, Zarek with his Hand Cross-Bow, which hits its target and Alley with her Rapier. Thinking back, she should by attempting to Dodge, allowing the Rogue to use his Sneak Attack, but Alley needs more training in swordplay.
Then all of a sudden, a small shafted arrow flying in at Alley from the gantry. Zarek can just make out a small figure, dressed in dark clothing. Still, no one wants to make any noise and even their cries of pain are muffled.
The small figure moves next, they must have been Ready to fire and are the fastest of us at the moment. Zarek, and now Alley too, can see that the figure jumps off the Gantry, grabs onto the rope attached to the winch and slides down. Then they dash ahead and behind the large Fighter fighting will Alley.
Female Halfling: “?? don’t fret lad, I’m here to help.”
Then the wounds on the Fight start to Heal and at that moment, the Female Halfling also Dashes off towards the unexposed and open Trapdoor.
Zarek: “Wait, we can discus this in a civilised manner and no one need get hurt.”
Female Halfling: “OK.”
The Female Halfling continues to Dash to and then down into the Cellar.
Zarek: “S*%T, I left the cell door open making it a lot easier for her to take my Silver. If that is what they are both after.”Alley: “A little help here please.”