SC.1.3 Thick as Thieves

Session Preface

As late evening gives way to the early hours, only the street lamps from Trollskull Alley illuminate the room through cracks or rotted holes in the wood boarding up the windows. The weary floorboards creak beneath the weight as the Xanathar's crew hoists the barrels and crates up from the cellar into the dust-covered tavern hall. Only the hooded, robe-clad tiefling does not participate in the effort.
Instead, you watch as they light a small flame in their hand, placing it into a stone bowl. They tend the flame, coaxing it with gentle breaths, sprinkling it with small, verdant leaves and a sprig of spindly needles. The pleasant aroma of snow-laden forests wafts towards you, fighting against the stench of stale beer and sweat. As the other crew members finish their preparations, the tiefling suffocates the flame with their hand and gently scoops ashes from within the bowl. The ash shimmers as the tiefling whispers and tosses the ashes overhead, dusting the crew.
The room grows quiet, the floor boards muffled against their complaints. The shadows in the room darken, as if the streetlamps outside were suddenly draped in dark, thick blankets. The tiefling, now more an outline of a figure outlined in darkness than the figure itself, nods to you, and leads the Xanathar's crew out into the alleyway.

Session Summary

Hawk, Thaust, and Endriel follow close behind the smugglers, tailing them through winding sewer passageways. Eventually, they come to a small Xanathar's hideout. While the guild members drop their wares and hurry to contend with an ooze that has escaped its confines, the companions quickly deal with a pair of guards and set out exploring down the opposite hall. Passing through several dilapidated chambers, the companions catch reverberated bits of shouting and discover a half-orc Xanathar guild leader standing over and interogating a rank and file member of the Zhentarim.
In the overheard conversation, they learn that the Xanathar Thieves Guild is trying to get information about recent members strangely disappearing. Through frantic cries, the Zhentarim member swears he knows nothing of disappearances, because he's only heard about more gruesome murders of members of the Black Network. When the Zhent has no more information to share, the half-orc turns more violent, but is stayed by another onlooker — a mind flayer. Instead, the mind flayer releases one of its pet intellect devourers to consume the mind of the Zhentarim, effectively killing him and transforming his remains into a spying husk.
Realizing the greater threat, the companions assail the Xanathar guild members, hoping to end the fight before it truly begins. When the mind flayer managed to grasp hold of Thaust as hostage and threaten to consume his memories, the party were forced to stand down and watch the illect devourer continue its transformation.
In exchange for sparing their lives despite knowing of the hideout's location, the mind flayer, intrigued by their competency and bravery, offered a bargain. If the companions could prove their use, they would have opportunities within the thieves guild open up to them instead of being killed here and now. As a first task, the mind flayer demanded they discover the source of weapons being sold in secret to the Zhentarim. As collateral for their cooperation, the mind flayer claimed the weapons the party had been forced to drop in surrender.
With these terms established, the party departed the sewer hideout and returned to Trollskull Alley. Enraged by their inability to save the Zhent and now throwing themselves into an entirely new web when they already have the contract and Hawk's father to deal with, Thaust loses his composure, furious in their failure. Hawk tries to calm his friend, acknowledging the set back as only one of many and their arrival only being the day before. Unsoothed by reason, Thaust departs for anywhere he can find a fight. Hawk gives chase, but loses Thaust in the crowd when he disguises himself to better blend in. Retracing his steps to find Endriel, Hawk is surprised to see graffiti that reads, "The trees will make them remember," a derivation of the Ardeep Avenger's mantra.
Finding Endriel once more, Hawk and he discuss recent events as well as Hawk's time with the Ardeep Avengers. Endriel shares a passing knowledge of Ellian Hood, the name he knows only as a figure who has been giving impassioned speeches in the Dock Ward and Field Ward, rallying the working class against the nobles and particularly the Masked Lords.
As the evening winds down, the companions go their separate ways to rest and recompose themselves. Hawk goes to find Mya at the Raging Lion. Thaust returns to Trollskull Manor to sleep in the courtyard where a misty visage of an elf comes and places a blanket over him. Endriel seeks the quiet hills of the City of the Dead where he meditates, observing a seemingly unnatural fog that hangs over the park. The next morning, Thaust rises early and treks to the market, starting his day with savory pastries made by Claira, a regular of the old Golden Harp.

Session Overview

Date Played:
June 30, 2024
Party:

• Endriel
• Hawk
• Thaust

Time Passed:
Marpenoth 14, 1493 - Marpenoth 15, 1493 AM
NPCs:

• Krentz
• Zemk
• Grum'shar
• Nihiloor
• Floon