Ambush at the Zhentarim Warehouse
- After the events of Wow C1.S1.01 A Rowdy Night at the Yawning Portal, the party began by attempting to infiltrate the Zhent Warehouse on Candle Lane where they had tracked their quarry Floon Blaagmar. Metatronia used her thieves tools to quietly open a window. Bartholomew Glockenspiel hopped inside but was swiftly clubbed in the head by a Bugbear, nearly killing him. The Bugbear took a shot at Metatronia through the window before retreating into the dimly lit warehouse.
- The team followed the Bugbear inside and were additionally ambushed by 4 Kenku. The team took out the Bugbear and two the Kenku as TMM05 smashed through the doors and impaled one on its drills. Metatronia and Fearonuh pursued two Kenku that were shooting arrows from a 2nd floor loft. Fearonuh finished them off, impaling one with a deft throw of her javelin, and then a final crushing blow to the 2nd.
Exploring the Warehouse, Meeting Renaer
- The party patched themselves up and searched the warehouse for clues. They found evidence of a recent bloody fight, with several dead Zhent corpses as well more dead Kenku. The Zhents clearly had been attacked by the Agents of the Overseer as part of the ongoing gang war. They located a note (see note in Zhent Warehouse) that detailed a secret splinter group within the Zhentarim, Waterdeep Chapter, with orders to kidnap Renaer Neverember, son of Dagult Neverember. Bruce and Metatronia also used their keen senses to find a secret room with valuables worth 900gp (150 per party member) and pocketed them. The warehouse was also full of basic weapons and armor, as it was apparently a key depot for the Zhentarim.
- In some rooms on the 2nd floor they located a smashed locket with a secret compartment, now empty. Then they located Renaer himself, hiding in a closet. Renaer was able to help the party piece things together. Apparently the Zhents had kidnapped both he and Floon, and had interrogated them for information about Renaer's father Dagult and a rumored embezzlement scheme under his watch. Meanwhile, Agents of the Overseer attacked the warehouse, and Renaer was able to hide during the ensuing chaos. After murdering all the Zhents, the Agents mistook Floon for Renaer, and took him elsewhere. Apparently both groups were looking for something called the Unknown, somehow related to his father. Renaer also shared that he and his father had been estranged for years, ever since his mother's death. The locket had been given to Renaer by his father as remembrance of her, but he had no idea about the secret compartment.
- Suddenly a group of Zhentarim barged into the warehouse, including a familiar construct fighter: N8. They had received a message that the warehouse was under attack. Initially the Zhents were suspicious that the party were the ones who had attacked the warehouse, but N8 was able to deescalate the tense situation. He let his allies know that the party had saved him and Davil Starsong just days ago, and that Davil had dubbed them friends of the Zhentarim. The party explained they had come here looking for a kidnapped person, and were ambushed by the Agents , and that all the Zhents were dead when they got here. The Zhent leader Tashlyn Yafeera was visibly unnerved when she recognized Renaer, apologizing profusely. Apparently it was against their policy to go after nobles. The party shared the cryptic note they had found with her, and she grew concerned about this rogue faction within their organization.
Tracking the Kidnappers to the Sewers
- The two groups agreed to split up to pursue the Agents, with the Zhents heading to a suspected hideout in the Dock Ward. Thanks to Bart's winged cat familiar Ruffles, the party was able to track the scent of the Agents to a sewer entry point, and headed down. They relied on the excellent darkvision of Metatronia to lead them stealthily in the complete darkness to avoid detection. They waded through 2ft deep sewage encountering several glowing signs made with some magic paint, each warning them to turn back. Pyper Runecut was able to decipher meaning from a recurring symbol featuring an eye with ten spokes that seemed to be a form of hidden directions. They also befriended some rats thanks to Fearonuh's speak with animals ritual, who agreed to help guide them in return for some stale bread.
- Eventually they located a secret door and continued on until Metatronia saw two grapefruit sized spherical creatures whiz out of the darkness and shoot magical beams at her. She and Fearonuh were each hit by a beam and felt terrified. They tried to turn and run away in an awkward scramble in the dark, but their companions were clogging up the narrow sewer passage. Thankfully Bart was able to squeeze past and helped lead the charge, taking out one of the Gazers with Chromatic Orb. Then Metatronia shook off her fear and took out the 2nd with her bow. The party proceeded but was ambushed yet again by Goblins shooting arrows through arrow slit fortifications. Pyper Runecut blasted one through the arrow slit with with Scoring Ray. When the last goblin began to run for help, Bruce had had enough, and smashed through two doors before lopping off the head of the final goblin with his greatsword.
- The party has located the sewer stronghold! What dangers yet await them? Will they locate Floon Blaagmar, alive?