(G203 13/06/2014 via Roll20 - JF(GM), AP, Mira, Alex)

(G203 13/06/2014 via Roll20 - JF(GM), AP, Mira, Alex)

[And now, dear reader, is probably a good time to go back to Waterdeep for a while and write of things that
were going on back there. While I was getting more and more involved in things that were none of my business
in Cormyr, Waterdeep, of course, was still troubled and many interesting things were happening.

So, to start this next segment of these tales of adventure we must first go back a few days to two days before
Cavu joined Fenrir, Corum and the rest in their descent into the Undermountain. Cavu was a busy man at this
time and had many things to arrange. This is the story of one of those arrangements...]

DAY 215    (12th Marpenoth)

If you remember, one of the crew of the Sea Wyvern had been an athletic young man called Mathmoss. He didn't
stay as part of the crew very long, but had been present for a lot of interesting occurrences.
He joined us shortly after Retzal had left and helped out during the fight with the pirates of 'Purity's
Prow'. He'd been with us at Port Nyranzaru, been in the fights against the flotsam ooze, both of the giant
octopuses and the sea hag.
He'd been at Fort Greenock where we had fought the goblins and spiders. He'd been in the fight against the
pirate ship that had been Captain Crispy's previous command. He'd been with us when the Sea Wyvern and the
Blue Nixies had had their famous fight with the sea hydra.
Still, he pretty much left us without warning when we'd arrived at Renkrue. Perhaps he'd had enough fighting,
although he'd always seemed to enjoy leaping about in the rigging during the battles and using his strange
eastern powers to defeat his enemies.
Perhaps he's simply amassed enough treasure to want to go and spent it somewhere?

In any event, he was now in Waterdeep and had seen the Sea Wyvern anchored in the harbour and decided to
look up his old shipmates.

He found Lirith, Skald, Meree and Liamae still taking it easy in Warmbeds, Dockward. They had plenty
of treasure still and were having a good enough time relaxing. Nobby was at Hova Farm though, helping out
with the sick and starving there and Veddic was just about to leave for the Undermountain.

He said he was in search of adventure so they told him,
'Try asking for Cavu the Cursed in the Singing Sword. Veddic is always up there and getting into all sorts
of trouble!'

He thanked them and headed up to the Market Square. He noted that their were scaffolds and pyres in the
square. So it was true, he thought, Waterdeep is burning demon worshippers these days.

The other two gentlemen pertinent to this tale were already at the Singing Sword. They were Cale Cresthill,
a young dervish from Anauroch, his tribe had been broken up by the orc horde and he was in Waterdeep to
rest for a while before going back east, and Pensato, a young bard and storyteller from parts as yet to
be discussed.

Mathmoss entered the tavern at around noon and sat down at a table. Not long after a slight elven bard
came down from upstairs. Looking hungover he ordered some breakfast. Some patrons asked him for a song
and he strummed his lute and gently sung a few verses from Fenrir's song:


[ 'The Staff of Thunder' is presented in full elsewhere in my journal.]

...
There once was a building that brewed whiskey and beer,
But now is purpose is making devil's tremble with fear,
The Brewery Gang are now living with-in,
Fenrir Thunderstaff and his brethir-in,
...

Later two men came and talked to Cavu (for it was he) in low voices and left again. Later still, Mathmoss
observed another man come and hand Cavu a roll of paper. (I will take a guess and say this was my brother Corum!)

Pensato had not long arrived in the tavern and was interested to meet another bard. He came and sat with
Cavu and got him to talk of his 'troubles'. Just as he was getting into full flow, he suddenly jumped
up and said, 'Yes ok Mother, I'm coming. No need to shout!'

He left two gold on the table and told Pensato he would be back in just a minute. Astounded at the outburst
Pensato ordered more drinks.

Another man, grumbled a warning to Pensato along the lines of 'Watch what you are doing with that one!' and
left.

Cavu returned and talked to Pensato.
'I need someone to do me a favour and travel up river. My usual helpers are all getting ready for a trip
into the unknown and I am getting short of useful people. You seem trustworthy. Perhaps you and the tough
looking fellow over there [Indicates Cale] and the young fellow standing behind me pretending not to be
here [Indicates Mathmoss] could do this for me? I'll pay 200 gold each. I'm not usually in the habit of hiring
strangers in the tavern, but I'm in a hurry!'

Cale came over, 'What's this?' and Mathmoss shrugged and sat down.

'Who was the guy that just left?' asked Pensato.

'That was Alduin. He's a good fellow, but I think he misses home. He recently saw some things that are best
left unspoken of.. well you know what the city is like at the moment.. and I think it will take him a time
to recover. Which is a shame as he has been up the river before and would have been useful, but no matter.'

Cavu handed over the money,
'Buy what you need. I will go arrange a guide for you. If I can find him I'll send him right here. A gnome
called Humperdink. He knows the Sword Coast like the back of his hand. I need you to go to Hommlett and ask
for a cleric called Freddorick, he knows the location of a Yuan-ti portal. The last one from the troubles the
city had two years ago and the only one the Grey Hands did not close. It, I hope, leads east to a town called
Kingsholm and if all goes well I will soon need to get there as fast as I can.'

They spent the rest of the afternoon getting supplies ready for their trip east.

By four o'clock Cavu had returned. He then proceeded to get drunk and sing merry songs for the benefit
of the tavern patrons.

Cale, a splendid dancer, began to dance with the pretty girls of the Singing Sword. Seeing this, and liking
it Mathmoss pulled an elven lass from the crowd and joined the dance.

Cale and Pensato went to bed at a sensible time, but Mathmoss tumbled a local wench upstairs in his room
and was up half the night.

DAY 216    (13th Marpenoth)

Humperdink was just about ready to go when the all got downstairs for breakfast. Mathmoss had purchased
a horse, but the rest would be on foot.

As they left the city via the southern gate a madman shouted at them and all the other passing people.
His words were something like:
''
Beware the lord of serpents! The Living Lord of Serpents!  For countless eons he healed! The madness!!
The madness of his serpent demon form!! And yet, he prefers the serpent form! At least in Part!
Fear the lord of serpents!! Tremble mortals! The Serpent Lord! Aroo!
For he is a jealous lord and he is jealous of all other gods! Jealous! Wibble!
He wages war with a serpent staff and rod and - he comes! He comes!!! He will bring down every nation with
an army of serpents and monsters! Aieeee!!!!'

Humperdink lead them along the main road for a while, then onto a smaller road and then finally onto a small
track that followed the river. There had been heavy rains lately in this region, a blessing to the drought
struck farmers, but this had swollen the river and flooded the banks.

As they walked they saw a small child stranded on a muddy bank, cut off from the riverside by twenty feet
of fast flowing, churning, muddy water.

They didn't hesitate to try and rescue her though, and after many attempts at jumping and being pulled back
by rope, Mathmoss eventually got her to safety. Pensato did his best to sooth her and offered to tell her
a story, but when she said she wanted a story about a bear, he was tongue-tied. He knew a thousand stories
but none about a bear that were suitable for a four year old girl!

She was cold and shivering though, so Mathmoss wrapped her up in his magic bedroll. Humperdink lead them to
an abandoned farmhouse where they lit a fire and warmed her up.
Judging by her clothing they reckoned her to be a merchants daughter. When asked where she was from she
said,
'Number 6, Rusty Way, Goldenfields.'
'What does that mean?', quizzed Pensato.
'It's her address.', grumbled Humperdink.
'I ran away from some baddies!', gasped the little girl, 'Green with big teeth!'
'How many?' asked Cale
'Twelvty!'

After lunch they continued on their way, Pensato carrying the girl on his back.

In the afternoon they came upon a crossroads where nine cages had been placed, each of which had a dying
orc inside it.
One of the orcs groaned, 'Have mercy human! Some water...'
Cale questioned the orc who said,
'I was part of the horde, but my chief wanted to stay and raid more when they moved north. We were caught
and put here.'
Cale took out his water skin and drank from it to torment the orc.

They moved on and as they left the last orc called out to them. This one was smaller than the others,
'Hey! Humans! Take pity on me! I am just a child! I know where they buried the treasure! Half the
hordes treasure is buried not far from here. I can take you!'
'We care not for treasure!', said Cale with dignity and turned to leave.
'Uh! Wait just a minute!', said Mathmoss and Pensato simultaneously.