Williby speaks, "I can go and have someone from the Twin Sons Pub ask him to meet you there. Of course he may bring Constables with him but at least you won't be in the precinct where he has the advantage".
Crier sighs, "Here, place those manacles on me first. Then we should all wear them, including you Williby. Then at least we will know all here can be trusted..."
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Bannock nods. "Sound wisdom. Let us seek to know that which we would presume."
Bannock goes first, putting on the manacles for all to see, then he puts them on the others in turn.
When done, he says, "Now that are assured that none of us are vile agents of Chaos, send your messenger. No doubt he shall bring his toadies, but then we shall bag a large cache of heretics one one swift blow!"
Indeed all are who they appear to be once the manacles are locked into place.
Williby heads to the Pub with both Dunstan and Derrick accompanying him.
Soon enough all three return.
Williby breathes in appearing tense, "The message has been sent for him to meet with all of you in the next three hours, that is a hour before sundown. I am no warrior, I will stay here and see if any of my tomes has information that can aid you further. I'll be locking my door and not leaving".
He ties a green scarf around his neck, "If you encounter me without this, know that I am not me..."
Crier cracks his neck, "One thing is not clear he states as you all walk out the door, what is connection of these murders in Blackchapel to the murders in the home of your friend Kensignton?"
Crier cracks his neck, "One thing is not clear he states as you all walk out the door, what is connection of these murders in Blackchapel to the murders in the home of your friend Kensignton?"
Khalid scratches his chin in thought as he speaks. "The murders at Kensingtons fit a common theme with the others. All of the blood as been drained from the corpses and some magic was used to preserve them."
The group heads to the Pub leaving Williby behind his locked door and establishing a knock that will allow him to know who you all are.
As you walk through the streets of the district the townsfolk seem subdued though some call on Crier asking him if he and the Constables have caught the murderer yet.
Just as you arrive at the pub a woman calls to the Constable, "Oh Constable! Can you tell the Inspector that I repaired the cloak he dropped off at my ship this morning? He can pick it up tomorrow, I am staying with my sister in Southshore tonight can't be too careful these days so I am leaving now to be inside for nightfall!"
Dunstan is still confused by the events of the last few days but he comprehends how deep the trouble he is in. He sticks close to Marco and Khalid.
I know that lady talkin' about the Inspector. She is Ire McMoran, a local siemstress. She says she'd repaired his cloak, and we found that cloth at the scene o'the murders, no? Derrick, ya still got it? Let's see if'n it matches what she worked on. Hey, Ire! Can I speak at ya moment?
Ire pauses and looks at Marco. She appears a bit agitated but stops, "I suppose. You look familiar, I know I have seen you around the district but I don't think I have ever had you as a customer, have I?"
No, I havena' had the pleasure. Marco's the name. My friends and I were wonderin' if the work ya did recently on the Inspector's coat replaced this 'ere piece of cloth? Mayhap, it can be used t'fix or patch another part in the future?
Ire inspects the cloth, "I don't think so, this appears to be dirty with something crusted on it. How odd that you should have the exact missing section of cloth, an amazing coincidence really!"
Crier's eyes go wide, "Are you sure Madame?"
Ire shakes her head affirmatively, "Oh yes I am quite sure".
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Bannock walks up to Marco and bends his heavily armored form close to his ear. "What have we here? Evidence that the Inspector was definitely at a murder? And may I assume that the Inspector was not forthcoming that he knew of this? Which would rule out the chance that he was simply investigating it and did not tell us?"
Bannock nods to the woman Ire and says, "Thank you. Your services have been a great help to us." He motions to the others to have a group huddle a little distance away, and continues speaking low.
"It seems that we have incontrovertible evidence that the Investigator is indeed at least one of those that we seek. Shall we still go through the pantomime of offering him the manacles, or can we attempt to seize and neutralize him right away, preserving the element of surprise, since he will most definitely resist?"
Crier shrugs, "It may be solid evidence but that does not mean that he will go quietly. I will accuse him and attempt to manacle him. If his men attack me I assume you will all come to my aid. I believe we should not kill any of them, especially if a fight breaks out in the Pub. Agreed".
Got the bloody bastard this time! Aye, sounds like a plan, but be careful. Havin' fought these blokes before, I'm expectin' it t'get bloody.
You arrive at the pub and settle in. Marco sees a few familiar faces but this early in the day even here in Blackchapel pubs are not very busy. Koth Rigsby is there behind the bar working and his wife is waiting tables, clearly Koth's workers must be too spooked yto come to work as you have never seen her wait tables before Marco.
Mort is present and picks up his pint bringing it to your table, "Another one last night eh? This is terrible just terrible. You blokes have any leads on shutting this down yet?"
Derick keeps his head down but his eyes alert and does not respond to Mort.
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Before leaving for the pub, Bannock takes up Crier's statement. "A man who is proven a Heretic can have no guarantee of safety among the Divinity's loyal subjects. -IF- he agrees to be shackled AND, though shown as a filthy Xeno, repents and swears to go meekly before into custody and submit to justice, THEN he shall have safe passage.
But to stand accused of heresy and resist absolution is a declaration of heresy in itself.
Then there will be no quarter."
At the pub Bannock deigns not indulge in beverages. Not now, not so close to action. After will be the time for steaming platters and pitchers of wine.
Bannock responds to Mort. "Aye. There are leads to be had. But linger here not. There is official business to be done, citizen. We shall require...space."
Marco smiles at Mort after Bannocks words,and nods.
Be be makin' yerself scarce, Mort.
Marco approaches Koth.
G'day, Koth. Havin' a meeting here with the Inspector and some local constables, and such, but things are a little testy a'tween us. We have some info that may tie some o'the law enforcement to the killings. Keep that under yer hat, eh? This could get a little sticky. Keep yer eyes peeled.
Mort's eyes go wide, "Alright then, keep yourself safe my friends, not too many people are willing to buy drinks in these parts..." He stands up and heads out the front door.
"Why the hell did you pick here to meet? I got an establishment ta' run Marco...." He pauses and sighs, "Well, if you think that this is gonna stop the murders then fine but when they come in we'll be heading to the back me 'n the wife".
She heads over to the table where the rest of the party is seated trying to keep up a cheerful facade, "Anything else gents? Slow day and with Mort gone you're the only customers!"
Sorry, Koth. I didna' pick it. I just suggested Blackchapel, and the Inspector picked it. It may be a good idea t'get outa sight.
Khalid nods. "We will keep the collateral damage to a minimum. Though in the future maybe you can claim your tavern as the place these infamous murderers were finally apprehended."
Just as Koth begins to pack up the door opens and the Inspector and three Constables step inside of the Pub.
"Gentlemen, this is a most unusual request. My deputies believe we should arrest you for your arrogance. Who are you to dictate to me the terms of a meeting. But I assured them that you aid has been invaluable to this investigation. Now then, explain to me how you lost the only suspect and the man I believe is the culprit placing this entire city in danger for a fourth consecutive evening!"
Koth and his wife both look to you worry crossing their faces.
Constable Crier stands up, "Inspector, before these gentlemen explain anything, I will need you to identify yourself and your men to ensure that you are indeed who you say you are".
The Inspector looks to Crier, "Who are you and where are you from?"
"Shadewell", responds Crier.
Logan smiles, "Out of your Jurisdiction are you? And a lowly Constable, making demands of an Inspector and his men? What gives you that authority?"
"I currently liaison for the Mayor Inspector. Now if you would kindly".
One of the Constables accompanying the Inspector interrupts, "That's enough! You lot explain yourselves straight away or we'll be hauling you in!"
You sit in the Inn famous for its entrance into the "deepest dungeon" being badgered, yet again, by a group of overzealous young adventurers. Four in all, a human warrior Apex, an elven ranger Keeley, a dwarven cleric of Tymora of all things Cobalt, and a half-orc wizard Snelling the Odious, you did not even knew a half an orc could read much less cast a spell.
"Come on Zook! We know you've been down there yourself, just make one delve with us so we can get our feet wet. We'll even give you one half of what we find on this first outing and pay your fare up and down. What do you say?"
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Bannock has shield in hand, and he points at the Inspector with his heavy mace, his face contorted in purest odium.
"Be silent, knave! You stand accused of heresy against the Divinity of Man, and crimes most foul against mankind itself! Even now I hear nothing from you to state your innocence, only the delaying word-play of a cunning Xeno!
Failure to answer to an accusation of Heresy and submit to a test of Purity is an act of Heresy itself! You will submit to Constable Crier's REASONABLE request, or you declare yourself a heretic here and now!
And speak not of the distracting minutiae of jurisdictions! These crimes have gained the attention of the Divinity, and all those who are Man fall under our jurisdiction. All here have already been proven of purity, and you shall now do likewise!"
Marco just smiles as he watches Bannock at work. He gently rests his hands on the hilts of his weapons.
Looking forward to it Zook says to the group. He joined the group to get of his last scam. How was he to know the woman he cheated was one of the masked rulers of Waterdeep. Zook hands his coin over and still keeps up the act of being shy. Zook keeps his eye on the Wizard half Orc. He then follows the young group in.
Zook looks at young group, This is a good group to hide in. Can't be seen by anyone really local. I need to get north to Neverwinter, there I can lay low for while. Zook looks around the Inn after entering to see if there anyone local.
You look around the room and do not spot anyone you know, at least not anyone who would want anything from you or back from you.
Apex approaches the barkeep and hands the man a stack of 10 gold coins, "Five for the way up and five for the way down!"
The barkeep grins, "Smart lad. Alright down you go!"
The crowd begins to hoot and holler as they place wages on whether any of you will return, how many of you will return, how many limbs will be lost, how much treasure you will find, how much of your current gear will be missing when you return and on and on...
The man heads to the center of the room and cranks the handle bringing a large water bucket up from somewhere down below. One by one you and the lads and lasses are lowered into the portal into the deepest dungeon.
You know that there is a portal down here to Neverwinter, you just need these rubes to help you find it and provide shielding form the denizens of this dreaded place.
The last echoes of the crowd's toasts and betting whisper about you as you descend deep into the well. As the flickering light from the torches above fades, a chill overtakes you, and you find yourself still sinking with no end in sight. You drop slowly and steadily deeper on the rope, almost as if you were the bait on an unweighted fishing line in placid waters, but the cold and the quiet of the well that surrounds you is anything but peaceful. The silence has more of a waiting quality to it. After being lowered for what seems like an eternity, you at last see the bottom. Below you stretches sand-covered ground and whatever fate awaits you in Undermountain.
Several inches of sand covers the floor of this roughly square room. Broken and dented shields hang on stone walls covered with chalk and charcoal graffiti. The ceiling looms a mere 10 feet above you -- as it does in the hallway that leads out of the room to the south -- but a 30-foot-diameter hole in the ceiling forms a chimney that rises up over a hundred feet.
The shields decorating the walls appear worthless, although some bear the mark of noble houses and dwarf clans. The writing on the walls consists of dire warnings, snippets of popular songs and poetry, and the crude commentary common to graffiti everywhere. It's written in Common, Elven, Dwarven, Halfling, Gnome, Orc, and Goblin.
The wizard casts a spell illuminating the area with a soft glow at the end of his staff. "I wonder if any of this is worth reading"..." he muses aloud.
The Inspector shakes his head, "A fanatic, you all decided to bring along an out of jurisdiction Constable and a fanatic. Now I know you have something to hide. You are all under arrest. Drop your weapons and we will bring you in peacefully, don't and well..." he draws his sword to emphasize what will happen if you don't.
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Rage without peer consumes Bannock, and he shakes with fury. "Fanatic?!? You would call a righteous servant of the Divinity a fanatic? Perhaps, from the depths of treason ANY noble intention would appear as lunacy.
You have disdained a test of Purity and insulted an officer of the Divinity. I pronounce you, and any who aid you, as HERETIC!
You must now be purged to prevent your contagion from infecting any other loyal subjects of Man."
Marcus adds...
Inspector, if you're innocent o'the charges, then just prove it. We 'ave a bit o'yer clothes at the scene of the escape, and yer seamstress confirms it. I dinna' think you'll be arrestin' us today, when yer the one bein' accused, eh.
"It’s treason then", replies the Inspector. His three Constables draw their blades as well.
Constable Crier draws his short sword and charges at the constable flanking the Inspector to his right
using the flat of his blade he scores a powerful hit on the man who grunts in pain the at the welt which will soon rise on his forearm.
Crier calls out, "Seek only to subdue the Constables!"
Khalid nods to Crier. "Indeed. Good night gentlemen."
Casting sleep as a 2nd level spell at the constables/ Inspector.
Roll 5d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures
this spell can affect. Creatures within 20 feet of
a point you choose within range are affected in
ascending order of their current hit points (ignoring
unconscious creatures).
Starting with the creature that has the lowest current
hit points, each creature affected by this spell falls
unconscious until the spell ends, the sleeper takes
damage, or someone uses an action to shake or slap the
sleeper awake. Subtract each creature’s hit points from
the total before moving on to the creature with the next
lowest hit points. A creature’s hit points must be equal
to or less than the remaining total for that creature to
be affected.
Undead and creatures immune to being charmed
aren’t affected by this spell.
At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a
spell slot of 2nd level or higher, roll an additional 2d8 for
each slot level above 1st.
Zook looks around and realizes he needs to move onto the portal. He begins to investigate the area as he slowly walks around the area. Zook looks over the half orc wizard and say By any chance is anything in here magical?. Zook is hoping the half orc will be useful. He then says to the rest of the group So what treasure are we looking for ?
Despite his training and natural agility, Derrick is slow to react when the fight breaks out. Ah, Bannock. You haven't changed a whit. The monk kicks to his feet quickly, sending the chair and table both crashing to the ground, and although he's the last to move, he leaps forward with grace and power, launching into a furious kick at one of the constables, followed up by a rapid punch to the temple.
Though the Inspector is arogant, he and his men are not ready for the fury brought to bear.
Khalid's spell drops both of the Constables flanking Logan with his magic.
Crier's blade occupies the third Constable leaving the way open for Marco and Dunstan to strike the Inspector!
Marco deftly maneuvers in and attacks the Inspector with his Rapier and Shortsword of Qickness. As a bonus action he stabs a second time with the Shortsword.
You understand teh following passages scrawled on the wall in common and gnomish:
• "Hesod -- Went to check out a strange music only Jayce can hear. Have a few drinks until we get back." (written in Common)
• "It's been two days. Leave a message if you have returned. -- Hesod" (written in Common)
• "It's been two weeks. I can wait no longer. I seek you out myself. None of our 'friends' would come with me. If you are not with me when you read this, then I am dead. Avenge my death on those who abandoned us in our time of need. -- Hesod" (written in Common)
• "Here there lies a secret door, but you will not find it or, you won't be able to open it, and then you'll rot here in this pit. Ha ha." (written in Common)
• "Beware the she-wolf and her night hounds. They killed Sarth." (written in Common)
• "You came here unbidden, now you'll die in this midden." (written in Common)
• "Tymora, remember me." (written in Common)
• "Beware the eastern passages. The Metal Mage has made them his home, and he is not to be trifled with." (written in Common)
• "Sorci Laughmantle died somewhere in that maze. She wears a heart-shaped brass ring. If you find her, say a prayer over her bones. We didn't have time." (written in Gnome)
The Half-Orc casts Detect Magic and shakes his head, "Nothing magical here, we must go through that portal that beckons us..."
Marco attacks the Inspector in a flurry of slashes although only his second attack draws blood the Inspector is clearly agitated by the turn of events against his favor.
Zoot nods in agreement. He preps his offense spell and move toward the portal.
You and your new marks...er companions, head through the portal that leads out from the Yawning Portal. The raucous sounds of the bar above die away completely as your eyes begin to adjust to the darkness of these underhalls.
At you feet rolling towards you and the rest of the group is a fine layer of mist covering the floor.
Keeley asks the half-orc, "Snelling, you read about this in any of your research". The half-orc shakes his head a sour look on his face, "No but then I was told the first few rooms were almost always uninhabited, perhaps something has taken up residence here and this is part of its defenses".
"Cut the chatter and focus", snaps Apex.
Zoot looks at the mist, he notices nothing expecting it to be normal. Zoot says Your the mighty warriors, does anyone have a map ? He hopes someone does this getting tedious, surely he should be Neverwinter by now. Unless the Red Wizard he swindled at the High Forest found him.
Zook's own voice echoes back to him. A response if there is one appears to be lost in this mist.
As you slow your pace you feel an intense heat.
Shifting away from the source of the heat you touch what feels like a wooden door but there was no door in the portal.
Stepping away from the wooden structure to try and get your bearings the mist begins to feel clammy and the scent of the sea fills your nostrils.
Finally the mists part and you stand back in the halls of undermountain. Or do you? The floor beneath you is cobblestoned. The walls are not tunnels but the alleyways of a building! A light at the end of the alley flickers oddly. Are you in Neverwinter? If you are, your young companions are nowhere to be seen.
Behind you, you hear the scraping of steel on stone. A man climbs out of the sewer not 10' behind you!
Wide eyed and with no shirt beneath his jacket, the man eyes you in terror, "Who, who are you?"
With Marco charging ahead Dunstan draws his great blade instead of his pistol and likewise charges the Inspector.
Inspector AC = 19 (Leather Armor +2 & Ring of Protection) HP = 56/77 Attack +8 - Damage by Weapon Short Sword 1d8+4 + Poison
Inspector Attack Marco Attack #1 . Damage . Attack #2 . Damage .
The Inspector narrowly dodges Dunstan's powerful swing. The Inspector's swordwork is fast and short. Two successive cuts with a Longsword suddenly in his hands slices the left arm of Marco. "None of you shall leave here alive!" he hisses.
Derrick's kick slams into the side of the last Constable his fist missing because the man staggers so badly, "Inspector, we must run, they seek to kill us!"
The man cowers against the wall in fear!
Bannock's power seems ineffective versus the Inspector.
Crier places his blade at the throat of his fellow Constable, "Yield!" The man drops his weapon immediately.
In the meantime, Dunstan swings at the Inspector yet again his face a mask of rage
but the Inspector's armor deflects the blow.
Zoot looks at the mist. Looking around and seeing himself alone. Zoot decides to make himself invisible. He stands still to see what happens next.