Meet The Neighbours:
Zarek and Alley are looking for Guild Members among thier neighbours for repairs and they introduce themselves to Talisolvanar “Tally” Fellbranch, the owner and chief artisan of the Bent Nail, and he also greets the new owners of Trollskull Manor and he offers his Woodcarving services.
Zarek and Alley then visit another of the neighbours businesses in Trollskull Alley.
The Tiger’s Eye, this turned out to be private detective’s business which is unremarkable on the outside, its only distinguishing mark an orange-and-black sign featuring a cat’s eyes.
After knocking, and Zarek listening at the front door of his neighbours house, the Rogue could hear the faint noise of someone heavily set moving around on the first floor of the building. Then after a few minutes they came down and opened the door to reveal the inside of this regal apartment, dimly lit by flickering oil lamps. The door had been locked, and Zarek and Alley had to knock or ring the bell before being let in.
Zarek: “Strange that this business keeps it door closed to the public don’t you think?”
Alley: “I guess the depends of the nature of the business you run Zarek.”
They are met by a man who introduces himself as Vincent Trench, a nother of the neighbours who is a Human detective and the owner of the Tiger’s Eye. He speaks concisely, dresses in a sharp suit, and smokes a slim pipe.
Vincent Trench is very observant and accommodating until he realises that his services are not needed and he offers the pair his card and wishes them a good day.
Services:
Vincent Trench can be used to uncover any secret in Waterdeep, for a fee. His services cost 50 gp Dragons which is sufficient for most investigations, but if the clients want to learn secrets relating to the major players in Waterdeep, then Vincent Trench might require a service in payment.
Zarek and Alley then move to the western end of Trollskull Alley and visited the Book Wyrm’s Treasure.
The front of this bookstore is adorned with a charming sign of a Red Dragon curled around a treasure hoard of Books and Scrolls. Inside, the shop is decorated with beautiful hardwood, and the earthy scent of old books permeates the air. The library fills two floors of this three-story building, and it somehow seems to contain more shelves than the building should be able to hold.
Zarek and Alley find that the shop of another of their neighbours is managed by a short Dragonborn of Gold Dragon ancestry named Rishaal the Page-Turner, who lives on the third floor. Rishaal, a Guild member of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, is a Mage and offer Magical Services.
Services:
Their neighbours shop called Book Wyrm’s Treasure contains Books of all sorts. In addition, Rishaal the Page-Turner has a small collection of Spellbooks and allows wizards to copy Spells from them at the cost listed below in the Spells for Sale table. He can Scribe any of these Spells as a Spell Scroll but charges twice the listed cost for this service.
Spells for Sale
| Spells | Cost gp |
| Comprehend Languages, Detect Magic, Feather Fall, Find Familiar, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Shield, Unseen Servant. | 25gp |
| Arcane Lock, Continual Flame, Darkvision, Invisibility, Magic Weapon, Misty Step, Rope Trick, Suggestion. | 75gp |
| Clairvoyance, Counterspell, Dispel Magic, Fireball, Fly, Non-Detection, Water Breathing. | 150gp |
| Arcane Eye, Fabricate, Greater Invisibility, Ice Storm, Locate Creature, Polymorph. | 300gp |
| Bigby’s Hand, Cone of Cold, Modify Memory. | 750gp |
Zarek and Alley speak with Rishaal the Page-Turner, another of thier neighbours who has a shop full of customer and is slightly distracted. They also invite Rishaal the Page-Turner to their Grand Opening and he is very excited for Trollskull Manor to open once again.
Rishaal the Page-Turner also explains that he has Spells for sale and that Zarek and Alley would be given the traditional discount for fellow neighbours and businesses of Trollskull Alley.
Zarek and Alley return to Trollskull Manor but not before they notice that there is another small house that was also having work done to it.
Zarek: “More new owners I guess, I think I will visit later on as we have lost of other tasks to complete.”
Alley: “Yes indeed, I will go an see about a Druid for the Pseudodragon’s in the Attic.”
Zarek: “I will need to go to the Magistrate for my Taxes and then register with the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors at the Tower of the Order in the Castle Ward.”
Zarek and Alley first head off to the closest City Watch posts.
There are City Watch has watch posts throughout the city. These stations are often off the main thoroughfares, tucked away in small courtyards or at cross streets. A watch post can be recognised by the green-and-gold lantern outside it, lit even during the day with a continual flame spell. A watch post serves as an organisational headquarters and armoury.
Anyone who wishes to report a crime may do so at a watch post in the event a Watch constable can’t be found elsewhere. A watch post typically contains a few holding cells where people arrested for crimes can be detained until they’re marched to a courthouse jail before standing trial.
Zarek and Alley know that they will have sometime before they send out someone to retrieve the body and so they continue their tasks.
Zarek heads off to the Courthouse with Alley and there they both register for a years’ worth of Tax payments.
Zarek and Alley then split-up, with Alley heading off to see her mother Cassia Yaeldrin at the Hospice of St. Laupsenn and Zarek headed off to the City Archive, in the Guildhall of Records within Castle Ward. Its location is Just off the Market, near the Palace of Waterdeep.
The City Archives contain property deeds, previous ownership records, transfer of titles, and building permits. Zarek, using his Sage Skills, learns that the chain of ownership for Trollskull Manor, Sale prices and whether the property was seized, inherited, abandoned, or condemned. He also finds dates of occupancy and construction modifications.
OWNERS OF TROLLSKULL MANOR:
1. Esvele Rosznar (Original Financier, c. 1200s DR – Unknown)
- Race: Human
- Status: Deceased
- Details: The Rosznar family, once a respected Noble house, originally funded the construction of Trollskull Manor as part of their business ventures. The building was initially a high-end tavern, but the family abandoned it?
- The exact date when the Rosznars lost control of the property is unclear.
2. Lif (Tavern Keeper & Owner, c. 1300s DR – mid-1350s DR)
- Race: Half-Elf
- Class: Commoner (Tavern Keeper)
- Status: Deceased
- Details: Lif was a talented bartender and business owner who ran the tavern successfully for many years. He was beloved by locals for his warm demeanour and impeccable service. However, after suffering an untimely and possibly violent death (stories vary), Lif’s spirit remained behind. His ghost still lingers in the manor, tending to the bar and occasionally moving objects, especially if the new owners disrespect his establishment.
3. Various Owners & Decline (1350s DR – 1400s DR)
- Status: Varies (Deceased, Moved Away, or Unknown)
- Details: After Lif’s death, ownership of the manor changed hands multiple times. Some tried to keep the tavern running, but it never regained its former glory. Others attempted to turn it into a boarding house, orphanage or shop, but each venture failed. Rumours of a curse and ghostly activity caused many to abandon the property, leading to its long period of vacancy.
4. The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors (c. 1400s DR – Late 1450s DR)
- Status: Organization (Still Active)
- Details: The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors acquired the manor, but abandoned it a few years afterwards. It’s unclear whether this was due to Lif’s presence or financial difficulties. Some say a magical experiment went wrong within the manor, leading to further supernatural disturbances.
5. Frewn Family (Short-Term Ownership, Late 1450s DR – Early 1492s DR)
- Race: Human
- Status: Left the Property
- Details: The Frewn family, distant relatives of Emmek Frewn, tried to make the manor profitable again but failed. They eventually abandoned it, leaving the building to decay.
6. The Adventurers (Current Owners, 1492 DR – Present)
- Status: Active
- Details: The player characters acquire Trollskull Manor during the events of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, either refurbishing it into a working tavern, turning it into a headquarters, or using it for their own purposes. They inherit both the manor’s history and its ghostly barkeep, Lif.
There are several things to follow-up regarding the previous owners and what may be the link to the disappearing blood in the basement. The Courthouse would have more information regarding Lif and/or any other interactions with the previous owners.
Neighbours Records:
Zarek, having found informationon the previous owners of Trollskull Manor, then heads off to the Tower of the Order to register as a user of Magic.
Once at the Tower of the Order Zarek had to wait until he was seen by a Clerk and was registered as a Magic User.
Zarek took the opportunity to ask the Clerk if they knew who owned Trollskull Manor or if he could speak to the previous owner of the Manor. The Clerk was not willing to give out that information, especially to someone that was new to the city and an unknown quantity.
Clerk: “I will make a note regarding your inquiry in your file, I am sure whoever looks may be interested.”
Zarek once again realises that he needs to use more civilised tack, flattery and not be so open.
Zarek returns to Trollskull Manor where he finds Alley and a Female Druid sitting together. The Druid explains that the pseudodragons will be giving birth soon and they will fly off and leave the nest. Until then, she suggests that they feed them fresh meat to avoid any issues with the residents of Trollskull Manor.
Zarek and Alley discuss and look through Zarek’s finds regarding the owners of Trollskull Manor and they both agree that more research was needed to link an owner with the suspicious disappearing blood in the cellar, or was it just Lif?
Then the adventurers hear a knocking at the door and open it to find a well-dressed Halfling.
Broxley Fairkettle: “Good afternoon, my name is Broxley Fairkettle and I am a member of the Fellowship of Innkeepers. My I coming in?”
Zarek shows Broxley Fairkettle into the Taproom and introduces himself and Alley. They all sit down and Zarek goes for some refreshments.
Broxley Fairkettle is a laid-back, law-abiding halfling with mutton chops and bushy eyebrows. Inns and taverns are few and far between in the North Ward, so he is excited with their venture and says he will make frequent visits to the adventurers’ place to see how it’s doing and to offer his help and well-wishes. When the adventurers say that none of them are members of the guild, he strongly urges them to join “to avoid further harassment”. The cost of membership in the Fellowship of Innkeepers is included in the regular expenses outlined in the list that Broxley Fairkettle says he will provide.
Broxley Fairkettle has long believed the tavern to be haunted and is glad to see living souls in it once more. While lamenting the burdens of being a father of nine, he is quick to point out that the new owners continued compliance with Guild rules and regulations makes his rather difficult life “just a bitty bit easier”.
Broxley Fairkettle: “I can see that we will be good friends and great neighbours.”
Broxley Fairkettle also explains how all work, supplies and service must be carried out by Guild Members and that will be more than happy to introduce them to the relevant parties. Broxley Fairkettle then wishes the adventurers the very best of luck and goes off to his next appointment.
Zarek has a last question for Broxley Fairkettle and chases after him. As Zarek leave the front door, and reaches the corner of the Manor, he hears the scraping of stone from above, before the Rogue can even react, a large piece of masonry falls from the manor’s turret, crashing towards Zarek’s head! The Rogue is fleet of feet enough to avoid being hit and retrieves the masonry, all the while being reminded that masonry should be left to bona fide professionals.
Bad Neighbours:
Zarek then decides to wander-off and investigate the new works being carried out on one of the western buildings in Trollskull Alley. Zarek approaches and can hear a skinny, funny looking man, talking to some Guild Members and they all appear to be looking at the roof of the building. Zarek hear the name Frewn’s Brews and he realises that no only are they renovating the property to develop another drinking establishment, but that he had only recently heard the name Frewn.
Zarek choses to introduce himself and maybe enquire about the name and if his family did in fact own the Trollskull Manor previously.
After introducing himself and explaining how he and Alley had recently acquired Trollskull Manor, Zarek could see that the man was obviously furious about it. However, he forced politeness as did Zarek. However, they both failed and the distrust and animosity were obvious to them both.
He introduces himself as Emmek Frewn, a salty northerner, male Illuskan commoner. Zarek suspects that he was the one Volothamp Geddarm said had recently tried to buy the tavern in Trollskull Alley but was outbid by the famous author.
Volothamp Geddarm: “Though I did have some competition when I bought the place from the city, funny little man, can’t remember his name.”
Zarek thinks that being upset by the loss, he’s bought a smaller, less impressive building in the same alley and turned it into a pub, which he intends to call Frewn’s Brews. Zarek wishes Emmek Frewn a good afternoon and heads back to Trollskull Manor.
it starts to rain heavly and there is another know at the door. Zarek opens the dor and there is a man and a very attracktive young Tiefling Girl.
He introduces himself as Hammond Kraddoc, a memeber of the Vintners’, Distillers’, and Brewers’ Guild and he has come to begin the registration process and inital orders.
Hammond Kraddoc, a male, Illuskan, human, commoner doesn’t appear to like adventurers very much, but he likes their coin. This effete, well-dressed man is in the company of a young scribe, Jinny, a female Tiefling, commoner, who wears spectacles and silently records notes and conversations in a small book as Hammond speaks.
Hammond informs Zarek that he tends to stop by in the middle of the month to inform the clients of new spirits that the guild has to offer, and to give them a list of which ones to push hard.
The last thing Zarek thinks to do, before he and Alley go to bed, is check the 2 alcoves in the Ale and Wine Cellar and redrive the ‘Talking Doll’ from behind the Ale barrels.
Zarek attempts to search for the sign of Tracks in the basement but is unable to find anything. Zarek is unable to concentrate in the Cellars but knows he is missing something. Not one of the neighbours I think.
Zarek: “Also, what of the blood and how will it come back to haunt us I wonder?