Finn is questioned about the thing but remains rather tight-lipped about the whole affair and retreats to his room to mull things over.
Farraine and Beef decide that it's time for some answers from Noska Ur'Gray, their captive. They wake him and Farraine proceeds to beat him senseless, each time waking him and repeating the process, he's tough bastard and it's not until they decide to carve him up before he relents and starts talking. Noska is a Lieutenant in the Xanathar Guild. He tells them that he can get them into Xanathar's Lair. Xanathar is a paranoid tyrant like most Beholders so a deception is in order. The group must pose as new guild members brought in by Noska to replace the fighters that the group has killed.
There's a slight problem with the plan in that the Half-Orc wizard, they thought that they killed in the Xanathar sewer hideout is alive. He would recognise them, after all they did stick a dagger in his neck and steal his stuff. People tend not to forget these things. He was also involved in the ambush at the theatre. This is a loose end that needs cutting and they better make sure this time.
He says that the Xanathar Guild is powerful and that they will keep coming for them. They have a tough choice to make - take the fight to them or run. He suggests that the best way is to cut the head off the snake by infiltrating the hideout and taking over the organisation. It won't be easy and they will have to run some missions in order build trust and when the time is right, together they can depose Xanathar and profit. It's a tempting offer and a way to get the Xanathar Guild off their backs for good. The group agrees to Noska's terms after a brief discussion between themselves.
But first, there's another matter to deal with. Finn finds a note from the wizard which reads - "Meet me at the Red-Eyed Owl Tavern in one hour and come alone."
The Owl is a rambling old wooden building that looks as if it's about to fall onto the street. Inside however, it's a comfortable and welcoming gathering place for the neighborhood. The closest thing Waterdeep has to a local. It's the kind of place where friends come to meet and call to one another from across the room or gather huddled around one of the crowded tables. The lighting is just right and a large fire crackles in centrally located chimney that's open on two sides.
Finn enters the Tavern and the rest of the party waits outside. He notices the wizard, Marko Fiske sitting at the bar and approaches him. "Finnegan Hilltopple. You are not any easy man to find. You have caused me considerable inconvenience and cost. A whole new spellbook and spells. You owe me and I'm here to collect" says the wizard. Finn demands an apology for the hurt and insult caused by the wizard to his family back in Longsaddle who laboured long and hard to create a magnificent set of robes for Marko, a masterpiece of silver-embroidered robes. Marko scoffs at the notion of an apology and contemptuously states that he wouldn't wipe his arse on those robes. That's the final straw and Finn lunges forward, but Marko is quicker, muttering words of power and assumes gaseous form and Finn's attack passes harmlessly through him as he flees outside and flies up to a rooftop opposite the Owl.
Fuming, Finn follows him and a brief battle ensues, the wizard materialising to do battle flinging down magic missiles from above and the group responding with their crossbows. Byron springs into action enacting a heroic leap for the roof… only he doesn't quite make it, slamming instead into the side of the building and landing unceremoniously in the dirt below. The volley of crossbow bolts find their target and Marko is forced to retreat. Bleeding profusely, he flies off, keeping low to avoid further injury. The group gives chase on foot but he's disappeared into the night and they regroup, heading back to Trollskull Manor to plan the next course of action.
It's obvious that they need to take out the Half-Orc and they once again journey south into Dock Ward and the sewer entrance which leads to the Xanathar hideout. After trudging through the slow-moving filth for an hour, they are back in the central circular cistern. They begin exploring when suddenly, there's an explosion of movement from two directions. Bugbear ambush! Six of them… Furious combat erupts and it's a grueling fight. And then the Half-Orc appears from the darkness, flinging acidic magical bolts catching Byron and one of the Bugbears. The monk with his superior reflexes avoids the worst of it. Finn disengages and moves behind a pillar from where he can take sneaky shots at the Half-Orc. The Half-Orc is quickly taken down and disappears under the disgusting waters and is not seen again.
The battle with the Bugbears rages back and forth. Heavy blows are traded Farraine with a inspiration from the bard executes a stunning parry and riposte which sends a Bugbear head flying back into the room and it lands with a sickening wet thunk at the feet of one of its fellows. Byron enters the fray, his hands a blur of motion as he darts among the beasts land flurry after flurry of blows, taking down two in quick succession. Beef, also wades in, his rapier piercing the brain of another. Finn having taken a heavy blow earlier, continues to stick bolts into his foes to deadly effect and eventually, all six are defeated. A brief search is conducted for the Half-Orc, but he appears to have been washed away along with the rest of the turds.
No comments:
Post a Comment