Grinda Garloth:
CHES 26th (The Claw of Sunsets)
23:00 pm
Zarek and Alley thank Zelifarn for all his help and they swim back to their rowboat as the Young Bronze Dragon swims off into the darkness of Waterdeep Harbour and they head to Mistshore to visit Grinda Garloth.
Zelifarn: “If you need to contact me feel free to send me a ‘Paper Bird’ and I will help as best I can.”
Zarek and Alley swim back up to their hired rowboat and discuss where to go to next.
It is now too late to speak with Barnibus Blastwind and Sergeant Saeth Cromley, unless they are at Trollskull. And they will not be happy, possibly suspicious of our absence.
They both agree that if Zarek wishes to throw his backing to Laeral Silverhand, they need to talk to Jalester Silvermane regarding joining the Lords Alliance.
Zarek: “Then they can petition to Laeral Silverhand for her to speak to Jarlaxle Baenre and have Estran Icehorn release.”
Alley then imitates Laeral Silverhand’s voice and answers the Rogue.
Alley: “Is this Estran Icehorn a Waterdhavian, what was he doing on the Eyecatcher and more importantly what were you doing on the Eyecatcher? You could have started a major political incident.”
Zarek: “Laeral Silverhand would be more likely to aid us though, the Nimblewright Spies, the attack at Trollskull Alley and the possible infiltration of the Asmodeus Cult followers called Ashmadai into Waterdeep’s Noble Families.”
Alley: “We all have operatives and you have now apparently stopped their spying capabilities; we thank you for that. The attack is surly a matter for the City Watch and you are our witnesses to the culprit, if your information regarding the Crystal Ball is accurate. As for the Ashmadai secreting themselves into Waterdeep’s Noble Families, if my memory serves me correctly this has in fact been happing for decades if not centuries. However, you say you have evidence if this and notes written in Jarlaxle Baenre own hand?”
Zarek: “OK yes I get it and no we don’t now have the evidence of the Ashmadai, we gave that to Renaer Neverember’s friend, Parlek Lateriff.”
Alley: “Well the good thing is you did not harm or steel from the Eyecatcher as this would be seen as a crime.”
Zarek: “Ahh…”
Alley: “We are but a single tooth, on the smallest cog of the enormous machine that is Waterdeep. Now if we had a piece of Neverembers Enigma, then we would have a seat at the table. But we will also get all of that unwanted attention.”
Zarek: “Then we continue looking for a piece, as you say, of Neverembers Enigma and we should visit Grinda Garloth then as she is as close to us as are the Urchins.”
Alley: “Alley, Agreed, we can de-brief the Urchins on the subject of the Cassalanter’s Villa and its comings and goings this day later on.”
As the Rogue and Bard make their way to Mistshore they discuss the Old Man wearing a Hat that visited Trollskull Manor and he sounds like one of the people at the ‘City of the Dead’ this morning. As to who he was and why he specifically said:
Old Man in Hat: “When I see him, I will make myself Crystal clear.”
The Rogue thinks it must be connected to the Crystal Ball from the Eyecatcher, or was it one of the other Factions?
Once at Mistshore Zarek thinks they would do well to hide their identities and visit Grinda Garloth in the guise of Xanathar Faction Members.
They know that they have little time to investigate the Female Halfling Rogue and Human Fighter, which means they need to be extra alert form them.
The Ashmadai needs to be discussed with Renaer Neverember, now that Parlek Lateriff has taken the report they obtained from the Eyecatcher. They both hope that Renaer Neverember, being a Noble himself, would be able to possibly help or point them in the right direction.
They decide, while rowing to Mistshore, that if they can, they would then visit Yellow Spire afterwards and gather information on the location and numbers of Faction Members, including Urstul Floxin.
As for the Gralhund Villa, we may also struggle here to acquire the plans so as to provide us with the layout of the buildings. However, something to keep in mind.
The Heroes of the Filed Wad reach Mistshore, pay their fair and begin to look for signs of Grinda Garloth while wondering if she a ran a business that would be open this late or if she was exclusive to Xanathar and his Faction.
Mistshore – Grinda Garloth:
23:30 pm
Mistshore is a riotous assemblage of ramshackle homes made of wood from old ships and inhabited by impoverished Waterdhavians. Several buildings were reduced to ash by the fire last year. Although some were rebuilt, others were ruined beyond repair and are now used as roofless dens by homeless children and rats.
After wondering for a short time, they spot a large ship on the dock edge.
The vessel is called the Kraken’s Folly and it is a beached pirate ship that some residents of Mistshore use as a tenement. As the Rogue and Bard gets closer, they see 7 to 8 bandits loitering on deck.
Alley: “These ruffians must live in the rat-infested cabins below decks, poor souls.” The Bard thinks to herself.
Zarek, in the ‘Disguise’ of the Xanathar Duergar, named ???, attempts to speak with the Ruffians and one of them begins to make fun of the little one stature and can see that he got increasingly more tense. However, he appeared to feel confident with the backing of his comrades who had come to the railings to see what the commotion was.
Alley, in the ‘Disguise’ of the Human Xanathar Agent named Krentz kept quiet and was watching all the time.
Zarek: “You are lucky that I am looking for Grinda Garloth and not looking to giving you a good kicking young lad, do you know where she works out of?”
Ruffian: “You’re looking for that mad old treasure hunter, she lives that at ways of the shores edge. Now you best go before I use you beard to shine my boots.”
Zarek holds his tongue but marks the young Ruffians to memory.
The Rogue and Bard then reach what they believe it the house told to them by the Ruffian.
The building is one of the only brick structures standing and it has a tiled roof. Zarek check the build and spots a window, that has its curtains drawn, and a very sturdy and iron bound side door. As the Rogue listens at the door, he can hear the sound of banging, metal on metal. The Rogue continues to the front of the building and can see that it sits flush with the jetty next to the water. There is also another similar door which he knocks at having called the Bard over.
They hear the sound of someone opening a door and walking over to then open the front door.
There stood Grinda Garloth, the A mad treasure hunter named as she was described. Grinda Garloth is a mature, female Illuskan human speaks Common and then Dwarvish with Kezem.
Zarek’s persona, Kezem, explains that they have come to be equipped and they wish to purchase items.
Grinda Garloth, in her robes, rolled up sleeves and oil on her hands appears not to carry any weapons and looks suspiciously at the Duergar.
Alley: “A lady her age that is not afraid to open her door to 2 strangers in the middle of the night can only not be fearful to do so and I suspect Magic.” Alley ponders.
Grinda Garloth: “I do not know you and so how do you wish to pay, Dragons or Gems.”
Alley reminds Zarek to show Grinda Garloth the Directive from N’arl Xibrindas and she seems to be calmer as the handwriting is familiar to her. Yet, she still seems put out.
Grinda Garloth open her door, which she had closed behind herself and they can see that her ramshackle home contains an unmade bed, an alchemist’s laboratory, a small stove, a coat rack, a table, a stool, a stuffed chair in poor condition, a wash basin, and a locked wooden sea chest.
Alley walks in front of them both and opens the door for Grinda Garloth, she thanks her and they chat as it seems she remembers the face of Krentz.
Zarek looks about the room quickly and only spots that the chest looks to be a Sea Chest, a larger, sturdier and more secure type.
Zarek: “Only someone wanting to keep something valuable safe, would go to the trouble of having something this cumbersome on land.” Zarek thinks..
In the room beyond they spot an amazing sight, another submersible in a section of water cut into the floor of the chamber. Exit to the Harbour outside is accessed by traversing underwater. Zarek, having further carried out further Arcana investigations regarding the Scarlet Marpenoth, thinks this vehicle is an apparatus of Kwalish.
Grinda Garloth must keep her apparatus of Kwalish here when she’s not using the vehicle to hunt for treasure in Deep water Harbor. While the apparatus is here, it floats in an enclosed dock.
However, they are more interested in what they see behind Grinda Garloth and furnishing the chamber. A multitude of Hand Weapons, Missile Weapons, Armour, Shields and on two other tables, Magical Items of various kinds.
Alley: “I dear not try to ‘Message’ Zarek as this place may be protected, but how has she not been robbed. Maybe we should be careful.”
Grinda Garloth keeps a close eye on the Duergar as he finds out what she is equipping the Xanathar Faction with,
There is a heated to-and-fro between Kezem and Grinda Garloth as the Rogue attempts to be assertive to her, then attempts to seem friendlier as her tries to barter for some of the more precious items on offer.
Alley then attempts to play the other side of the coin and begins to praise Grinda Garloth for her brave activities and wonderful accomplishments. She explains that she only has Treasure, that she will need to exchange them for Gold Dragons and them come back for the ‘Javelin’.
Grinda Garloth is convinced by Kezem that he has the Dragons needed, as well as being here to be equipment for Xanathar, even though they both are carrying weapons.
Grinda Garloth: “The weapons for Xanathar are there in the corner, that bundle wrapped in leather.”
Alley inspects the bundle, as Grinda Garloth explain the items of higher worth to Zarek. The Items currently available for sale, Gold Dragons only are:
- +1 Rapier – +1 Shortsword
- Sentinel Shield (advantage on Initiative rolls and Perception)
- Javelin of lightning
- +2 Arrows and +2 Bolts
- Dust of Disappearance (each creature and object within a 10′ foot have the Invisible condition for 2d4 minutes)
- Mariner’s Armour (swim speed is your walking speed. If you start your turn underwater with 0 hit points, the armour causes you to rise 60 feet toward the surface)
- X4 Potion of Water Breathing
- Rope of Climbing (hold up to 3,000 pounds, speak the command word, the rope animates, tell the rope to fasten itself securely to an object or to unfasten itself, etc.)
Zarek realises, after being told the price that he was in fact short of the Gold Dragons needed to purchase all the items he wanted.
Grinda Garloth curtly mumbles “I knew the type as soon as he came in, tight as a Pixies bum”.
Alley shows Zarek the Weapons as she is re-tying the bundle and he is confused as she was. All the weapons are stylised versions of the original, yet over engineered. These weapons had triple the blades, or had a hammer, axe and spike.
Zarek: “These look like theatre weapons, they are not practical at all, they seen too extravagant.”
However, the Rogue has to guess again as he runs his finger over one of the blades only to find them as sharp as a barber’s razor.
Zarek: “If not the Theater, then where would you use these types of weapons?”
The Rogue leaves and the Bard thanks Grinda Garloth for her time and help and follows after him.
The pair discuss where to go to next and Yellowspire is the most logical place and they attempt to wave down a Hansom Cab but find it harder than they would have hoped due to their location and current appearance.
They eventually find a Hansom Cab and head for Yellowspire in Sword Street. Once there the pair exit the Hansom Cab before they reach their destination and walk towards the Tower, who’s name makes sense once they both spot it.
From Grinda Garloth to Yellowspire:
23:59 pm
It is a relatively drab, fortified tower, used by the new faction of Zhentarim following Manshoon.
It is not a brightly coloured building, but rather a “yellowed” or aged stone tower that acts as a secure, hidden base within the city.
The Rogue and Bard hide by an Alleyway and observe the Tower from a distance. After a very short while, as if fate had ordained this meeting, the Rogue spots a pair of hooded suspicious humanoids making their way to Yellowspire and disappearing around the other side of where they were.
Zarek: “The main entrance must be on the other side, in the courtyard.”
As the pair continue to watch and deliberate what they should do next, the Bard spots another pair, no 2 pairs of suspicious humanoids making their way to Yellowspire.
Zarek & Alley: “It’s happening tonight.”
Both the Rogue and Bard bleat out at each other. As they continue to watch, 2 coaches’ approach and are joined by a waggon soon afterwards. Realising that they need to reach Gralhund Villa before the Zhentarim, the Bard and Rogue attempt to hail a Hansom Cab. This is much harder than before and they spend precious time in doing so.
Gralhund Villa:
CHES 27th (The Claw of Sunsets)
00:20 pm
The pair finally reach Gralhund Villa, having eventually found a Hansom Cab willing to take them and twice the coin, and tell the driver to circle around the block.
The Rogue and Bard immediately spot the coaches and wagon parked in the alleyway to the east of the Villa and so they continue to travel around the Villa.
They spot no other Faction members and circle the Gralhund Villa completely and then ask to be dropped off, to the north-west of the Villa, on Saerdoun Street.
