Session 20: Business Disrupted
With the explosion that happened right outside their newly up and running tavern, the members of the Argent Vigil were quick to respond. Ensuring the safety of its patrons by guiding them toward the basement and heading out into the chaos that had ensued. Raivyre vigilantly guarded those within their care while others hurried to the smoke filled street.
Theryn went accompanied by Murgen, Synthrin and Passion. Letting his familiar companion scout the skies for any suspicious activity in the surrounding area. Chester meanwhile snuck out and was aided by a quick invisibility spell from Theryn to dive into the shadows for further investigation. In front of the tavern now lay eleven corpses, their burned remains a terrible sight for the weaker stomachs. Thirgrim, with Nygarth on his tail, turned in search for a possible culprit but instead found a young halfling boy hidden behind a water barrel. Martem was quickly ushered indoors by Nygarth and Theryn followed a suspicious figure on the rooftops until it vanished from Synthrin’s sights. The being that he had seen resembled a human however its movements appeared wooden and strange. Lykos, the newly hired bartender identifies it as a nimblewright which are often seen during the city’s parades and are mostly created in the House of Many Hands. The Temple to Gond.
Failing to immediately pin down someone fleeing the scene, the members of the Argent Vigil gradually return to the tavern. Raivyre and Nygarth both question Martem who managed to hide, even though his friends weren’t as fortunate. The young boy had picked up something that had fallen into the rain barrel and is only willing to yield it to Nygarth when in exchange the latter offered up the necklace with the dragon’s tooth.
The necklace eventually is identified as a necklace of fireballs, which is clearly enough the origin of the disaster outside. It’s not too long before the guards start to file into the alley. Each exit soon cordoned off by seven forbidding anyone to leave, including Chester when he makes an attempt to seek out further information. The rogue reluctantly remains behind near the many guards and continues to make conversation. Eventually managing to persuade several of them to kill some time with card games.
Once the streets are secured the Captain of the Watch Saeth Crowley arrives with the Magister Barnibus Blastwind of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors. The two sourly investigate the scene as other watchmen begin to go from door to door to interrogate possible witnesses for their investigation.
It does not take the duo long to enter the tavern where they briskly ask for information of all those present. The patrons having emerged from the basement and given free drinks while Martem remained safely below in company of the dire wolf pup and the mastiffs. One by one the Argent Vigil crew and the staff too are brought to speak to the two investigators who fire their questions in rapid succession in the urgent situation. Establishing quickly that while the gnome was seemingly headed for the tavern while being pursues, nobody is familiar with the now dead individual.
Once they had sufficiently gathered their information the pair returned outside to receive the reports from the witnesses now pouring in. Chester meanwhile put up a sign to offer a discount to the many guards on duty to be claimed after their shift ends. However as Barnibus puzzles together the amount of evidence thusfar gathered he quickly comes to realise that the spell had been caused by a bead from a necklace of fireballs. Which he managed to trace, leading him to Theryn who had forgotten to hand the object over during his own interview. This caused quick offense to the efficient and dour magister who issued Theryn a two hundred dragon fine as well as a tenday of hard labour. To be executed on the farms outlying Waterdeep in favour of the harvests for Autumn.
With the priests of the Temples arriving to remove the dead from the streets, matters returned to normal in Trollskull Alley. Albeit with business interrupted. Martem, now having come back up and been mothered by Helgret was returned home by Nygarth and Thirgrim into the relieved arms of his mother upon opening the door. The woman had not been very aware of what had transpired but was very grateful for the return of her son.
In the evening many of the guards took up the offer of discounted drinks and the tavern enjoyed a busy, drunken night. A couple of men making an effort to pass as guards but failing to bypass the keen eye of Chester who ensured that waivers were signed by any still on duty.
On the next day Theryn set out for his labour in the fields, bringing along the pups as well as synthrin to enjoy some of the freedom outside the city walls. Having left no notice for any of the members of the Argent Vigil they failed to discover where the wizard had gone before setting out on their own business. For Thirgrim that was a visit to the guilds to obtain a handful of gems, and Raivyre made the trip to the Temple after having stayed the night at Vigil’s End.
Here she was informed about the ongoing rumours in regarding the attack the day previous. Learning that the remains of those who had fallen victim to the fireball were kept under a Gentle Repose spell for now in the custody of the watch. Since the theft of her family heirloom there has been disturbances at the Endshift Tavern in the Field Ward that seemed to be caused by a gang of troublemakers. Raivyre is asked to resolve the trouble for the innkeeper and hopefully recover some information about the location of the lost heirloom.