Storm King’s Thunder: Session 15. The Search for Skittles and proof of the existence of chickens

2^nd Alturiak 1458DR

In the crisp morning air, the Works In Progress headed north through the City of the Dead district of Waterdeep towards North ward and the home of Chazlauth Yarghorn, Dragon Expert. Darius seemed very sheepish, explaining that he didn’t leave Waterdeep in the best circumstances and was worried he would be recognised. Fenris saw a young boy who was earnestly picking his nose and asked him if he recognised Darius. The boy did not and after a bit of awkward conversation they went on their way.

North ward appeared to be a somewhat quiet area of the city: neat and well-kept townhouses and villas lined the streets and as they approached the north wall they reached the address that was given to them by Naxene Drathkala in Goldenfields. It seemed a tidy but cosy home with a small tower extending from one corner. Korrak knocked on the door and a man answered the door. They had indeed reached the home of the fabled Chazlauth Yarghorn; Dragon Expert, Master Mage and Crochet Expert of the Ninth Circle. He opened the door and bid them in. As they sat in his cluttered sitting room, they explained their need to find a dragon who could help them find the Eye of Annam. Chazlauth meditated on the subject for some time, while crocheting Korrak some clothes and eventually announced that he had a plan. In the Kryptgarden Forest was an ancient green dragon: an evil creature known as “Old Gnawbone” that has scried the world for centuries with crystal balls, endeavouring to learn all the secrets she can. If anyone would know the location of the Eye of Annam it would be her, but they must be cautious and approach the dragon carefully as it would think little of killing them. Chazlauth felt that was worth the risk. Over the course of the conversation he also declared that dwarves and chickens do not exist and were merely the inventions of common hysteria and delusion. They resolved to seek out Old Gnawbone (and also prove to Chazlauth that chickens were real).

Leaving his home they headed out to a tavern in Trades ward called the Underdark. Despite the name, this appeared to be a misnomer and full of students seeking an edgy time. Darius itched a little bit as he watched some of them playing the Kobolds Knuckles dice game but thought better of having a flutter. After drinks and Korrak had eaten a small mountain of chicken wings, they were approached by a young boy who had been asked to give them a message. A woman named Remallia Haventree wanted to see them and she was waiting in the Gentle Rest Inn just two streets away. On the way they decided to buy a live chicken to prove to Chazlauth that chickens do, in fact exist. Maganose crammed it into the Bag of Holding.

Remallia appeared to be a somewhat tired Sun Elf noblewoman, elegantly dressed and well-spoken who appeared to know them and was aware that they were now Harpers. She flashed her Harper’s badge and shared a secret handshake with Fenris. She was also in dire need of help: a Harper agent had recently gone missing while investigating strange runes that had been carved into the buildings in the Docks ward. His name was Skittles Runehammer and he had followed the clues to the South ward and his last known location was “The Red Rocks Trading Company”, a quiet warehouse in the south ward, just a few streets away from the docks.

They decided to speak to local guards before approaching the warehouse to see if they could find out any more. Approaching a local guard’s station, they found three on duty and quizzed them about the Red Rocks company: apparently a quiet establishment that seemed to do little business but also caused no trouble.

They headed into South Ward: a busy, bustling place where caravans arrived by the multitude. Hawkers called out their wares and the smell of street food, horses and weary travellers filled the air. Red Rocks appeared to be in a less-busy street off the main roads. As they approached, they saw a quiet, understated warehouse with a too-small sign marked “Red Rocks Trading Co.”. Scouting the surroundings, Fenris found some runes carved into the foundation stones, apparently Primordial: they seemed water-related and the only word he could make out was “Blibdoolpoolp”. Amadeous peeked in to the windows and saw a very messy shop: dusty and full of cobwebs. A man stood behind the counter, 2 men seemed to be working and some people seemed to be sitting patiently, resembling a waiting room. They all seemed well-dressed and kempt, seemingly oblivious to the mess around them.

Korrak strode inside and approached the man at the counter. He greeted him in a flat tone and asked if they had all come to do business. He claimed to represent a nearby fishing village called “Red Rocks” and sold their catch. He seemed oblivious to the mess, apparently pleased with their recent renovations. He said a dwarf had been here recently, asking about the building but had left again. When asked about the stairs at the back of the room he said that was private property and they were not welcome there. During the conversation Amadeous decided to sneak downstairs while the man was occupied in conversation, followed by Carlan’s imp.

Downstairs Amadeous found a small storeroom with a door leading further in. Opening the door he found a small passageway with an enormous symbol of an octopus with a multitude of tentacles, leading to another door. Upstairs the party was asked to leave and departed peacefully, deciding to plan their next action. Amadeous unfortunately failed to sneak out unseen. The man was furious, shouting that he had asked them to leave and his face started to contort, becoming half-fish and half-man. The other people in the room twisted and lost their features: they were doppelgangers. They immediately pounced on Amadeous and Maganose blasted the room with a fireball, causing terrible damage. After a few moments of brutal combat they all lay dead but Amadeous and Carlan had taken a beating at the hands of the doppelgangers.

Standing in the smouldering ruins of the shop, they decided to keep up the momentum and headed downstairs. Passing the Kraken symbol and opening the next door, they found a congregation of cultists praying in a strange language and a deep pool of briny water fed by a stream leading outside. Carlan cast Hypnotic Pattern and the party swiftly hacked them down as they stood incapacitated by the illusion. Heading further in, they found a small office with a carpet of the same symbol as outside. In the office there found a several bookshelves, a desk covered in papers, a deep pool of water and a chest. Fenris investigated the chest and found no sign of traps but sensed there was definitely something strange about it. Suspecting the truth, he fired an arrow and the chest spawned an enormous jaw, tongue and fangs: it was a mimic. MI6 swiftly hacked it down in a few moments of frenzied chopping and blasting.

Carlan sent her imp down into the pool and it found that deep beneath the water there was apparently a tunnel leading south. Carlan decided to see for herself and cast Alter Self, with Maganose casting Light upon her so she could see. She dived into the pool, swam through the tunnel and found another path up that emerged into another chamber. As she rose from the water she saw two Kuo Toa guarding a bound and tied dwarf in the corner. Several cultists also appeared to be on guard and they shouted in alarm as they saw a glowing half-fish/half-firbolg emerging from the water. The Kuo Toa become extremely alarmed and exclaimed "Xun vel’uss! Elgg dos!" and started to advance on her with their weapons.