(G409 02/05/2020 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM)) WA64

(G409 02/05/2020 via Roll20 - AP, JF(GM)) WA64

[Very sorry dear reader! At the same time as I was having all my business on the Sword Coast Fenrir and Veddic were still in Westgate and the 'FAMP'. Here are some of my notes on what I have learned of their adventures.]

DAY 464 (9th Kythorn)(June) cont...

What exactly happened in the flooded dungeon next I am not all together sure, but I do know that Fenrir, Veddic and the Lady of the Mountain made it back to their base camp safe and sound with some more shards and some treasure.

I suspect Fenrir was losing interest in the FAMP though, as he next declared 'Mission  Accomplished' and headed all the way back through the Plane of Shadows to see Random on Spectre Island.

He was correct, I suppose, the Lady and the Druids were starting to bring things back. They were recovering a small part of that world, something, perhaps that could grow to be something bigger.

It was late when he got to the island, but Random was eager to tell Fenrir what he had been up to. He had managed to get rid of Hammersong, sending him on a quest, and told Fenrir that becoming the leader of the City Watch was 'as good as in the bag'.

All Fenrir had to do now was go to a ceremony in a few days and be officially anointed by the Croamarkh.
'It will be at his house, old chap, and while you are there take a look around at how
secure the place is.'
'Why?' asked Fenrir, although he could guess.
'Well, we may have to bump the old fellow off,' admitted Random. 'We'll see how it goes!'

One other thing that came up was this;
'I've managed to make good progress with that elf girl of yours. I've not, well, you know, done the business. I wouldn't do that to you, old chap, but lets just say she's primed and ready to go.'

Somewhat bemused, Fenrir said his farewells and along with Veddic he headed back to Westgate.


DAY 465 (10th Kythorn)(June)

Fenrir went to work today. As far as his secretary, Mia the Magical, was concerned he'd never been away of course, as Random, in disguise, had been filling in for him.

His new job, as head of the Magical part of the City Watch was not overly taxing.

In the evening he met his girlfriend, Werren. He took her out for a meal at a new restaurant, lavishing a hundred gold on the occasion.
He decided not to 'despoil' her though, in the end, knowing how much the idea of female virtue was valued in Westgate.


DAY 466 (11th Kythorn)(June)

At work today Fenrir was visited by Captain Horang Croster  and his two daughters  - Merange and Nettle. He was the merchant that Fenrir had rescued from pirates some time back and the Captain happily rewarded Fenrir with a chest full of 1000 gold coins.
He also said his ship 'The Lucky Aubergine' was sailing soon and he could offer his young benefactor some cargo space. Instead Fenrir sold him all the wine he had bought back from Grappa Valley at a reasonable price.

Also the invite for tomorrow night at the Croamarkh's mansion arrived.  It was the next night and he was to bring a guest.


DAY 467 (12th Kythorn)(June)

Tonight was the night. Fenrir and Werren spend a decent enough evening at the Croamarkh's house.

He counted the guards, as Random had told him to do. Four men at the door, ten retainers inside and at least three more guards inside. The front door was heavy and strong. The windows were secure looking.

Skulking around, when he got the chance, with Detect Magic active he saw that the front door had a magical trap on it, all the windows were magically alarmed and the large dog that wandered about freely had a magical collar.

He saw three skulls on pedestals which were magical. He assumed they were the ones that could be used as spying devices.

One of the retainers was tall and dressed in black and positively glowed with magic.

The evening was rather dull Fenrir thought, with it all centring around everyone telling the Croamarkh how wonderful he was and what a marvelous job he was doing of running the city.

As he took his carriage home in the small hours of the morning he contemplated what the future held for him and how long it would take to all go horribly wrong.


DAY 468 (13th Kythorn)(June)

This morning Fenrir walked to work, knowing that if he relied on his ability to magically fly around Westgate he would start putting on weight again.

He was approached by a 'simple washerwoman' who then turned out to be Cavu. Cavu, of course I am sure you remember, was the main go-between for Gertrude the White, who was a very powerful diviner and how Fenrir had once met when she had resurrected him.

It was Cavu who had set everything up in Westgate and funded Random in all his dodgy dealings. Now that things were 'heating up' in the city he was back.

You may also remember that Cavu had been a half-elf bard called Banjax in another life - but that's another story.

They went to a nearby inn to talk.

'I think it's safe here,' said Cavu once they were in a private room. 'I've decided to send Random to the FAMP. He can take over there for a bit. For you though, I think its time for you to know more of what is going on.'

What was going on was this:

Westgate was a very corrupt city. From the lowliest gate guard to the Croamarkh himself everyone was corrupt. The noble houses, the merchants, the temples, all of them were crooked in some way. There was no other way to get by in Westgate.

The thieves guild, known as the Night Masks, were incredibly powerful and even the greatest and most powerful in Westgate feared them. Things had recently got even worse though, as the Night Masks had been infiltrated by a coven of vampires lead by an ancient and terrible being known as Orlak II.

Now Orlak wanted to step out of the shadows. He wanted to, in short, rule Westgate from sat atop a Throne of Blood. But like all vampires he preferred to do this in a sneaky and underhand fashion.

His plan was to first marry into high society and his target was Thistle Thalavar, whose lineage provided the last remaining link to Westgate's Eorn/Lorndessar  Dynasty.

A vampire ruling Westgate would be terrible and Gertrude the White had foreseen this awufl event and was determined to stop it.

Now that Fenrir had a seat at the table with the Rulers of Westgate he could achieve many things.

Cavu knew of at least two other people that they could marry to Thistle Thalavar. Young men who also had the blood of Westgate royalty in their veins and if married to Thistle, and with the right nudge or push in the right place could become king.

The first was a young fellow from Cormyr who Barry and his gang were watching and the second is someone that I (Rollo) know! And I assure you, you will be as surprised as I was when you find out who it was.

So, explained Cavu, there were three steps to this plan.
1. Find a sword called 'the Piecemaker' that had once been the sword wielded by the kings of Westgate.
2. Assassinate the Croamarkh, who was in the thrall of the vampires
3. Marry one of the young men to Thistle Thalavar and proclaim him king! (Cavu also suggested that Fenrir could marry her himself, something that he thought  about for a moment or two then decided against)
4. Destroy Orlak and all the other vampires.


'So,' said Cavu. 'All great fun. The bad news is, it's just me and you Fenrir, to do all of this. The good news is that we have virtually unlimited resources. Enough to hire an army if we want to.'

When he got home Fenrir started writing up a shopping list. He also arranged with Gelly to buy some expensive poison.

In the evening he went around to visit his friend, the venerable and ancient  Lady Gwendeth Thalavar for tea with her and all her old lady friends. He hinted that he was interested in meeting Thistle again, but Lady Gwendeth deemed that to be highly inappropriate as she was currently attached to one Tystran Dauntinghorn. 'Thistle certainly won't court more than one gentleman at a time!' exclaimed Gwendeth.

Fenrir learned that Dauntinghorn was the captain of a ship called 'The False Gorget' which set alarm bells ringing in his head. It sounded just the sort of name a smug vampire twat would give a ship!

Later that night, in disguise, he went down to the port authority and found that the ship was currently out at sea and due back in three days. He also found out Dauntinghorn's address and favourite inns.


DAY 469 (14th Kythorn)(June)

Today Fenrir was presented with his seal of office and chain.

He found it dull, and was glad when it was over, but did make it official. Crazy as it seemed to me and others that knew him, he was now Commander of the Westgate watch!

In the afternoon he discussed with Gelly the idea of hiring two bards to start scandalous rumours  about Dauntinghorn and making sure Lady Gwendeth Thalavar found out about it.

The rumour was to be he was shagging clap ridden serving wenches, getting them pregnant and then getting them abortions. Throw in some elements of demon worship as well, he noted to Gelly.

One hundred gold was handed over for getting them stated. Gelly said she knew just the fellows.

In the evening there was a formal dinner at house of the Croamarkh. Lots of food and drink and a terrible amount of fawning praise for the corpulent Croamarkh. Disgusting as it was Fenrir joined in. He knew what side his bread was buttered on. He also met the great and good of the city, the nobles and the guildmasters, merchants and  scholars. He'd never seen such a shower of bastards he reflected, Waterdeep really was the City of Splendours compared to the wanton corruption of Westgate.

In the carriage on the way home Werren squeezed his arm and said, 'I do so love you,  Fenrir! We are really going places!'

He just looked out the window and smiled.


DAY 470 (15th Kythorn)(June)

Fenrir went to work today. He was taking his job seriously, but not rocking the boat or introducing any reforms. He was happy to take up from where Hammersong had left off.

Once home from work Gelly gave him the deadly poison he had sent her to get.

In the evening Cavu came to visit him. They talked over their plans and it was decided it was time to go get the sword - 'The Piecemaker' as it was commonly known.

Cavu had located it, hidden in an isolated temple in Chult. He had arranged teleportation, all Fenrir had to do was put together a party of stout heroes to go get it.

Whoever he decided to take with him, he would be taking one other, as supplied by Cavu and it was here that the tale took a very strange twist indeed.