The Current Kerfuffle in which We Find Ourselves [Session 43]

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Current Situation

• The summit at Waterdeep Castle with Silverhand and some of the masked lords of Waterdeep turned into chaos and Elminster may have made things worse. The group now sits in the backroom of an unfamiliar tavern with Renaer Neverember who has been instructed to get them safely out of the city. But can they leave yet? With shiny new level 10 skills and abilities, how far will they get?
  

Session Summary

• Heading to peek into the tavern, Renaer Neverember runs smack into the aforementioned friend and barmaid, Arlanna who immediately, surprised, questions him on his suddenly appearing in the Slaked Sylph. Renaer tells her to come back in a few minutes, and, glancing at the rest of the group, huffs off, but not in a bad way. They clearly know each other well.
• Renaer suggests retreating to his home for the time being, before discussion quickly begins. Where do they go from here? What do they need to take from the city, and what can be left behind? Elyana lets the group know of a new ability, Teleportation, and this has the potential to make fleeing Waterdeep much easier, and potentially safer as well.
• Renaer lets the gang know that from the outside, that his home, the Ember House, looks not like a proper house at all; the windows are boarded and it very much looks deserted - at least as far as eyes on the street can tell. Elminster Aumar most likely dropped the group in this tavern as it's the closest he could get them to Renaer's. He adds, after a pause, that he suspects the City Watch won't explicitly enter Trollskull Tavern without the group being properly accused of a crime - at this time, they might not have been charged with anything. Elminster most likely has, though. Of course.
  
• The locations being considered to reach, in no order just yet, are Mirt's Hunting Lodge, Helm's Hall, and Trollskull. Renaer excuses himself for a moment, and returns after a few minutes, and moments after he sits down, the curtain to the private room blows open, with a human male entering. He's a good few inches shorter than Renaer but bears a remarkable resemblance to the noble, and he's introduced as a good friend, named Foxall Zorim. Renaer asks if he'd be interested in having a bit of fun with the guards, "like old times?" And Foxall readily agrees.
• Renaer pitches that Foxall and his friends can prep themselves to look enough like the Trollmates to lead the guards off on the wrong trail, and lessen the chances of being apprehended by the law. The group hesitates to voice any of their plans with this stranger in the room, and Renaer asks him to give the group a few minutes and Foxall cheerily sees himself out so they can finish discussing their plans in private.
• It's pitched to head to Trollskull at least before leaving the city so anyone who needs to grab something has the chance to. Barrett says he doesn't think anyone will have an issue picking up gear, and Dhann counters, asking what the plan might be if there's no time to grab anything. Barrett reassures him saying that it should be fine, your highness, and Dhann gives him a strong look, then brushing it off and saying that topic can be addressed later; he's only just found out about the title himself. Ely snorts with "Oh really?" And Dhann rebuffs with, "Yes, Elyana, really." Z makes a purr about nobilities and differences. At this point, Elyana remembers she doesn't have the chalk necessary for drawing a teleportation circle, so whatever the plan is, the first part is forced to happen on foot. Outside the room, it sounds like Foxall and his friends have kicked up an extremely loud and purposeful drinking song.
  
• When Dhann looks under the table to see if there's a teleportation circle - seeing as Elminster plunked the group directly into that room, Barrett asks, "My lord, what are you doing?" The monk is met with a cold, "Let's just go to Renaer's." It sounds like this is a good time for Elyana to cast Seeming on the group to help with the cover's success.
  
• Casting it, Elyana manifests facades that resemble clerics from Helm's Hall:
  • Barrett is one foot shorter, has longer hair and a beard. His clothes look like Dhann's.
    
  • Dhann's hair is longer, he's a foot taller, and sports a short beard, and his clothing is more robe-like.
    
  • Z is a human, salt and pepper hair, and is now a lady. Z's thrilled. She now wears robes.
    
  • Ely is a male, hair and bear like original Barrett's, and the new clothing also matches Seemed Barrett's.
  • Renaer is a dark haired female, same height, wearing cleric's robes.
  • Everyone has some sort of imagery of Helm.
• Elyana reasons that, given all the happenings in the city, clerics of Helm are the least likely to be questioned this time of night, seeing as that Hall and order have been searching for orphans on the street to make sure they're taken care of.
• While the group voices a bit more hesitation in getting anyone else involved, Renaer remarks that Foxall & Co. are most likely in this for the long run and won't leave off even if asked. They want to help and are in on the ruse. Renaer sticks his head out into the room, and Arlanna comes over, bringing some small, prepared bags, saying she didn't know if they group may be hungry and gives them some parcels of prepared food. She doesn't know if the group is staying or heading out, and they express they're leaving, now, but thank her for the things. Foxall comes back in with four friends, who, don't look too much like the group but are close enough that with some disguising, look enough like the Trollmates that anyone not looking too closely would be pretty well duped. "Now," he says, "Remember that time we were after Roxnall?" "Of course," Replies Renaer." "Let's do that!" Foxall pitches. Renaer agrees, saying that will put them two blocks from his house. They'll all leave the tavern, and if the group is agreeable, to follow Renaer and Foxall's leads. "Okay!" Lady Z agrees readily.
  
• Before they leave, Barrett asks how the group might consider handle any guards or close quarters engagements and the consensus is no violence and escape is paramount.
• Exiting the Slaked Sylph, both groups are on Darselune Street, and begin to make their way south. A carriage moves past, while another sits, seeming to wait for passengers. As the decoys make their way across Gulzindar Street, a group of eight guards are headed away, to the west. The Trollmates follow at a bit of a distance, keeping the Decoys in sight. After some close calls with a group of guards, questioning the Trollmates if they've seen anyone (the Decoys having ducked out of sight into a corner of buildings across Julthoon Street, that bunch of City Watch are sent off to look to the west down Julthoon.
• The Trollmates meet back up with the Decoys near where they vanished and a carriage is heard approaching in the distance, and it turns out to be a guard carriage. Renaer says, quite loudly, "I think we should split up!" And Foxall responds, "Yeah, let's split UP!" Pointing upwards. Renaer says he'll take Trader's Way, around the north of the market, while the others should take Calamastyr, "TO THE SOUTH."  It's clear the two of them mean something other than what they're saying. "We'll meet at the Singing Sword and regroup!" one of the Seemed Trollmates shouts, loud enough for guards nearby to hear.
• At this time, the Decoys split into two groups, one half moving east down Julthoon Street and the other half heading to Gothal Street. Renaer and the Trollmates, however, head south to Sword Street and a group of guards, west on Calamastyr, follow the Decoys. A guard carriage, however, seems to be heading straight towards the Trollmates. Not exactly in pursuit of them, but it's not turning away to follow the Decoys, either. Passing a pile of crates, Renar elbows them to fall into the street to hopefully block or delay the carriage if it continues to follow. When the carriage does come up to the mess in the street, some guards exit and follow on foot. Two clear the area while two more essentially round the crates to trail the Trollmates.To keep up the facade of clerics, Barrett starts up a monkish chant.
  
• Renaer, seeing the guards, asks if anyone has anything small, or can scoop up some rocks from the ground. Coppers will do fine, though, and everyone pulls a few from their pockets. It's noticed, then, they're coming up on Blackstaff Tower. Just as the group gets to the southern corner of the property, the guards call for them to halt. Renaer turns to approach them, and everyone follows his lead. The guards question what the "clerics" are doing so late out at night, and Elyana explains that they're looking for children who may have lost their parents or are sneaking out on the streets at night looking for shelter. The guards look morose at this, agreeing, and ask if they're all priests. The group says yes. The guards then ask if they've seen a "group of give" and Elyana tells them that yes, they may have seen a group earlier up the street. The guard who spoke nods, tells them to be careful, and dismisses them, but as Renaer turns to leave, the guard pats him on the shoulder, saying, "Do be careful." This makes the guard pause, as what he felt does not at all match what he sees this...cleric, wearing.
• Renaer says thanks and tries to leave with the Trollmates, but as soon as they hit the corner again, the guard yells for them to come back, with Renaer yelling, "RUN!" and as soon as he passes the Blackstaff Tower gate, throws his coins at the fence, and everyone follows and does the same. Amazingly, when the guards pass the fence, they suddenly seem to hit a pocket of slower motion, with the fence emitting a greenish glow, lighting up the entire street. The guards can't catch up, just then, and Renaer says, "This way!" guiding the group up to a tavern on the corner, called The Flagon Dragon. There are three dragon statues belching decorative fire on the outside.
• Two guards flank the doors of the establishment, but are clearly guards of the tavern, not the City Watch. Yelling a hello, "It's Renaer!" The noble then scurries behind one of the statues and swiftly ascends a hidden ladder. The Trollmates quickly follow. The statues of the dragons, massive, provide enough cover on the roof of the tavern for the group to hide and eavesdrop on the guards. In the street below, the pursuing guards stop and then split up, two heading to Sword Street, with the remaining guards heading across Tharleon Street and searching the bar that was mentioned earlier, the Singing Sword.
  
• There's a jump with a clothesline that needs to be made, but through a mixture of strength, blessings, guidance, feline agility and badass poses, everyone is able to make it across. Ely, seeing Renaer about to have a bad slip, deftly catches his arm and saves him from a tumble.
• The roof they find themselves on is some sort of forge or smelter's, as the several chimneys there are large and afford some adequate cover from eyes on the street. They stop to catch their breath.
• Leaning back and assessing the progress, Renaer comments that the flight so far has been easier than he was expecting. The disguises were a good idea, but just as he's saying this, from behind one of the chimneys steps a very large, portly guard with some sort of captain's emblem on his shoulder. He has a large, but not too well kept salt-and-pepper beard, with his hair stuffed into a loosely fitting helmet. He looks around at all of them, taps Renaer's shoulder, and says, "I presume you're Renaer?" And the young man in question replies, "Well...at least it was you, Varbrant,and not Ralnarth." He then asks if the group is to be his prisoners. The guard reaches for his collar, presumably to call for backup; the emblem from earlier winks with a little gem.
  
• With his baton in one hand, and the other on his collar, the guard opens his mouth to speak, but Lass Z invades his personal space, working her charms to attempt to sway the guard into assisting, seeing as she's quite terrified and in need of aid! Even as he tries to concentrate on the whole group, Varbrant is very much paying attention to Z. She's clearly very distraught and in need of consoling. With a Deep expletive, Dhann casts Silence, focusing the point of origin on the helmet. Renaer realizes his speaking is making no sound, but is still attempting to talk to the guard, who, in the meantime, speaks into his pin and Dhann is able to read, "This is Varbrant - I have-" before Varbrant, too, realizes no sound is coming from his words, looking disturbed. Renaer has mentioned the name "Ralnarth" for a second time.
  
• Elyana backs away from the sphere of Silence, readying Fey Charm is Z's flirtatious fling goes awry, and Barrett steps back with her, preparing to dodge any incoming attacks that may break out. Z is just so frightened, needing protection from Varbrant and she is slyly grappling in an "I'm scared!" kind of way. Renaer, turning to look at Dhann, Barrett, and Ely, gives an extremely confused expression, trying to figure out just what's going on.
• Meanwhile, Varbrant gives pause, before a big grin spreads across his face as he leans into his guard's pin and says, even in the Silence, "They're on Sul Street, headed north - just after the market. Should be passing God Catcher now." Dhann recalls, from the iBones, that a Sending spell doesn't need to be heard to be cast. However, Varbrant - for whatever reason - is covering for the group. They're not past the God Catcher at all. Finished with his message, the guard looks to Z and attempts to be comforting, while still a bit confused, with his one free hand, his other still on his collar. He feels Tabaxi fur, not Cleric's robes, and he's got a contorted, perplexed expression.
  
• Dhann dismisses Silence, and the first thing anyone hears is Renaer catching himself from yelling, not having realized how loud he was getting within the spell's area of effect. Dhann then says, "I'd say we are heading north," acknowledging he knows what Varbrant’s just done, and the guard winks at him, before turning his attention back to Renaer. He says, "You've really got to get some new routes, boy."
• Varbrant lets the group know this is serious, but Renaer can be trusted, and that everyone, and he does mean everyone, is looking for them. He points meaningfully at the sky, saying all of the griffins will be dispatched, but north now, besides the ones guarding the wall. But they need to hurry. He asks Renaer if he's taking the group to the The Pink Flumph. Renaer turns beet red, and says, "Wow. You really do know my routes." Varbrant then dismisses himself and vanishes across the rooftops.
  
• The fugitives head off again, and go south, before Renaer cuts the group down to a drainpipe to shimmy into a garden back at street level. He holds up four Taols to fetch a carriage, and says, "One now, and three if you can get us to the Pink Flumph - quickly, but quietly." The driver, a young kid, nods with, "I've gotcha!" and the group hops in.
• After a bit, the carriage pulls up in front of the theatre the group first met Mirt in, so many months ago. Meet the Goodberries and The Kiss of the Lamia are both advertised on the showboard. Renaer heads to the ticket booth, and the rest follow. He says he has reservations for five, meaningfully saying, "We'd like to see The Venerated Grumble, please." The clerk is a young girl, maybe thirteen, but a human, and says they don't have that show, but Renaer says, "No, but with thanks, I wonder if you could fetch Madame Lokaste Daliano for me," handing over some amount of money. The girl takes it, disappears for a moment and then the doors burst open with a loud, "DAHLING! It's been so long!" and looks blankly at the group of Clerics in front of her. Renaer asks if he can be himself, and Ely drops Seeming on Renaer.
• He steps out of the shadow he unseemed in, and gives the tall woman a big hug. She's almost 7' in her heels, head to toe in extravagant green finery and excellently dressed. Overly pompous and showy. There's quick small talk as she leads the group into the theatre, and at one point politely asks, "Have you converted, dear?"
• Lokaste takes the group backstage, and the entire place is bustling for a full night of show, leaving the group barely noticed in the hustle. Lokaste takes the group to her personal room, saying they must catch up soon and Renaer says he'll visit soon. Without any preamble, she lets the group in, says goodbye, and locks them safely inside. Renaer moves a rug that was beneath a chair, revealing a trapdoor leading to the catacombs.
  
• They head down the narrow passage and begin to make their single file way and Renaer, after a bit of time (and past many proximity lit magical lights) says they're parallel to the sewer under Warrior's Way, and they're "almost there." After a bit longer, about 500', a sharp turn to the left allows for the tunnel to widen at another ladder. Renaer can't get the trapdoor open, and asks for help. Dhann scooches forward while Elyana drops Seeming on the rest of them, and then Dhann gives the door a solid shove. From the other side is a cry of surprise and a sizeable thud and crash as if someone's just fallen.
• Light streams in from above and Renaer hops up through the door, followed by Dhann, and they see an older Dwarven woman sprawled on the floor with several scattered jars of pickles, and Renaer says, "Oh my goodness! Er, Eliel, please!" Dhann hurries forward with a flustered apology, helping the woman to her feet. She gives Dhann a look, accepting his help, but begins dramatically scolding Renaer. He introduces her as one of the house help and he welcomes the group to the pantry of Emberhouse, at least.
• He leads them through the kitchen to a sitting room, and everyone settles into a place to sit to plan their next steps. Renaer calls for another assistant - a very old, very proper halfling butler-type named Madrak - and Renaer asks him to fetch tea for everyone. Elyana asks for something a bit harder, and Madrak say he has, "Just the thing."
• Renaer ushers everyone to make themselves comfortable while they can be, and there's a soothing fire in the hearth. The room is very calm after the rush of flight.
• The young noble starts.
  • "First, I want to thank you, for everything you've done for the city. I know that this evening was...a bit of a shock, and certainly unexpected. Ah...Silverhand should have been offering you the key to the city, and instead, offered you a gilded prison, and I apologize. I certainly have no place within the government, nor do I want one. But - her actions were...out of place. And I apologize, on behalf of Waterdeep. My father, as a former Open Lord, certainly wasn't good for the city, but at the very least, as the son of an Open Lord, uh...maybe offering my apologies will have some...some import to all of you."
  • "You must understand - I want more for our city. I want more, for Waterdeep. This used to be a city where dreams came true, and gods walked the cobbles...Now? Its grime of commerce and greed just covers everything. Even the once shining helms of the Lords of Waterdeep seem to have been corrupted. The Crown of the North still rules all commerce in every direction, but...it can't remotely claim to be the City of Splendors that it once was."
  • "The city needs...heroes. To bring back its life and its luster. I could do my part - I don't if I am- if I have it in me to be one of those heroes, but you- You certainly do. I will do my part to help you. I will- well... for now, you will all be my guests. For now, my home is your home."
  • "The guards will not come looking here anytime soon. From the outside, this house looks abandoned, as I mentioned, and, well - it was mine, when my father lived at the Castle. But since he was so often there, I moved to the Neverember House. After he left, I wanted nothing to do with that dreadful place, and moved back here, but...I left the disguise on the building, as I mentioned, to keep away from some of the nobility. For now, you can stay as long as you need to. I think we're safe for at least a day or two."
    
•  There's a beat of respectful silence following Renaer's humble speech. Z thanks Renaer for his words, and commends him for his friendship and support since they've met him, and everyone falls silent for a bit, thinking again. It's close to 10:30 or 11 at night, at this time, and the group must now decide if they're staying the night, or heading to Trollskull Tavern in the night and fleeing the city before morning. Thanks to Valbrant's intervention and deception, most of the southern part of the city should be quite empty of City Watch. The sewers are discussed, carriages, teleporting, where to go first, everything is mentioned. Dhann asks Renaer if while they're talking, if he can potentially find out what the charges are that the group is being accused with. Renaer says yes, he has a friend in the Watch, and many contacts regardless, but he leaves to go see if he can find any answers.
• Barrett mentions to the group that he believes that Laeral Silverhand most likely doesn't care for rules or regulations anymore, and if she wants the guards to enter Trollskull, they will, charges or not. Ely counters with that it must matter a little bit, what everyone outside of Silverhand's circles sees the group being charged with. "The fact that we didn't attack that guard we thought wasn't on our side is a plus, to us, in his eyes. That could have meant the difference in him helping us or not." Barrett believes that it's not safe to consider Trollskull as any sort of haven, and Z agrees, saying that Renaer may be able to send someone to get the lay of the land over there before they go. Dhann says he could send Erky, before they do head to the tavern. It seems that the first place to go at all would be to Helm's Hall to get Elminster’s Bag of Holding before heading to Trollskull, and the group agrees to go that night, instead of waiting until the morning.
• At this time, Renaer returns to the sitting room, and his face has gone completely white, and he looks almost shell shocked. He takes a deep breath, and lets the group know that at present, there are no official charges. However, the group is presumed dangerous and is wanted for questioning upon arrest. "Why do you look so scared, then?" Ely asks. "Foxall has been killed," Renaer replies. "The guards thought he was with me, or thought he was me, and apparently he- fought back, and did not survive. The other four are in custody. They've done nothing, they'll be released. But Foxall is...well-" and he rallies himself a bit, "At any rate, uh...the good news is, there are no charges. You're still wanted and will remain wanted, for questioning, and I would assume I am also still wanted, but...yes. I apologize. He was a good friend. It's a loss I did not expect to occur."
  
• Z suggests a drink and for Renaer to sit down for a while, and the decision is made to head to the Hall. Renaer mentions a carriage from the Hall might be best, and so Dhann sends Father Evencrest for one, and the Bishop says one is immediately en route to meet the group at the statue of The Hawk Man.
• Renaer gives the group access to another tunnel that will see them on their way to meet the carriage and the group thanks him again for all of his help, and it's a somber and serious parting after what has transpired. He tells the group again that if he can help at all, in any way, to not hesitate to let him know and all of his resources are at their disposal.
• Ely casts Seeming on the group for a second time, and while maintaining the their cover as Clerics, they look different this time around:
  • Z is a female Cleric again, blonde and "gets to work that magic."
  • Barrett has a full beard, but not as long as last time, and is a foot shorter.
  • Dhann looks like an elderly man, and is his usual height.
  • Ely is a male cleric and varies slightly from how she Seemed herself before.
• Finding the carriage is no trouble and the ride to the Hall is uneventful. Instead of stopping in the front, however, the carriage pulls around to the back and once inside the interior courtyard, the substantial gates close behind the vehicle and a large pair of secondary, massive doors are locked and bolted from the inside. The driver lets the group out, and the Father is right there, waiting for information.
• He isn't sure which Cleric is which, but Dhann alerts him to who he is, and asks Ely to drop the Seeming, but she refuses. Evencrest asks if everything is alright, and Dhann tells him no, and quickly fills him in on the Summit going wrong, violence breaking out, an innocent being killed helping them escape, and that they're being hunted and need to get out of the city. Evencrest confirms that the city's bells were due to their subsequently being pursued by the Watch. Hearing Elminster was involved in all of what happened, the Father says, "I see."
• Looking about at the group, Evencrest assures them that they have the Hall at their disposal, for whatever they may need. While Dhann sprints to retrieve the Bag from the room it was hidden in, the Father quickly shows the rest of the group the way to the teleportation circle in the Hall. It's at this time Z, Ely, and Barrett are able to see the chaos and amount of children in the Hall for themselves and they're taken aback. Ely leaves an undisclosed amount of gold for anything the Hall may need. Meeting back up with the group, Dhann immediately hands the Bag to Ely, who secures it on her person. The teleportation circle is studied in case future teleportation visits are needed in future.
• Evencrest asks if the group needs anything else, and Dhann asks that if Foxall is brought to the Hall, to please make sure all appropriate funerary rites are met and he's given a proper burial, and Evencrest says he'll make sure this happens.
• Taking a few moments, Ely prepares the Pearl of Power so that she can cast Teleportation for the group to reach Trollskull. Barrett gives her Guidance to help with the Warlock's first ever casting of this new spell. Right before the spell takes effect, Dhann thanks the Father, saying he owes the Bishop everything and that he's so sorry. Evencrest simply bows, and says, "You owe us nothing."
• And with that, the group shimmers into the basement of Trollskull, to hear a very excited sound as if someone has been startled, and the voice belongs to Erky. He looks at them with a shocked face, and says what no one wants to hear.

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"You shouldn't have come!"

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Next time on...