Cartographers Vault:
CHES 27th (The Claw of Sunsets – 1492 DR)
12:20 pm
The Cartographers Vault and false Parlek Lateriff was still firmly on the Rogues mind, who did he manage to fool him into handing over the Ashmadai Cultist Report from Jarlaxle? Zarek, while silently entering the Cartographers Vault, disguised as Urstul Floxin and ‘Invisible’, realises that he did not want to be sinical and mistrust everyone he meets, that is not how Alexander Brightlamp had brought him up. Still, he had bigger fish to fry this morning and he was fully committed to deal with it and think about the false Parlek Lateriff later on.
Zarek: “After all, how bad can my luck be, I have made it into the Map House Vault and simply need to purloin the Cassalanter Villa Floor Plans without anyone noticing, making sure there is no investigation or follow-up, then quietly slip past the Guards and Cartographers, again without alerting them to our presence and making sure that we cause no major upset and then walk out of the Map House leaving it as we found it with out any disturbance. Tymora is on my side, I can feel it.”
Little did the Rogue know that at that moment, Tymora had other more important tasks to manage.
The Rogue was now standing inside the Map House Cartographers Vault, watching the Dwarf Cartographer replace, what he hoped was the Cassalanter Floor Plans, back onto the storage shelves. He was also sure that Alley was near to him, 30’ feet or so, and that they now needed to find, retrieve and finally remove the Cassalanter Floor Plans from its storage location.
The Rogue pays close attention to the Dwarf Cartographer and to where he replaced the Map. The basic idea was to take the Map and exit the Cartographers Vault without being discovered but that may not be possible and Zarek needed to create a distraction so he could take and leave.
Zarek: “I am guessing that there are many fail safes, traps and wards protecting this Cartographer Vault, my job is to exit before they close the ways out.”
The Rogue needs to make a choice as the Dwarf Cartographer would be leaving any second now.
Zarek: “I have it, the ‘Deck of Illusions’ that we liberated from the Neverluster sunken Ship.”
The Rogue pulls the ‘Deck of Illusions’ from his ‘Bag of Holding’, draws a card and flicks it under the tables in the middle of the room.
Above the card’s location, a terrifying and arousing figure materialises, an Erinyes Devil of the Nine Hells.
Everyone’s heart within the Cartographers Vault froze upon seeing this creature of Powerful Evil.
An Erinyes (ih-RIN-ih-eez) is a powerful, highly disciplined Devil in that takes the form of a strikingly beautiful yet lethal winged humanoid. Often considered the most attractive of all lesser Devils, they are designed to tempt, corrupt, and execute with swift vengeance. The Erinyes is Humanoid in appearance, tall, statuesque, and appears as female human with pristine skin. The Erinyes possess large, dark feathered wings (blood red) that mark them as denizens of Baator, which they keep even if they change their form. The Erinyes has glowing red eyes, which often belie their angelic appearance. While their faces are strikingly beautiful, Erinyes can show intense, furious rage in battle.
The Erinyes is heavily armed and armoured, wearing ornate, stylised Plate Mail Armour and a Horned Helm. The Erinyes wield a ‘Magical Longswords’ and carries a ‘Rope of Entanglement’ used to bind enemies and drag them to the Nine Hells.
The Rogue then closes in on the Dwarf Cartographer as he cowers by the Map storage shelves, within the Cartographers Vault. He looks and manages to spot the plans of the Cassalanter Villa that he was looking for. Again, with the silence of a flying Owl, the Rogue slides the Map Case from its resting place, and slips it into his ‘Bag of Holding’.
The Rogue then moves like a cat and makes no sound, then he has a bright idea and squats next to the Card from the ‘Desk of Illusions’, which he had tossed under the tables in the centre of the room.
Zarek: “I just need to scare the Dwarf Cartographer back into the Cartographers Vault and make sure they do not close the Vault Doors on us, then we would really be trapped. Let’s hope they like the Dwarf Cartographer enough to come and help him.”
The Dwarf Cartographer dashes away from the Erinyes and hides behind some tables at the far end of the Cartographers Vault.
Everyone then acts upon hearing the shrill scream of the Dwarf Cartographer within the Cartographers Vault. The Captain of the Guard barked out orders:
Captain of the Guard: “Talandro, ring the alarm we are being assailed.”
The Tiefling Cartographer could be heard to dash off and the sound of ringing bells were heard by the Rogue.
Captain of the Guard: “Alvin, with me into the Cartographers Vault.”
The Rogue then saw the two Map House Guards enter the Cartographers Vault and pause upon see what was within. Alvin took a few steps backwards, while the Captain of the Guard drew his Shortsword and raised his Shield.
Captain of the Guard: “Alvin, form-up on me, that’s an order, there’s nowhere to run to.”
Talandro the Tiefling Cartographer, having rang the alarm bell, moved back over to the Cartographers Vault entrance and casts a ‘Light’ Spell into the Vault itself.
Talandro “Inkhand” Myr: “The Gods preserve us all, that is an Erinyes, a Devil of the Nine Hells.”
Zarek then performs his trick, as he manipulates the Illusion of the Erinyes to walk to the very shelves, from where he had taken the Cassalanter Villa Plans, hide its actions by covering itself with its wings and then turns to the Captain of the Guard, Guard and Talandro the Tiefling Cartographer and makes a vile gesture towards them and vanishes.
Zarek: “I hope Alley will follow my lead, I can’t afford for this to go wrong and expose my rouse.” The Rogue thinks as he attempts to slip out of the Cartographers Vault and away from the Map House.
Yet the Rogue was bereft of Luck this hour, as when he moved behind the Captain of the Guard and the Guard, he makes a noise and is heard by the Captain of the Guard. They both look about as the Rogue just about manages to squeeze out of the Vault.
Captain of the Guard: “Close the door immediately Talandro, I feel that we are not alone. Berric, stop cowering the creature is gone.”
Zarek then had to dash for the door and somehow keep it open long enough for the Bard to also make her escape. Talandro ‘Inkhand’ Myr had his way to the door, but Zarek had already passed through, again making noise as his weapon scraped on the door archway, so that Talandro looked about.
The Tiefling Cartographer then attempted to shut and lock the door but found that there was something preventing him from doing so. Again, the Tiefling Cartographer tried to shut the door again and found he could not. The reason why was that Zarek meanwhile, was leaning into the door using all of his weight, which was not much, to prevent the door from being closed. Both competitors were not mighty of ‘steely thews’ and so the struggle was not that of two great Titans.
However, it was just enough for the Bard to make her move and slip out of the Cartographers Vault, this also did not go quite to plan and even though Alley was able to match Zarek and squeeze past the Tiefling Cartographer using their acrobatics skills, the Bard also made noise whilst exiting the Cartographers Vault.
They both then heard the sound of boots running down towards them and they are passed by 3 more Map House Guards, of which 2 Guards were not wearing Chainmail Armour and looked as if they had been woken from there beds.
Having exited the Hexagonal Entrance Chamber, the pair fled up the spiral stair case and into the corridor leading to the corner room and the way out of the Map House. Unsurprisingly, the door was closed and the Rogue could clearly hear the sound of people rushing about and making a commotion.
Zarek tried the door and opened t, finding it unlocked, this however, struck the wall and there was a Map House Guard opposite that was looking over as a result. Once again, being ‘Invisible’ meant that the Guard was unsure if the door had been left open and could not see anyone inside the room, or corridor beyond. He returned to directing the visitors out of the Map House main doors.
The Rogue and Bard then expertly exited stage left, mingling with the crowed. Alley failed to be completely obscured, as she trod on a lady’s foot which made her cry out and the Guard looked about the exiting crow but could see nothing to alarm him and so continued in his work.
Map House Guard: “That’s it steady as you go, nobody need panic it is just a precaution and you are in no danger.”
Alley & Zarek: “Tymora forgive our laxness in remembering you for this day was saved by the little grace we had built up with you. We will remember to bless your grace and our luck.”
The Rogue and Bard did not even bother to comment on each other’s comical performance and they both put it down to 5th Level Yips and Nerves. Another lesson learned.
Alley and Zarek then head to Fishgut Alley to speak with the Urchins and then onto Waterdeep Harbour to confirm if Parlek Lateriff did board his ship to Candlekeep or not.
They continued to keep their ‘Disguise Self’ running and to stay ‘Invisible’ until they reached the home of the Urchins in Fishgut Alley. Once there, they found no sigh of them and their place looked unused, compared to the first and only other time they had been.
Alley: “I am not sure if they have not used this location for a while because of the coin they have been earning and the lodging they enjoy at the Trollskull, or if there could be another reason.”
Zarek: “Well now we are here, let us take a look at the Cassalanter Villa Plans.”
They both become visible and the ‘Disguise Self’ Spell stops running. They look at the Plans and can see the possible ways into the Villa and that it had a basement with a Vault.
The pair of Heroes them made their way to find the Harbour Masters office to enquire about Parlek Lateriff. They only knew of the ‘Shipwrights’ House’ and decided to start there. The clerk at the desk of the Shipwrights’ House informed them that they would find the Harbour Masters office in an adjacent building and they walked the short distance to the building.
Upon entering the Harbour Masters office, Zarek saw that there were several Waterdeep Citizens there, sitting and waiting to gain audience with the very busy Harbour Master.
Zarek: “I know the look of someone who has been waiting, it has happened to me on too many occasions to recall. I need to take command here.” The Rogue then pulls out his Gray Hands Token and walks across the room like he had the authority to do so.
As he approached the door, he could hear the murmurs of the Waterdeep Citizens and he turn around and told them the situation.
Zarek: “I know you have been waiting and I don’t want to make you day any harder but this is official business and I will be a as quick as I can.”
The Waterdeep Citizens began to gain the confidence to complain, but stay seated, and it was at that point that Alley turned, place her hand on the hilt of her ‘Magical Rapier’ and gave a low growl. The murmuring stopped and Zarek chuckled.
Inside was an office crammed with paper and scrolls, a large table was covered in maps and a compass laid on top of them. There was a Female Human sitting behind an ornate desk carved to look like a ships prow and there were 2 Male Human, Leather wearing, Longsword carrying guards, standing by the desk.
Harbour Master: “Who do you think you are coming here without being invited?”
The Harbour Master did not seem alarmed and looked over to her 2 Guards. Their hands went down to the hilts of their Longswords.
Zarek: “Excuse the intrusion, but I am a member of the Gray Hand and need information regarding a passenger urgently.”
The Rogue places his Gray Hands Token on the desk and the Harbour Master picks it up to inspect.
Harbour Master: “Who is it that you are looking for and what ship did they board, anything to help will be by pleasure.”
Zarek provides the Harbour Master will all the information he had, name of passenger, time of departure, destination and a description of Parlek Lateriff himself.
Harbour Master: “I can’t tell you if this exact Sage did in fact board the Sea Dream, but his cabin was taken and possession place aboard.”
The Rogue and Bard thank the Harbour Master and nodded to the Waterdeep Citizens as they left.
Alley: “What now, it makes no sense for all this deception if the real Parlek Lateriff, close friend and comrade of Renaer Neverember, is a Spy. The real Parlek Lateriff must have left for Candlekeep and someone has disguised themselves as the Sage.”
Zarek: “Yes, but how do you account for the voice, as you clearly pointed out, you need to be a trained actor or use a Spell and I can not think of one that would allow you to mimic a person’s voice. But…something on the other hand?”
The Rogue suddenly looks blank and remembers a book that he had once read, the book The Double, presents a Doppelgänger as an opposite personality who exploits the character failings of the protagonist to take over his life.
Alley: “What do you mean?”
Zarek: “A Doppelganger could imitate Parlek Lateriff perfectly, especially if they were well known to them.”
Alley: “Of course, the Cassalanters. They must have met during their parties and they have a large Library, something that would have attracted the real Parlek Lateriff.”
Zarek: “OK, where to next then?”
12:25 pm