Haunted Homes and Secret Factions
Sessions 3–5
With Floon rescued and a tavern deed in hand, our adventurers were ready to claim their prize. Unfortunately, the prize was… haunted. But in true Spoopy Inn fashion, that only made things better.
Welcome to Trollskull Manor
Volo, broke as ever, handed over the deed to a run-down building called Trollskull Manor. Thankfully, the haunting was not a hostile one. The spirit, Lyf, turned out to be a friendly ex-bartender who just wanted to see the tavern brought back to life.
Everyone picked out bedrooms. Some debated trapdoors. Plans were made. Before long, the party had committed to restoring the place—with support from the various guilds of Waterdeep (for a price).
While renovations were underway, word of their sewer exploits had started to spread. Two powerful groups came knocking.
Factions, Drinks, and Deepening Mystery
First came Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff of Waterdeep—a serious wizard and head of the city’s elite arcane protectors. She offered training and missions in exchange for loyalty. Their first task? Speak to a monk on a mountain and check if any dark omens are brewing.
Then came Mirt the Moneylender, a retired adventurer with Harper connections, spy networks, and a questionable relationship with alcohol. He invited the party to the opera and offered a few odd jobs: check on a talking horse, and something about a cat and a monster. Eva became convinced Mirt might be her father. He gave her a drink that caused her to seize up and repeat his words briefly, which… wasn’t normal.
Meanwhile, Isac began noticing someone watching him. He tried to keep it quiet, but Eva, naturally, went to confront them. The mysterious strangers handed her a note for Isac. It read:
“Isac, please come back. Things are getting worse at home. We are begging you.”
(with contact details attached)
Neighbour Trouble and Dragon Rides
Before heading out on missions, the group decided to meet their new neighbours. This went… poorly.
Down the street was Frewn’s Brews, a competing tavern run by a grumpy man named Frewn. The group considered burning it down. Instead, they tried to poach one of his staff. He kicked them out. Reasonable.
Next, they visited Fala, a kind wood elf with a rooftop greenhouse and a potion shop. They offered flowers and positive vibes—until Eva confronted Isac by trying to fight him in the shop. Isac ran. Fala was not impressed and asked them all to leave.
Soon after, they accepted a mission from the Blackstaff to investigate a bronze dragon seen over the harbour. After some wild detours (including almost drowning), the group met Zalifarn, a bus-sized, childlike bronze dragon with serious “goldfish with wings” energy.
He wanted treasure from a shipwreck he couldn’t fit into. The party helped, retrieved some loot (silver bars, a monkey statue, a wand), and Zalifarn gave them a ride back to shore—stopping short of the city limits due to the dragon-ward.
A Cat, a Monster, and a Very Bad Day
Mirt’s next mission: rescue a cat from a monster. The party met Uza, a distressed homeowner whose pet was trapped with a creature called a Gazer. They killed the Gazer… but the cat didn’t make it.
They rushed to the Blackstaff Tower, where a priest performed a strange ritual and successfully revived the cat. Uza was grateful, if a little confused about the invoice.
The next day, the paper reported that two Yuan-Ti were murdered overnight—the same ones who had been following Isac. He reported what he knew to the Watch. Eva tagged along, voiced some suspicions, and both were held briefly until Isac’s alibi was confirmed.
Captain Uzmov assigned two City Watch officers to guard Trollskull Manor and keep Isac safe.
Secrets, Side Quests and Stringless Puppets
LDO began researching the magic that keeps dragons out of Waterdeep. They learned it’s part of Aghairon’s Ward, an ancient spell that can only be controlled with the Staff of Dragons—last held by Dagult Neverember, the disgraced Open Lord of Waterdeep.
A letter confirmed that Dagult gave the staff to the one guarding the missing gold. No names. No easy leads.
Meanwhile, Eva shifted personalities again—this time becoming Uno. The group started to realise that these swaps can be triggered by a bonk on the head. Eva/Uno/Ichiro continues to be a mystery.
The party investigated a talking horse—really just an actor named Master Edwards—who overheard two people (a sun elf and a half-orc) planning to deal with the Xanathar Guild. The half-orc sounds a lot like Yagra from back at the Yawning Portal.
LDO went off and befriended a griffon cavalry rider after… eating a donkey.
Back at Mirt’s house, the party reported in, played with chickens, fed those chickens to a griffon, and messed with a magic piano.
One Final Visit… and a Warning
Ichiro visited a priest to ask about his condition. The priest wasn’t sure what Ichiro was, but noted he resembled the stringless puppets from Waterdeep’s annual parade. The next one was only a week or two away.
He stitched Ichiro up as best he could.
The Spoopy Inn was getting more mysterious by the day.
Next up: rare tree protests, falling boulders, manticores, fake guards, and a cryptic monk who disappears into mist. You know—just another week in Waterdeep.
