Our heroes visit the Yawning Portal to meet up with Jalester Silvermane and report back on their mission. In a moderately busy day for the tavern, the party got involved in two fights, helping separate Yagra Stonefist from a group of brawlers led by Krentz, then helping Durnan and Yagra battle a troll and a group of stirges that emerged from the eponymous portal.

Impressed by their skills (and affordability), Volothamp Geddarn introduces himself and asked our heroes to track and rescue his friend, Floon Blagmaar. Although momentarily embarassed regarding funds, Volo was able to make a small payment of 55 gold, with a promise of another 500 upon successful completion, to be funded by royalties from his famous work.

Our group followed a trail to the docks, investigating Xoblob’s Curiousity Shop and its proprietor, Xoblob, before ultimately tracking Floon to a warehouse. While there, they fought a brief but fierce battle, finding Floon’s friend, Renaer Neverember, some hidden loot and clues that after an underworld battle, Floon was taken underground. Escaping the warehouse just ahead of the City Guard, the group briefly rested while Thiel stashed the treasure, then began tracking Floon through the sewers.

The group encountered and defeated a gazer, indicating they may well be on the right track, and plans to take up the chase at the next session.

Our adventurers accepted a mission from Thiel’s contact, Jarlastle Silvermane. An associate of Jarlastle’s, Mord, needed a scroll recovered, with as few questions asked as possible.

The party entered a cellar at Mord’s direction and came to blows with Gruhoa Vainbumble, a gnomish druid who speaks for the rat-kind of Waterdeep. Initially slowed by Gruhoa’s magic, the team quickly vanquished the majority of the rats, and quick thinking allowed them to put Gruhoa to sleep before she could flee.

Once restrained and awakened, Gruhoa begged for mercy for herself and her bewhiskered friends. The party agreed to release her and allow her to provide first aid for the surviving rats, in return for her promise of good conduct. Zerrick showed off his brains and noted that the sigil on the scroll case was associated with the Zentaurim, but the party elected to keep their promise and returned the scroll to Mord unopened, receiving some  coins from Gruhoa’s stash and modest reward from Mord, all of which Thiel added to the party’s store.

Art by patmos.