Dragon Heist - Episode 1: A Bar Fight and a Friend in Need

So... I've started up a new campaign, Dragon Heist! It's a very intriguing module that is rather open-ended and focuses more on roleplaying and thinking scenarios out as opposed to directly confronting them head-on. I'm also running it for adventurers league, the rules of which can be summarized here. While many have been vocally adamant against the changes, I for one actually am prepared and I think they can help draw the attention away from playing in X module because it has Y treasure and more focused on the story, because, in my mind, that's what's important. Anyway, here's my session recap. Note that there are spoilers here! You've been warned.

Who could these people be, and what role shall they play?

The heroes were simply sitting around a table, in the famous tavern of Waterdeep: The Yawning Portal. They had never met before, but nevertheless, they quickly introduced themselves with minor notes about who they were. There was... Banjo, a Ghostwise Halfling Druid who was raised by Stout Halfling Folk Frritz Fo Yurden, a Dark Elven Fighter who idolized a specific hero (/villain) of Drow culture and strived to be like him by making his way to the surface. Tsunami, a Water Genasi Bard eager to be as famous as she could possibly be Appotus, a Half-Elven Monk who lives outside of the law. Goose, a Lightfoot Halfling Bard who is illiterate and abysmal at lying. King, a High Elven Wizard who worships Oghma the god of knowledge and lastly, there was Errich, a Lightfoot Halfling Rogue who calls the streets of Waterdeep his home.

A rowdy bar fight is normal in the Yawning Portal Tavern

After a brief introduction, accompanied by a rather badly performing minstrel, the group noticed a crowd begin to gather around a tavern brawl. It seemed that a Half-Orc patron of the bar had jumped a strange bald man with several purple eyes tattoed on his head. The Half-Orc at first had the upper hand, but several other patrons leaped from their seats to come to the defense of the strange man. Now that she was outnumbered the tide seemed to turn against her, but Goose cried out an insult towards the tattoed man commenting that all of he was "so lazy because of all of his lazy eyes!" Instantly the "lazy-eyed" man and his associates turned from pounding on the Half-Orc towards assaulting the insulter. Noticing that their newfound acquaintance was about to get pounded to a pulp, a couple of the other adventurers joined in, grappling, kicking, punching, biting and more (others stayed out of the fight, not wanting to get too involved). As the minstrel changed tunes into an amped-up battle march the tide seemed to be turning in the other direction and the group eventually beat the strange men and knocked them unconscious.

The barkeep of the Yawning Portal tavern, Durnan

As Durnan swept the men off of his property, the Half-Orc who introduced herself as Yagra bought a round for the group as thanks for their aid in that battle. Although she did note that she "Coulda' done myself." They were "Strong" and she seemed to approve of that. The drinks were delivered by a nice young barmaid named Bonnie and subsequently drunk (except for Goose's which was taken by Yagra for his "Not-Strongness"). The minstrel returned to poor performances (which the bards began to pick up on the fact that he might be doing them on purpose), and the tavern patrons returned to their lively discussions of Waterdeephavian life in the dead of winter.

With its regenerative capabilities, a Troll can pose a problem towards many a party!

However, this was suddenly interrupted by a shout of rage from within the eponymous hole of the Yawning Portal, as emerging from its mysterious multi-layered depths was a massive Troll! Patrons screamed and shouted, as Durnan rolled his eyes and took a massive incredibly sharp greatsword from the mantle-place, leaped over the bar and everyone's heads by a good margin, and started cutting into the troll. While the adventurers struggled to regain their bearings they noticed that sticking to the troll, like brambles, were a myriad of strange bloodsucking mosquito-wolf-bats. Instantly smelling fresh blood they detached from the Troll and began to try and suck the blood from the patrons. Yagra leaped into the fray and several other adventuring types did as well, including but not limited to:
A priest summoning a cloud of ancient tribal warriors dressed in rich golden attire to defend her and several patrons from the storm A red-haired knight with a massive golden dwarven axe, chopping through the enemies left and right A Cormyrian hero with an almost regal looking attire who would haphazardly cut at any bugs who flew in his direction. A pained look painted permanently on his face, like every enemy he slew was hurting him just as much. Even the minstrel joined in, taunting and mocking some of the "shrew-nosed cotton-balls."

As the adventurers supported the effort to take down the beasts, even aiding Durnan by providing a lighting a torch so he could slay the troll, the tavern eventually returned to normal and the remaining little beasties retreated down into the undermountain from whence they came. As the heroes who helped fight off the evil monstrosities were treated to several rounds on the house, Durnan returned to sweeping up the bodies and blood (again, although luckily nobody was killed [nobody was killed the previous time either]). Meanwhile, the heroes, able to finally gain some peace and quiet, began to truly introduce themselves, since after all, they had just fought arm and arm so it would only make sense that maybe they should help each other.

Volothamp Geddarm, chronicler, wizard, and celebrity, at your service!

As backstories were shared and drinks were drunk, a short man with an elegant plume in his large grandiose hat sat down at the table with the adventurers, daring to go closer to the odor of the troll unlike most of the other patrons. He quickly lathered praise onto the heroes for their daring efforts of bravery and strength, which they eagerly lapped up (especially the bards), and subsequently introduced himself as the Volo, yes the Volo. Explaining to the adventurers that one of his friends had gone missing he requested their aid, assuring them that though he did not have too much money now he was working on a new book deal called "Volo's Guide to Spirits and Specters" and hopefully that would put some cash in his pocket that he could give to them (albeit he did admit he knew more about spirits of the alcoholic variety at this point than the undead ones). Nevertheless, eager to help out someone in need the heroes agreed and Volo described Floon as a relatively handsome human male in his late twenties-early thirties with wavy red-blonde hair. He was dressed in a princely garb when two nights ago, at The Skewered Dragon down in the Dock Ward, he vanished.

You'll always want to keep one hand on your coin pouch in the cramped alleyways of the Dock Ward

The heroes quickly set off, only to come upon a bloody crime scene of gang violence. The city watch was cleaning up a large scuffle between two separate gangs, and the remaining few who survived were being questioned, delivering cold daggers towards anyone who looked their way. Nevertheless, the adventurers continued in the direction of The Skewered Dragon only to discover a rather curious oddity. Against a deep purple facade, a shop containing a stuffed Beholder in its display jutted out from the rest of the ramshackle tenement housing of the Dock Ward. Heading inside, the characters discovered that this was "Old Xoblob Shop" run by a strange old gnome who assured them that there was "No relation to the eye tyrant hanging in the window!" The gnome, who seemed a tiny bit off his rocker began selling a wide variety of strange curios to the heroes. Goose picked up a mummified goblin hand, Appotus found a massive egg-shell cup, Tsunami discovered a bone mask that when held would show a singular bone in her body like an X-Ray. Upon further questioning this "Xoblob" the heroes also learned that there had been a scuffle outside of his shop recently with two people who looked very similar, both seemed to fit the description of Floon... and with that, the heroes continued their search towards The Skewered Dragon.

"No relation to the eye tyrant hanging in the window!" Well, at least it's stuffed...

Finally, behind "Old Xoblob Shop" the adventurers discovered The Skewered Dragon, a rather dilapidated-looking inn with its windows shattered and a ship's anchor lodged through the roof. As the heroes headed into the seedy establishment they learned (after a bit of bribing towards the bartender) that Floon was here, as was the "Chip off the old block" of the previous (and disgraced) Open Lord of Waterdeep: Renaer Neveremember. "Just another spoiled rich noble who loves to rub our noses in it."

Every blade a black blade, yet all blades are red when they have done their work.

Apparently, the two drank and reveled, before leaving around midnight. Five men followed them out, and while no patrons knew what happened after that point, one did pipe up noting that the men who followed them out are "known to frequent a warehouse on Candle Lane. Look for the snake symbol on the door!"

The Kenku is only able to mimic sounds it has heard before, unable to synthesize its own statements.

Seeing that this was their only lead, the heroes took it and found the warehouse in question. It seemed abandoned, but when Frritz looked inside he noticed several strange dark avian creatures moving boxes and crates very quietly. As he then knocked on the door to the strange locale there was no response, so Errich quickly pulled out his thieves' tools and jiggled with the lock so that eventually it opened and they found their way inside. However, when they looked in it appeared empty. There were no bird-men to be seen, nevertheless, they saw possible enemies earlier so they drew their weapons and prepared for battle, and that was when leaping out from their hidden positions the creatures surprised them!

It was a tough battle and full of the bird-people saying incredibly strange things in even stranger voices that didn't seem to fit their sizes. One said in a deep orcish voice "Xanathar sends his regards." Another noted in a thin nasally voice to "Tie up the pretty boy in the back room and follow the yellow signs in the sewers." While yet one more cried in a scratchy voice that there was "No time to loot the place. Just get him to the boss." Eventually, they managed to slay many of the strange creatures (albeit leaving one unconscious to be questioned later), but a couple did make a getaway and disappeared into the sprawling streets of Waterdeep.

This sign, what does it mean?

After they'd defeated the others they searched the room in full and discovered what seemed to be yet another gang war. One of the groups was all in black and had tattoos of winged snakes somewhere on their neck or forearm. Meanwhile, the other victims were more varied, all human and dressed in a tanned lighter leather than the other gang Appotus noticed that one member had a black tattoo on the palm of his right hand that looked like a circle with ten spokes radiating out from its circumference.

Who needs texting when a paper bird will do?

The bottom floor of the warehouse did not contain too much, mostly just unorganized boxes full of weapons, rations, boots, black uniforms, and other forms of gang gear. However, as the heroes searched upstairs on the balcony they found more junk: moth-eaten bolts of cloth, bottles of spoiled olive oil, and hundreds of pairs of wooden-soled sandals that were all the rage last summer but are now "like so five seasons ago." They also uncovered several offices, and though the rooms hadn't seen much use, King discovered their first magical item: A Paper Bird! However, there was no sign of Floon or this Renaer person, at least until Appotus opened one of the cabinet doors and Floon came spilling out, at least that's who it seemed to be at first.

Dagult Neveremember, Ex-Open Lord of Waterdeep and father of Renear

It turns out that the unarmed man who had been marred by grime and the lingering stench of rancid pickled herring was not Floon, but instead Renaer, who informed the characters rather articulately that he had hidden here, having slipped free of his rope bonds. He also told them that he had offered to escort Floon home, only to be jumped by several assassins who he assumed were meant for him. Plagued by the guilt that he might have been responsible for the kidnapping of his friend he nobly offered to aid the characters search for Floon. He also informed them that the apparent reason for his capture might have something to do with his father, who embezzled a large amount of gold when he was open Lord of Waterdeep, only to then hide it somewhere in the city. He thinks that the key to finding it is a powerful artifact called the Stone of Golorr, which was allegedly in the hands of the Xanathar Guild until recently, as it had been stolen by someone. Renaer then notes that the Zhents might have thought he would know something about his father's great hoard, but he doesn't having been estranged from Dagult for many years.

It's a good thing the heroes saved Renear, else they might have been charged with a crime against a Citizen!

Just as Renear finished up his explanation, however, a contingent of the City Watch charged into the warehouse and began to interrogate, search, and question the characters. Led by Captain Hyustus Staget, the members of this patrol seemed rather competent, and Staget himself is a pretty stand-up officer. He doesn't believe in rumors or gossip, he doesn't drink, and he doesn't let anger get the better of him. Though he is a bit of an uptight man, he's only that way due to his honor and most have a respect for him. Renear actually recognized Staget, and Staget seemed to be acting even more careful than normal around the young lord, overlooking any crimes that they committed by saving him due to "semi-diplomatic immunity." He did, however, warn them that other members of the watch may not be so kind as he is and encouraged them to take careful consideration of the Code Legal. Staget did also, however, make it clear that he cannot send a force into the sewers in search of Floon, as it's possible Floon is a Zhent or Xanathar Guild spy. He didn't, however, prohibit anyone from furthering their own involvement in the Xanathar-Zhent conflict. Letting them go with a bit of advice: "Best not to meddle in criminal matters too deeply. Leave the dirtiest business to the City Watch, and try to keep all blood off the streets, okay?" That last bit seemed to be him hinting that as long as the adventures keep the fighting in the sewers they should be ok.

Even the tiny Gazer can pack a punch!

Encouraged by a captain of the watch, the adventurers followed the clues of the Kenku, following the yellow signs, until they made it into the sewers. After a myriad of twists and turns, with Renear being strangely quiet about such a grimy situation considering his upbringing, the heroes finally discovered a strange ladder, which was guarded by a tiny spherical creature with eyestalks! They defeated it, but not before succumbing to several of its terrible eye rays and headed up the ladder into... the Xanathar Guild Hideout.

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I don't own anything, if I have to take one of these images down I will, I just thought they looked cool.