Session 3

Tragic Exit
The party locate a secret door leading to a cellar. Heading out, they realize it leads to a home on the corner of Fishgut Alley and Spices Street. It is occupied by the Peabodys, a halfling family. They weren’t aware of the secret door and vow to seal it, though say the characters are free to use it when they wish. Solemnly, they make their way back to the Yawning Portal, covered in what can only politely be described as sewer grime. Egg carries Floon’s corpse on his back.

Aboveground Afternoon
Unwilling to leave the situation as is, Avanna asks Renaer if anything can be done, and he rushes to ask his friend, Vajra Blackstaff, for help. Meanwhile, the party decides a well-deserved break is in order, and take time to bathe and eat lunch. Renaer comes back, panting, having ran all the way to Blackstaff tower and back. Avanna gives him a bagel for sustenance, and Yelmaer takes a mug of ale to go, though Durnan warns him that he’d better return it. Blackstaff Tower is a squat black blot in the otherwise pretty ward. Humble though the edifice might be, there is a vaguely queasy feeling that arises within the party, and the sense that they are being watched- almost as if the tower itself has turned an unseen and wrathful eye upon them. Though unnerved, the party soldier on, and as they go through, they encounter a glowing green apparition of a human man with three parallel scars on his face from his right cheekbone to his jaw. He smiles kindly at them, then leaves.

Upon reaching the top of the tower, Vajra Blackstaff declares that she has no interest in monetary reward - instead, she agrees to resurrect Floon on the condition that Euphrasie join the Gray Hands. She explains that she is well aware of Euphraise’s committment to Waterdeep and her charitable efforts; that, coupled with her excellent magical talent, made her a prime candidate for Force Grey. Euphrasie agrees without much thought, and Floon is resurrected, though greatly weakened. The party relay the news to Volo, who is overjoyed. He reveals that though he lacks sufficient payment, he has a deed to a house in Trollskull Alley, which the party accept instead. The legal fees and witness are handled by Renaer, pleased at the situation’s outcome.

Renaer's Request
Renaer invites them all to dine and rest at his townhouse in the Sea Ward, though Avanna opts to return home instead, the Belabaranta Estate being only a few houses away. After dinner, he makes them an offer. He says that while he knows they’ve just met, they have already saved his life, and asks them to do so again. He explains that truthfully, he wasn’t expecting to be kidnapped by Zhentarim, but drow: a dark elf has been tailing him for the past tenday, and he asks the party’s help in catching them.

Never one to do things for free, the party ask what’s in it for them. Renaer offers 5gp upfront, and that further rewards can be negotiated. The party reluctantly agree, and stake out various locations around the neighborhood, though Avanna is not with them, currently indulging in a fine dinner at her home. Eventually, they locate not one, but two drow, and attempt to catch both. Visk runs across the rooftops to capture one, while Yelmaer weaves through the streets to pursue the other. Visk manages to pin down a young drow male, though he is incensed: he warns the party that they’ve just put young Neverember’s life in grave danger— his presence was the only thing keeping Renaer safe from cult assassins. And since he has been forced to flee, Renaer could be in danger this very minute. Eventually, he scrambles out of her grasp, and he escapes with the other drow, but yelling after them that they shall meet again at the Right Hand of Nessus.

The party makes haste and returns to the manse, and witness cultists and spined devils abducting Renaer from his bedroom. Yelmaer quickly uses a message spell to persuade the spined devils to take him to Trollskull Manor instead of the intended location, while the rest of the party make quick work of the remaining cultists. Floon is unharmed, having been in another wing of the manor, and Renaer’s two servants are fine as well, having hidden immediately upon sensing the approaching danger.