Waterdeep Origins

Waterdeep. I have been in this city now for a while. They call it the “Crown of the North”. So far the jobs I’ve been getting are good, and there aren’t many of my kin around, just like everywhere I’ve lived in the past. I work for the Cassalanter family, they deal in banking, money lending, information and rumors, and to be honest they’re slightly suspect to me just from what that sounds like. I’ve never met them though. Everything goes through my handler, Rusham. I’m supposed to meet him again today in the “Castle Ward” at the “Dancing Horse” tavern for another job.

This is a surprise. Rusham introduces me to Pyotr, a harmless looking dude in black leather armor and cloak. He’s probably in his late twenties. My job is to protect his ass, and together we are tasked to investigate some suspicious activity at a house which seems to function as a gathering spot of sorts in the Castle Ward. Folks go in there, armed folks even, and they don’t come out for weeks, or ever. The owner is supposed to be a male Tiefling, some scholarly type. We’re promised 10 gold for the intel and are allowed to keep anything we manage to bring back. That sounds like a good deal.

We go to the place and it’s a red painted house in Elsambul’s lane. Walking around, it doesn’t seem to have a back entrance. We observe how a group of two people approaches. They seem to be a bit run down, and are wearing weapons. They knock three times, and the Tiefling opens the door. We copy that behavior and are also let in. After a while of sitting and waiting I notice the smell of wound treatment. Something I know well from the battlefield and my work as a mercenary in larger groups. Hearing some screams I offer my help and the owner tends to a grossly wounded leg while I hold the patient down. I can make out bite marks, but there are other people lying here, too, with other injuries, probably from blunt and sharp weapons. There’s a beholder tapestry with people bowing to it on the first floor, so this screams Xanathar thieves guild to us.

While the owner and I are occupied with the patient, Pyotr goes around the house and tries to find some intel. After a while we make our exit under a pretense which almost ends up in a fight because folks seem to have lost trust due to Pyotr’s made-up excuses. I don’t blame him, that’s what I’m here for, and I’m ready to stick my axe into anyone who’s threatening us, but the situation is resolved and we leave to regroup with Rusham to share the intel.

One of the notes Pyotr recovered reads

• The gnome is still in Waterdeep. He won’t be able to leave the city that easily. We have eyes at all exits.
• The snakes are chasing him as well.
• My contact overheard him talking about a meeting at the Opera. He might be meeting the son.
• Set a perimeter and get a few people inside

signed by a mysterious N

There is another note saying “The shipment of special weapons X requested will be sent by Grinda Garloth in Mistshore. See that they’re bundled up and sent along with the next audience procession” signed by Amaergo.

The third and last note seems like it is an order for a cake?

• Orb confectioners
• Eight small eyes
• How would you like those arranged?
• Around an ocular cake

Pretty weird stuff. Let’s see if Rusham and the Cassalanters can make something out of it. At least we’re going to get paid for a job well done.