SC.1.5 Tipping the Scales

Session Preface

The morning's festivities give way to the somber ceremonies of the evening. Overhead, the Griffon Calvary circle as the immense bonfire burns at the peak of Mount Waterdeep, honoring the fallen and risen gods of Myrkul, Cyric, Kelemvor, Mystra, Helm. It is said the location of the bonfire is where Ao made himself known to the world in restoring the balance between the realms. The fire itself casts the massive Griffon statue atop the mountain in a sharp silhouette, as if it were a vigilant guardian of the city watching from the shadows. In the streets, only hushed whispers and quiet footfalls against the cobbled stone reverbate through the streets unless the brisk autumn wind sends signposts creaking against their hinges.
As dusk fades into evening with purples swallowing the last streams of orange and gold in the clouds, you approach Crammor's Hold. An otherwise unremarkable ramshackle two-store building, it stands at the back of an outer yard behind a high fence running the length and width of the lot. From a quick, inconspicuous survey of the warehouse from the surrounding blocks, you identify three potential points of entry — the front door, the large sliding warehouse door, and a window on the first floor that's been painted shut. Other windows on the second floor could perhaps also be entries, assuming you could climb to them undetected. The only source of light you can see is candlelight flickering in a second floor window at the back, northern side of the building.

Session Summary

Vaulting over the large stone fence with aid from Thaust, Endriel approaches the door and keenly identifies at least one voice and several steps of footsteps within. Unlocking the gate for his companions, they make plans for Hawk to enter under the guise of invisibility and survey the warehouse. Upon entering, Hawk discovers a trio of Zhentarim lackeys taking inventory. In one pile are the raw goods that keep the Black Network running - food, water, and other basics. In another, he finds more of the illicit goods they move as part of their operations - silks, spices, and precious gems. Finally, in a third set of crates, he sees a Zhent inventorying weapons — notably the exact same make and styles of those found beneath Trollskull Manor. Hawk also takes note of a pair of alert, but inactive constructs that seem to watch over the warehouse, though he remains undetected to them. As he explores the warehouse, he overhears one of the nervous Zhentarim resenting the machines, supposedly built by "carney freaks."
Sneaking past the lackeys to the second floor, Hawk discovers a small office in which he can hear a conversation playing out. A booming voice describes a bloody scene in a Zhentarim safehouse, believing whoever responsible to be, "someone who knows the Network... how we operate" because how else would a safehouse so recently brought online be so quickly compromised? He names those responsible as the "Crimson Cord" though anything else of their identity remains a mystery. The second voice, that of a dwarven woman, sends the first back out to hunt down those responsible. Hawk watche as Ziraj, a massive orc and one of the Doom Raiders, departs the office. In the momentary gap, Hawk slides into the doorway, entering the office and still invisible to Istrid, their primary target.
As Ziraj departs the warehouse, Endriel quickly teleports himself to the rooftop while Thaust magically disguises himself as another Zhentarim member. After a brief, tense exchange with Ziraj, Thaust enters the warehouse, taking over for the most disgruntled of the Zhents. Endriel watches Ziraj head eastward towards the Trades Ward before he is lost to the winding alleys of Waterdeep.
Inside, Hawk reveals himself standing behind Istrid, attempting to magical charm her for a more coordial conversation. The scale sitting on her desk thrums to life, small gem stones in its base glowing as it counters the charming effect. Intrigued by Hawk's presence, Istrid instead invites him to sit and discuss his business with her plainly, without any further tricks or magical manipulations. After a brief banter about each of their true identities, Hawk questions the recent events with the Crimson Cord. He offers to investigate matters, given that he is an indepedent actor and could perhaps better track leaks within the Black Network than they could. After some negotiations, Istrid agrees to let Hawk and his companions access the most recently raided safehouse and look for further intel. She gives them a tenday to bring her the head of whoever is responsible for the Crimson Cord.
As a sort of deposit and sign of good faith, Istrid provides Hawk context and details about the inner workings of recent events in the city, though she leaves out any information relevant to the Zhentarim arms dealer that Hawk requested. As she describes it, following the events in Skullport that saw the Xanathar Thieves Guild weakened, there was an outburst of tension and subtefuge between the two factions, namely kidnappings, increased competition for work, and other cold war efforts to maintain position and territory. This trend escalated to violence at times, but has mostly been an effort to shore up weaknesses and prepare for a longer struggle. This balance shifted when the Crimson Cord came onto the scene a few months ago. Since then, Zhentarims have been attacked, safehouses raided, and operations compromised and often ending in bloody messes. Many of these scenes included warnings, disparaging the Black Network, posturing the Crimson Cord as a better and safer alternative. Istrid warns that the Cord must be dealt with because Waterdeep can only support two illicit operations and the power struggle of which two will remain will be a terrible mess for all involved and the city at large.
In addition to these gruesome murders, there have been a longstanding string of disappearances. These predate the events in Skullport, but have increased in regularlity since. As far as Istrid knows, the disappearances are most often linked with black market or back alley exchanges of artifacts or magical items. Both parties, the product, and the coin all end up never seen again. Though seemingly separate from the Crimson Cord, Istrid implies she would pay in coin and information for more evidence surrounding these events as well.
Hawk and Istrid agree to terms of their deal and potential for future exchanges of information. Istrid provides directions to the safehouse as promised and suggests they speak to Ziraj when they arrive. As they depart for the Zhentarim safehouse, Hawk also notes the advertisement he saw for the Sea Maiden's Faire in Istrid's office, connecting it to the Zhentarim's "carney freaks" comment. Endriel recounts what he knows of the faire, namely that it consists of three ships harbored in the Dock Ward and is based out of Luskan.

Session Overview

Date Played:
August 6, 2024
Party:

• Endriel
• Hawk
• Thaust

Time Passed:
Marpenoth 19, 1493 PM - Marpenoth 19, 1493 PM
NPCs:

• Ziraj the Hunter
• Istrid Horn