Session 1 part 1
The party had been hired to do a job for Lord Blake, head of the one of the great noble families of Cormyr. They were to investigate the trolls which had recently started raiding on his land. He suspected to a rival lord, but had no proof and wanted to find out more before he tackled the rival in some way he might regret. So he decided to hire some adventurers to investigate without visibly involving him.
An old friend of Lord Blake's, a merchant and wizard called Gert Fyne, ran into the party during their previous adventure in the Dalelands and made the offer. He told them to travel to Suzail, capital of Cormyr, and meet up with a man named Ahmed in or around the caravan park for further instructions.
The party reached Suzail after two weeks on the road. They arrived at the outer gate to St Aelax field, the walled caravan area tucked against the outside of the main city walls, at about dusk. Everybody was ready for a drink and a bed. Most of them were desperate for a bath as well -- they had a strange obsession with baths.
The main gate into the city had just closed for the night, and it would be closed through the following day for a military drill, but the watch sergeant pointed them to an inn serving the caravan trade. Correctly pegging them as adventurers, he also pointed out a "Services Wanted" notice board.
WANTED
Lost cat. Contact Mrs Miggins if you find Snookums.
Wagon loaders for night shift. Contact Merry & Sons (Factors and Chandlers), behind temple of Waukeen.
Party of capable adventurers of good repute. Enquire temple of Waukeen.
The guards grinned at each other as the party exclaimed over the cat. They'd seen this before... The party moved on a little and discussed what to do next.
“So what are we doing?” asked Merlinda.
Griseld half-replied, half-mumbled “So many things to do... Let's see if Ahmed guy is around, den go to da inn... den check out da temple... den look for da cat. Sound good?”
They looked around, getting their bearings. Even the commercial outskirts of Suzail were impressive. A twin line of streetlights, made by students at the Cloaktower using permanent light spells, lined the avenue between the outer and inner gates. The caravan park, a great field of cobbles, opened out to the right. Few wagons were lined up since there were no caravans in town. The splendid temple of Waukeen faced it across the road, and sundry buildings and few market stalls lined the walls.
They wandered trough the caravan park, ignoring a drunken dwarf, until they came to the inn. Lafajet took perfumed foppery to new heights by balking at entering an inn called “The Old Boot”, but they went in anyway. They ate, bathed and slept. The next morning Griseld had a bit of fun by dumping a bath full of cold water over Lafajet and his bed to wake him. He vomited in response, and after breakfast and settling the bill the barkeep told them to find another inn in future.
They met the dwarf drunkard outside again and asked him if he knew an Ahmed. He told them he did, Ahmed was a good chap who slipped him some food occasionally to wash his ale down, and he whilst he hadn’t been around lately the bartender at the Boot would know where to find him. “But we’re barred” said Mabel. “Oh aye? Mishelf tae”, said the dwarf, “there wash shome mishundershtanding over a bill. Ale, ale, I need more ale…”
The party weren’t really into initiative or lateral thought this side of noon, so rather than looking for Ahmed they went to the Temple of Waukeen to see about the advert. Merlinda (who had a record of blowing the party’s cover) was true to form – she told the first priest they met that that they were working for Lord Blake. It wasn’t a complete disaster -- impressed by the name, he took them to the high priestess Soippi Bine straight away.
Soippi, a gnome who clearly brooked little nonsense, eyed the party keenly and said “Yes, I think you might do. Your equipment speaks of experience. As you know, we wish to hire some adventurers.”
Griseld studied her own armour intently. “It talks?” She frowned to herself.
Lia uttered a cautious “Yes…” and the party all waited for the priestess to go on. Well, all except Lafajet who exclaimed “I am not for hire, that is dirty.”
Soippi seemed incensed. “Dirty? Who is this fool? Do you know sir that you are in the temple of Waukeen, goddess of trade? Fair work for good money is a pillar of our credo.”
“And?” said Lafajet. She glared at him, challenging.
“Lafa, please behave” hissed Lia. “Don listen to him. He mad today” added Griseld.
It happened that Lafajet was mooching around at the back of the group occasionally juggling healing potions, while Griseld was stood at the front. Soippi leaned towards the barbarian and looked up. “Can you control the brat?” she hissed? “Oh ya” said Griseld.
“Very well, I will outline our proposal.”
She explained that an artefact known as known as “Cool Judgement” had just been stolen from the temple. It was not magical and had no particular powers, though it would be worth a fair amount as a gem. But it was priceless to the temple, since it was formed from a tear of joy that Waukeen had shed at the end of her imprisonment by the demon prince Graz’zt. It looked somewhat like a large pearl set in gold. She had communed with the goddess, and showed them the results.
Was Cool Judgement stolen by servants of a rival deity?
NO
Did they steal for financial profit?
NO
Did they steal to gain influence over the church of Waukeen?
NO
Is the item still in Suzail?
YES
Is it above ground?
NO
Is it below a building with normal access?
NO
Is it defended?
YES
Could the servants of this temple overcome the defenders?
POSSIBLE, BUT UNLIKELY
Grant us your wisdom, o Merchant's Friend.
THE BEST TRADE IS BENEFICIAL TO BOTH PARTIES
Soippi explained that the last question was ritual, habitually added to the end of all communes with Waukeen, but she interpreted it as advice that the temple should hire professionals to recover the artefact. She added that they had no idea who would have stolen it, but that they must have been able to cast Dispel Magic to get past certain wards.
The Waukenites offered highly specific rewards: 5000 gold for the return of their artefact, 1000 gold to find out who did it and why, and another 1000 to make sure whoever did it “couldn’t try again”.
to be continued...