Trollskull Manor New Owners:
The new owners of Trollskull Manor, Zarek and Alley continue to search the second floor and head north to the last door left un-opened.
The Rogue goes through his door checking and opening procedure and it is becoming more and more second nature to the Tiefling. The Rogue hear nothing beyond the door to cause any alarm and so he quietly pushes the door open and finds another Bedroom 2.
This room is small and oddly shaped, but dry and warm even with the thunderstorm. The fireplace is filled with dry wood, but has no evidence of being lit. A child’s bed is set in the corner, as well as a child sized desk and chest. The dresser and chest are empty, but there are a few small items set carefully upon the desk. A small glass poppy flower, a carved wooden horse, and a lace handkerchief.
Zarek calls Alley over to the doorway, then takes his time to investigate the room and searches it meticulously but find nothing other than the items on the table.
Zarek: “Best that I leave these where they are as they must belong to the children of Lif.”
Alley: “That is the right thing to do and I can see you have made a note of them, just in case.”
Zarek after checking under the bed, find the indentations of what he believes to be 2 small children that must have once shared a bed.
Zarek then looks out of the window and can still just make out that the Urchins were still hiding by the building opposite Trollskull manor.
The Rogue then chooses to inspect the eastern door, in the Bedroom 2, and he believes it to be another Bathroom, if they are lucky. The Rogue goes through his door checking and opening procedure as he hears nothing behind the Private Bathroom door.
This room has a heavy clawfoot tub and wash basin beneath the window.
Here also, the Rogue finds nothing that he need fear, fight or find useful.
Zarek: “The last door to the west leads to the Tower and it has been locked, stand back let me do my work.”
Alley rolls her eyes, “what a pair of new owners do we make”, she thinks to herself.
Zarek can easily pick the lock of the Tower Room and thinks that each door will need a new key, which means more Gold Dragons will be flying away from his coin purse.
This room is empty except for a ladder to the turret peak and a small box that holds spare linens.
Zarek finds nothing of interest inside the box, but Alley mentions that they have at least cleanish linens to sleep this night as new owners of Trollskull Manor.
The Rogue climbs up the ladder to the Turret Peak, the Tower not being attached to the other part of the Third Floor.
Zarek is being extra caseous but hears nothing and so pushes the trap door open. The Rogue see the following before he continues to climb up into the Turret Peak room.
There is a small chair and table here in the cramped space, perfect for watching the city below. Beneath the table is an old water-damaged book of children’s stories.
Zarek has another detailed look about the room but also finds this room empty apart from the children’s book of stories, which he can only just make out due to its damaged state.
Zarek tells Alley of what he has found and seen from the great view, afforded by the 3 windows, of the North Ward and Waterdeep. Zarek mentions that he saw illuminations, as he not see down to the street level, lots of them all heading, uniformly, south east. Toward the City of the Dead area of Waterdeep. We are both happy new owners.
Zarek: “Lif and his family must have come up here to read and watch the city.
Alley: “It’s all so sad, I hope we can help him.”
Zarek: “The idea of a Grand Opening appears to have made him happier, maybe if we make this work, he will be at peace.”
Alley: “Yes, and Volo will be paying through the nose and not just with money. Friends and influence are the second most powerful force in Waterdeep.”
Zarek: “What’s the first?”
Alley: “Force, I’m afraid.”
Zarek rolls his eyes at Alley and she smiles back at him.
The adventurers then head back to the Hall and up the stairs to the Garrets, as it is more commonly known.
Zarek takes point and move silently up the stair and finds himself in a narrow 5’ foot by 15’ corridor. At the end he can see 2 doors, one to the north and the other to the south.
Zarek steps over to the southern door and listens carefully for and sounds beyond. The Rogue hears nothing, but make a noise as he attempts to open the door silently and reveals some Attic Storage.
This room is mostly empty, except for a few spare chairs and tables covered with an old cloth.
The Rogue goes to check under the old cloths and is startled by a pair of Rats that dash out and head directly towards Alley.
Zarek: “Look out Alley, here be Rats.”
Alley desperately makes room for the Rats as Zarek examines the rest of the Attic Storage.
Zarek: “Why would he have moved the chairs and table it means something that we are overlooking.”
Alley: “Less business, less covers. That’s restaurateur speech for customers. We will need to get use to saying new owner.”
Zarek: “We still haven’t agreed on anything.”
Alley: “Of course, oh except for room as the south room is less to be broken into and there is the hot water situation, you being the stronger of the two of us. But we both have equidistant access to our Library and the Water Closet, perfect.”
Zarek: “Err, I have been persuaded.”
The Rogue then turn back to the task at hand, clearing Trollskull Manor of any undesirables.
The Rogue finds that the north door in the Attic corridor has been nailed shut, not recently, but too hard for the Tiefling to determine exactly. The Rogue elects to use one of his many tools, a crowbar and a handy friend to have as Iomhar always said, to prise the nail out and then slowly open the door to an Attic Bedroom.
The door to this bedroom has been nailed shut. Inside it is entirely empty apart from the last and topmost fire place.
Zarek, seeing nothing at all moves over to look out of the windows onto the view of Waterdeep. This is when, out from the fireplace, 2 red blurs swoop out at directly at Zarek.
Being caught by surprise, the two creatures act first. The larger of the 2 creatures attacks Zarek while the second goes for Alley standing in the doorway.
Zarek: “Small Red Dragons, Looks out.”
With its red-brown scales, horns, and a maw filled with sharp teeth, a Pseudodragon resembles a tiny red dragon but its disposition is playful. Not something new owners would want.
Zarek: “Yes, I know what these things are, Pseudodragons. Oh dear.”
Zarek is bitten by the Male Pseudodragon and it injects its poison into the poor Tiefling Rogue. The Rogue is now Poisoned, he feels affected and has Disadvantage on attack and his ability to perform Roguish acts. The Male then fly’s out of the window.
Meanwhile, the Female Pseudodragon attempts to bite Alley, twice, but is unsuccessfully and fly’s back up the fireplace.
Zarek, moves uneasily out of the room, close shut the door and locks it.
Zarek: “This is a job for someone else I don’t want to kill them.”
Alley: “A Druid perhaps, another expense for new owner I guess.”
Alley then has a small rant, while grabbing her non-existent lapels, regarding Volo and the many favours, recommendations, introductions and public appearances he will be owing the new owners of Trollskull Manor. Not to mention the streams of patrons that Renaer will need to provide as payment in kind for his freedom. Floon, well it maybe best to just but the fellow a fine glass of red and hope he keeps out of trouble.
Zarek: “The Gods help anyone who crosses you Alley.”