NOW LIVE! -- ZEITGEIST: Death of the Author for D&D 5E on Kickstarter! Murder. Conspiracy. Secrets. A remote manor. An adventure for D&D 5E.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 7808173" data-attributes="member: 7015827">The party headed back to the Gatereach guest house, where Rahnee changed into her leathers in preparation for exploring the sewer entrance in the Harbor Loop that Marik had found. Jokull mentioned that he knew its location, having briefly explored it himself once, and could lead the rest to it. (Evidence that the wayward Cormyrian has his own private agenda, as will become more apparent. --R). After descending into the sewers, Aerikoth lit a torch and the party carefully began exploring. They encountered and messily defeated a pack of diseased sewer rats not far from the entry point. Exploring further, Brok-Tul noticed a faded old mark of the Night Masks indicating danger; it seemed that the mark was at least several years old. Brok-Tul expressed his frustration at the apparent abandonment of the sewers by the Masks and neglect of the old methods. During some additional exploring, the party was attacked by several dire rats, which were easily finished off after being hit by Aerikoth's sleep spell.After running into several dead ends in the maze of sewer corridors, the group retraced its steps and ventured into a new area, where they encountered a giant spider. After it was safely dispatched, the party noted that its newly-spun web had blocked the door leading forward. Brok-Tul slashed at the web and managed to only make a small rent in it. Aerikoth applied his torch more effectively, leaving nothing of the web to block the party's path once it had finished burning. The group advanced cautiously into a large chamber with a fetid pool in the center. Brok-Tul spotted a large number of diseased-looking rats congregated there, all of whom rushed the group, along with some of their dire cousins. Once the creatures were all gone, the group explored the remainder of the sewer area, coming upon a room with another exit to the surface. In the room was a green slime, which once killed yielded a single gold piece inside its jellied carcass.The only other thing of note in the chamber was a large, dried bloodstain under the exit to the surface. Brok-Tul identified the bloodstain (from his long experience) as being around a month old - placing it around the same time Captain Yar was reported killed. The stain was smeared leading in the direction of the door, as if whatever had made it had been dragged in that direction. Having finished their exploration of the sewer area, the party clambered up the sewer chain to daylight, coming out in the Harbor Loop district, some distance southeast of the original entrance they had gone down. While the group attempted to clean up, Jokull thoughtfully noted that the coin he had retrieved from the slime was Cormyrian. Based on an idea of Brok-Tul's, the party headed to the Temple District, thinking that perhaps one of the clerics could tell something about the coin's provenance. There, they ran into Marik, who had completed his shopping expedition for the guest house. Although most of what he had asked about would require extensive (and expensive) remodeling, he at least had been able to order a table and chairs for the meeting room.After pausing to wash in a fountain, the party headed to the temple of Tymora, where a priest took the coin for examination, but regretfully declared there was nothing he could do. Rahnee thanked him for his time and made a donation to the temple. Once outside the temple, Aerikoth pulled Rahnee aside for a hushed conversation. Rahnee then inquired after the nearest baths, becoming disappointed when Brok-Tul explained the last public one had closed down some years before after a series of murders on the premises. On the way back to their guest house, Rahnee said she had to stop and use the bathroom.(This first foray by the company into the Westgate sewers was a messy business, evidently. As my predecessor 'R' highlights, it was not the first time for Jokull, however - what was he doing down there? Pursuing his individual vendetta, perhaps. --C)Once back at the guest house meeting room, the group assessed what information they had and re-examined the scribed report on Captain Yar's death. They concluded that they must have discovered his murder site at the Harbor Loop sewer entrance with the bloodstain below it. It was decided to leave a message for their Thalavar agent querying if a Speak with Dead spell had been used on the captain's body.Some other possible avenues of approach against Houses Bleth and Cormaeril were then discussed. Rahnee gave Marik a large gold pouch in case he was able to find Khair, the mercenary from the Black Eye tavern, and convince him to gather information for the group. While discussions were going on, Marik absented himself briefly, returning with a crossbow and modified grappling hook that could be shot from it. Marik mentioned that he had picked it up in Sembia and noted that he might be able to scout rooftops if necessary. Brok-Tul asked Aerikoth if he could possibly charm one of the House guards and extract information that way. Aerikoth indicated he did not know that particular spell, but might be able to acquire it on a scroll. The mage was somewhat skeptical that Gondeth would have the spell, but said he would nonetheless inquire. The party then split up, with Marik leaving the house, saying he would be back shortly.The group passed an uneventful night at the guest house and - except for Rahnee - ate a fine breakfast, reconvening in the meeting room. Rahnee could be heard moaning periodically upstairs; apparently the trip to the sewers had been none too healthy for her. It was agreed to split up and pursue different tasks: Marik was to see if Khair was at the Black Eye and also scout the area around the Blue Banner Inn; Brok-Tul and Jokull were to pursue the idea of renting a property from which to set up Brok's custom equipment business as a cover; and Aerikoth was to check on Gondeth's progress in researching the ancient tome found in Jamorin's belongings. After a few hours, the four reunited over the lunch table in the Gatereach common room. Brok-Tul went to check on Rahnee, who was weak but appeared on the road to recovery.</blockquote>

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