Once again we find our heroes back in Trollskull Manor following their recent success in uncovering the manipulation of the Lords of Waterdeep and the rescue of Lord Kormallis. Ozen walks over to their table to take their drinks order, comfortable in the knowledge that he will be returning with 4 Ales and a cursed Water. The poor barkeep almost has aneurism when Garrick says that he too will be having a water. "Not you as well Sir?", Ozen asks his voice shaking slightly. Garrick reassures the panicked barman that it is only for the remainder of the month, with a sigh of relief, Ozen turns and heads back to the bar and returns a few moments later with their beverages and a note, which he hands to Lucian.
"We have been summoned to Blackstaff Tower in the morning to meet with the Blackstaff herself, we had best make sure we have clear heads when the sun rises"
What happens next and long into the night suggests that Finn and Farraine had stopped listening after the mention of Blackstaff Tower and as they stumble up the stairs to bed, a table filled with empty tankards remains in their wake.
The morning sun rises over a relatively peaceful Waterdeep and the smell of a freshly prepared breakfast wafts up the stairs of Trollskull manor, calling it's inhabitants to leave their slumber. One by one they descend into the tavern room and take their seats, the empty tankards have been cleared and a hearty meal is in their stead. As the last morsel of food is skewered upon Farraine's fork and Lucian mops up the remaining sauce from his plate with a piece of bread, a carriage rolls up outside. The party rise from their seats and thank Ozen for yet another wonderful meal before heading outside. The carriage takes them to Blackstaff Tower where they are greeted and escorted inside and up a number of stairs to an ornate drawing room. Behind a large oak desk sits Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff herself and Remallia Haventree, off in a darkened corner of the room sits a masked figure, perhaps one of the Masked Lords of Waterdeep.
Varja bids the party welcome and indicates for them to take a seat infront of the desk. She thanks them for their recent service in uncovering the plot to control elements of Waterdeep's political elite as well as the many successes they have achieved to date in the protection of both the city and it's allies.
"As a result of your endeavours I find myself in the position of being able to offer you all the honour of joining Force Grey", she says, carefully placing 5 metal pins on the desk in front of them. Vajra continues to explain the role of Force Grey, how it is an elite force that is called upon in matters deemed too dangerous for the City Guard or City Watch. Acting under her direct command Force Grey enjoys certain benefits, as well as a regular monthly income and individual payment for each successful mission they also have access to resurrection and healing services, a mansion in a location of their choosing and the authority to execute warrants without written consent.
The party look at the metal pins lying on the desk in front of them and consider their options. It doesn't take the Halfling long to be allured by the promise of a regular income and he gets up from his seat, thanks Vajra for this honour before picking up the pin. The rest of the party follow Finn's lead and take up their pins, attaching them carefully to their cloaks.
"Your first mission, shall be in 6 weeks time. An army from Cormyr is marching to re-take Phlan however they will be unable to do so if Vorgansharax, the Dragon, remains there. You are tasked with clearing this danger ahead of the army's arrival. I suggest you use this time wisely and get whatever provisions, equipment or training you may need to accomplish this task." Vajra stands and nods at the party, it appears the meeting is over. Our group of newly recruited heroes leave Blackstaff Tower and head immediately for the shopping district.
Over the course of the next 6 weeks the party seek out items to aid them in their quest and soon it is time for them to make their way to Phlan. They make their way through the streets of Waterdeep and up to the gates of Blackstaff Tower. They are once more met by Vajra Safahr who tells them that she will create a teleportation circle to send them to Phlan. Unfortunately she has only been there on a couple of occasions but is relatively confident she will be able to send them there without incident. The party look a little less confident but as the portal appears they say their farewells and step through the glistening mist, no one notices the crossed fingers of the halfling as he disappears from sight.
In the courtyard of Valjevo Castle the air crackles and sparks as a mystical portal shimmers into existence, stepping out of the portal come our party, as they take in their surroundings a sense of relief washes over them. They stand there for a moment, the city is a shadow of it's former self, smoke rises behind the castle walls, there are no sounds of city life to be heard. Sigrid casts a spell on the party to help mask their presence and they make their way through the courtyard, the Druid's Onyx dog leading the way, up ahead it catches the scent of something lizard-like. As the party edge closer to the castle they notice a large hole that looks like something has gouged it's way through the rock and earth to whatever lies below. Garrick moves towards the hole and notices 6 Kobolds off to one side, they are chattering excitedly. Garrick places his Helm of Comprehension on his head and hears them utter that they need to warn the Master. Without hesitation Sigrid weaves a spell and thorny roots appear at the feet of the Kobolds, twisting and warping as they struggle to free themselves. On the walls to one side a couple of Kobolds appear. Garrick casts a tower of flam on the Kobolds on the wall whilst Lucian quickly dispatches the ensnared Kobolds in the courtyard, piles of ash are all that remain of the creatures.
Moving back to the gaping hole Lucian casts a featherfall spell on the party, with the exception of Farraine who seems eager to try out his new potion of flight. The five of them jump down into the black hole and slowly glide down to a moss covered floor some 150ft below. They find themselves in a vast cavern, the walls and floor are covered with moss and fungus. There is something not entirely normal about this vegetation, vines hang from the roof making their passage difficult. Garrick ask Sigrid if she can have a word with the plants and get them to move out of their way. The Druid obliges but reports back that whilst the plants would love to help they have roots and are therefore unable to move. Sigrid then asks them if the Green Dragon is here and they tell her that, indeed it is. Farraine moves forward and there is a scream as he steps on the mushrooms littering the cavern floor. Sigrid tells them to shut up and their screams are immediately muted. From the cavern the path narrows before it opens once more into a vast cave. The party take their potions of poison resistance and slowly move closer. Farraine suddenly holds up is hand, he can hear the sound of bowstrings being drawn up ahead. Garrick uses an invisibility spell and enters the massive cavern, there, he notices a platform suspended by ropes on it stand six Goblins with bows drawn. He quickly returns to the party and tells them of his discovery. A plan of action forms in the Halfling's mind and he quickly casts an invisibility spell on himself and disappears from sight. The Rogue steps softly into range of the platform and takes aim with his crossbow with a squeeze of the trigger a bolt zips through the air and through one of the supporting ropes. The rope snaps and the platform suddenly tips to one side, the Goblins struggle to find something to hang on to and five of them fall 30ft to the ground below. Unfortunately they all land on a patch of soft fungi and are slowly get back to their feet, relatively unharmed. The rest of the party move into the cavern but as Sigrid and Lucian take a step forward a wall of thorns suddenly springs up across the passageway blocking them from the rest of the party.
Farraine, Garrick and Finn all engage in a brief battle with the 3 of the Goblins who are no match for our hardened heroes and are soon reduced to corpses on the floor of the cave. Sigrid transforms herself into a large eagle and picks up Lucian in her talons. As they rise above the wall of thorns the Wizard unleashes a bolt of fire taking out the remaining enemy. As they descend to the ground with the rest of the party the ominous sound of leathery wings echoes through the cave.
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