So much happened in our last game session that I turned it into two chapters.
This chapter is part 2.
Trollskull Alley
Volothamp Geddarm stands in front of a four-story tall building with balconies, a turret, and five chimneys. Despite being abandoned, the building is one of the grandest in Trollskull Alley. The human looks up and down the street and bounces on the balls of his feet when he sees the colorful group who rescued his friend.
Volo waves and smiles, "Oh good you made it!"
"We did. Now where's our reward?" asks Torryn.
"I must confess that I have little coin to spare. But Volothamp Geddarm never reneges on a promise. My friends, far greater than one hundred dragons each, I give you… Trollskull Manor!" He stretches out his arms, showcasing the building behind him, and then hands a scroll to Kairos.
Kled looks indignantly at Volo, "You mean we get a piece of paper?!"
"No, we get a building," says Kairos.
"Not just any building, that is the deed to this remarkable property which is worth far more than a mere five hundred dragons," again he gestures to the building behind him with a smile. "We'll need a magistrate to witness the transfer of ownership, of course. I'll arrange a meeting with one after you inspect the estate and deem it satisfactory."
Torryn and Kled grumble, disgruntled they didn't get money.
When no one objects, Volo claps his hands saying cheerfully, "There's also a unique business opportunity on the bottom floor."
"One more thing before I must leave to meet up with Floon and my family physician. Keys to the place, I only had four made," he hands a ring with four keys to Kairos, continuing, "But you can get a key made at Steam and Steel. They're in the neighborhood southeast of here."
Volo waves goodbye and hurries off. When he's out of earshot Kairos tells the others, "I can just make us another key. Are we going to look at the place?"
The friends go in through the first-floor door. Inside the tavern taproom is filled with mostly broken furniture, casks of wine that have turned to vinegar, and tarnished silverware strewn across the floor among other worthless debris.
Behind the bar, they see a flurry of excited movement swirl in the dust. Mugs and a pitcher that were knocked over stand back up, and the pitcher floats in the air pouring an invisible drink into the mugs. A cloth begins cleaning the bar top, but it's mostly just pushing the dust and dirt around.
Jofina bounces up and down in excitement, "Oh how cute! A magic bar! Feels almost like home.
An hourglass appears in Kairos's eye, then his fur stands on end. The sorcerer says, "I feel a presence, probably a ghost."
Jofina ignores Kairos and dances around the room, imagining what a magic-fey bar would look like, and humming to herself.
"Maybe it could clean better," Torryn says in distaste. The mugs and pitchers on the bar go flying across the room and a bottle from behind the bar flies at the tiefling's head.
"Don't think you want to go insulting them," Kled says and then sits down at the bar. The ghost sets a dirty wine glass on the bar and pours soured wine from a dusty bottle.
There's a knock at the door and Kairos, standing closest to the door opens it. Renaer and Floon come in carrying a small chest between the two of them.
They set the chest down and Floon says, "Thank you again for saving me."
Renaer speaks up, "Volo told me what he was planning and although this place is worth far more than his original offer, I knew you all were expecting gold. So Floon and I worked together to give you the reward you were promised. A thank you for saving us both from the Xanathar guild."
Floon opens the chest and inside are five bulging pouches, each with a hundred gold dragons.
"You conducted yourselves with…" Renaer gives Kled a questioning look, "with honor. And I'd be honored to call you friends. Despite my father's questionable behavior, I am still quite respected in Waterdeep. If you're ever looking for an audience with an influential person in the city, I can help facilitate a meeting. If you need anything don't hesitate to call on me." He writes down his address and hands it to Kairos.
Floon goes around the room and shakes everyone's hand vigorously and also offers his help. The red-blond human writes down his address as well and hands it to Jofina with a smile.
The two men wave goodbye and head for the door. Just before leaving Renaer turns back around, "I almost forgot. If you want to reopen the bar I can connect you to the proper guilds. I also know someone who can give you advice about what the place needs to get up and running." He waves again and goes out the door.
Kled and Torryn immediately grab a coin pouch each. Torryn thinks to herself, I can't believe yesterday I was sleeping on my friend's floors and today I have a hundred gold and a house!
Ivy breaks the tiefling's thoughts, "Want to check out the rest of the house?"
They eagerly leave the tavern and head up the side stairs to the living residence above. Like the tavern's other rooms, the common room they walk into is covered with cobwebs, dust, and harmless rats. White sheets have been thrown over the few items of furniture still left throughout the house. After a quick look around the common room, everyone heads off in a different direction, like a bunch of kids in a candy shop, to explore the house.
Toryyn quickly runs up the stairs to the third floor and takes a quick look around at the three rooms. She peaks in the two bedrooms, one of which has a large bed,
and then pokes her head into the last room. Inside she sees bookcases lining one wall and part of another and some more covered furniture. The tiefling then runs up the next set of stairs into an attic bedroom, with a fireplace! She knows this attic room at the back corner of the house, with rooftop access to the neighboring buildings, is the perfect room for her.
Jofina and Ivy poke their heads through the door on the right of the common room, into a large room with a fireplace and door going out to one of the balconies. They go out onto the side balcony and can see the residential stairway leading to their door. The den has two other doors, one that leads to a hallway and the other out onto another balcony. The two women go out onto the balcony and look down at the street in front of their new house. Across the alley to the south, they see flowers growing in a greenhouse on the third floor of the building.
Kled leaves Skaarl in the common room and goes up to the third floor to look around. On closer inspection than his tiefling friend, he finds that both bedrooms have a private bath, one of which also has a fireplace. In the smaller bedroom, Kled goes through the other door finding the turret and ladder going to a hatch above. He climbs the ladder and goes through the hatch to the turret peak, which is open-walled like a gazebo.
Kairos follows Kled into the hall, but instead of taking the stairs, he opens the door to a small spare room with a fireplace and a balcony off it to the rear of the house. The harengon can there's another room on the other side of the wall and is determined to find it. He makes his way to the den and looks through the open doorway the two elf women left, at the end of the hall he sees another door and hurries toward it. The clockmaker opens the door to another bedroom and thinks to himself, I was right. And I have the perfect idea of what to do with these two rooms.
They meet back up in the common room after everyone has a chance to look at the whole house.
"I want the attic room," Torryn says before anyone else can claim it.
"I'm taking the master bedroom," says Jofina.
Ivy quickly adds, "And I'm going to take the other room on that same floor. I'm going to bring in a bunch of plants to make it more homey. And I'd love to create an area for birds up in the turret peak. Hopefully, it will be high enough that Skaarl won't eat them."
"I love that idea, Ivy! You're trying to bring a bit of the forest to you. I'm sure you really miss your home." Jofina goes over and hugs her friend.
"I'd really like the bedroom on this floor and the spare room. I think we can put in a door between them and then I can move my watchmaking shop here. I've thought about putting in stairs to the balcony to create a separate business entrance to my workshop in the smaller room," says Kairos excitedly.
"I think Skaarl and I will turn the large room on this floor into our room. Skaarl doesn't need to be clambering up and down the stairs. You'll be thankful for that. Believe it or not, she couldn't sneak up on a blind person. Besides, I can make an outdoor space for her on the large balcony the room opens up onto."
A knocking at their door interrupts the conversation and Jofina goes over to open it.
"Oh my! You're a colorful one," says a halfiling with mutton chops and bushy eyebrows. "I'm Broxley Fairkettle. I came to see how it's going, might I come it?"
"Sure!" the eladrin steps back and lets the short man in.
"Welcome to Waterdeep! I'm Broxley Fairkettle, part of the Fellowship of Innkeepers. I just wanted to stop by to wish you well and see how it's going. Are you planning to reopen the tavern downstairs?"
"We're thinking about it," says Jofina cheerfully.
"Good. I'm so glad to see living souls in this place again. I've long believed the place was haunted," says Broxley.
"I prefer to think the place is magical," responds the fey-elf.
He gives her an odd look saying, "Haunted or 'magical', if you're planning to reopen then you'll need to make sure you're members of the guild to avoid any harassment. But I must cut my visit short. I'm a father of nine after all and time is something I don't have a lot of. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course," replies Kairos, "I have at least twenty brothers and sisters back home! My parents are always busy."
"Oh my! That is a lot of children!" Broxley exclaims in shock.
He continues, "Then you'll understand how your compliance with guild rules and regulations will make my difficult life just a bit easier. If there's nothing else, little Susie needs to be picked up before my next meeting. Pleasure meeting you all." Broxley shakes everyone's hand and lets himself out.
"Speakin' of reopening the bar. I've been wanting to try my hand at mass production of my mushroom juice. If I get a good batch I thought we could try selling it," says Kled.
"Are you sure that's the best idea," says Ivy skeptically, "You do remember what happened when Jofina drank it."
Kled chuckles a little.
"I was fine," the eladrin says, "And the effects wore off eventually. I wouldn't drink it all the time, but…"
Kled cuts her off, "Why not?! I drink it all the time and I ain't delusional! ...More than usual…"
Ivy sighs at Jofina, "You're going to be as bad as Torryn."
"What did I do?" asks the tiefling, incredulous.
Throughout the day and early evening, a stream of neighbors stop by to introduce themselves to the new owners.
The first visitor is Emmek Frewn, the human owner of the small tavern on the opposite end of the alley named Frewn's Brews. He inquires about the group's plans for the tavern and frowns heavily when they say they 'may be' reopening it. Emmek then proceeds to talk about how difficult it's been to keep his tavern up and running, trying to discourage them from reopening.
Shortly after Emmek leaves another human knocks on the door. Torryn opens the door and sees a man dressed in a sharp suit standing on landing of the stairs. She lets him in and he introduces himself as 'Vincent Trench, private detective. I stopped by to offer my services. I can discover any secret in Waterdeep, for a fee. You can find me at the Tiger's Eye, on the north side of the alley' He talks briefly with the group but stays less than an hour before rushing out.
Talisolvanar Fellbranch, "Tally", the male half-elf owner and chief artisan of The Bent Nail comes by with a housewarming gift, a wooden sculpture of a dragon, wings folded, perched atop a rocky cliff. 'I'm a master carpenter and woodcarver. I have an excellent selection of wooden shields, bows, crossbows, and other wooden weapons. Also, I can design and craft custom furniture for your new home.' He looks around and wrinkles his nose at the old and well-used pieces of furniture currently in the house.
Their last visitors are a male fire genasi named, Embric, and a male water genasi named Avi. The couple owns the Steam and Steel forge-shop and brings a freshly forged ornate iron lantern for outside the door as a housewarming gift. 'Don't worry if you see smoke and steam billowing from our windows, we make and sell metal weapons, armor, and shields. We're both members of the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers, so you know our work is of great quality.' Avi adds, 'I also belong to the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, and Finesmiths.' This leads to a long conversation about the guild with Kairos who, as a watchmaker, is also a Finesmith guild member.
Over the next two days, they settle into their new house and walk about the neighborhood to get to know the place and the rest of their new neighbors.
The half-elf loved seeing the rainbow of flowers blossoming within the glass walls of the greenhouse the day before, so she woke early today to meet the owner, Fala Lefaliir. They operate their herbalist and apothecary business Corellon's Crown, out of the three-story townhouse. The wood-elf shows the other druid around her greenhouse, pointing out some of her most prized plants. Ivy asks questions about some of the plants and shares a couple of care suggestions. Before the half-elf leaves, Fala tells her she's welcome to visit any time and gives Ivy an ivy as a housewarming gift.
Jofina stops by the Book Wyrm's Treasure in the northwest corner of the alley, purely because she loves the name and because of the picture of a gold dragon curled around a treasure hoard of books and scrolls. Inside she sees the library fills the first two floors of the three-story building, and somehow contains more shelves than the building should be able to hold. The owner, Rishaal the Page-Turner, a short dragonborn of gold dragon ancestry, greets the eladrin and lets her know his library contains almost any book she could be looking for. He inquires if a wizard is among their party. When Jofina tells him 'no', he offers a list of spells he can scribe on a spell scroll for them, should they need them.
On the third day, within a twenty-four-hour period, four messages are delivered to the new residents of Trollskull Manor.
In the morning, while arranging plants in her room, a white cat hops onto Ivy's window sill. The cat says in a male voice, "Interested in joining the Emerald Enclave? Come meet us at Phaulkonmere in the Southern Ward." Ivy gives the cat scritches and then he hops out of the window saying, "Feel free to bring any of your friends, they are always welcome. Do bring your friend Jofina, we are especially interested in the two of you."
Later that day, while setting up his new workshop, an origami bird parchment flies in Kairos's window and lands on the table in front of him. He opens it and reads, Renaer tells us you are a good bet. He bought you all tickets to the opera tonight at the Lightsinger Theater in the Sea Ward. If you are interested, meet Mirt at intermission. Private Box C. Formal attire is required for admittance. Feel free to bring any of your companions to the show, but we are especially interested in you, Ivy, and Jofina. Enclosed in an envelope are tickets for the entire party and a playbill for The Fall of Tiamat, an opera sung in Giant describing the evil dragon queen's defeat at the Well of Dragons.
After the others had gone to bed, Kled stumbles out on his balcony and pees off the side. Skaarl looks at him and he says to her, "Don't look at me like that." She growls and he whispers, "Shh! Them brain weasels probably listening for us." Suddenly a flying snake appears with a parchment tied about its body. Kled exclaims, "Am I hallucinating again?!" Then he grabs the parchment. It reads, Want to be part of something big? Speak to Davil Starsong at the Yawning Portal.
After the midnight hour, while sneaking back into her attic bedroom window, Torryn is started by the same flying snake. After calming her racing heart, the rogue takes the parchment from the creature. She waits until she's relaxing in bed to read the message. Which also reads, Want to be part of something big? Speak to Davil Starsong at the Yawning Portal.
The next morning while soaking in her private bath, Jofina receives a message in her mind from a gentle but forceful voice, I am Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff. Come to Blackstaff Tower in the Castle Ward at once. Bring your friends.
In one grand rescue adventure, the group of new friends has acquired a house and a possible business venture. Along with making a nice start on their reputation throughout the city of Waterdeep.
I hadn't expected to turn this game session into two chapters, but a lot was going on. I felt like the Trollskull Alley and Manor part of the game would get the attention and story it deserves as a separate chapter. And it gave me the ability to add a bit more story to the characters meeting their new neighbors. We met them at the end of the game session and everyone was getting tired, so the dm gave us a quick synopsis, with a few fun details sprinkled in. Everyone is super excited about the house, bar, and the other planned business ventures.
I feel like all the characters were kind of staring dumbfounded at all the NPCs because their lives were pretty much being turned upside down. Torryn has been couch surfing at her friends' places for who knows how long, and now she has 100 gold and co-owns a HUGE house. Ivy is really missing her forest and isn't sure she wants to live in the city. Kairos was living a quiet life happily making watches until his Gran Gran sent adventurers to protect him from the 'dark-cloud'. Honestly, if Gran Gran hadn't meddled he might not have gotten involved at all. Jofina has a hangover and is coming down from tripping on Kled's mushroom juice. So she's just dancing around imagining her magic-fey bar. And a little less than a month ago Kled was riding along the Noxian plains.
I'm so happy I'm not the dm who has to prep for all the different possible directions we might go in the next game. I already know Jofina's choice, in Spring she loves music and song.