Party: Declan the human barbarian, Ghilanna the elf Sorceress, Gileas the human bard, and Ilidan Hunzrin the drow rogue.
The party makes it through a night at Troll Skull Manor (still under construction) without incident. On their way out of Troll Skull the party encounters Emmek Frewn, the owner of another tavern in Troll Skull Alley. While not outright hostile, the group does not get a good feeling about this possible competitor. Eager for action and coin, and with days to kill while the tavern is under construction, the party heads to the local city watch station after reading about some problems in a local tear sheet. There they are confronted by Laerel Silverhand, the open Lord of Waterdeep, She offers them work to investigate rumors of enchanted scarecrows terrorizing the countryside outside of town. She arms them with alchemist fire in case the rumors are true.
On their way to undercliff village, the party encounters a mob on the verge of lynching a Tiefling. Gileas engages in rousing debate with Vance Lifften, ultimately swaying the mob into going home. After asking around at Harvest Home Inn and connecting with a local Harper Agent Anselm Griggons, the party heads out to Amendsfarm prison to investigate a triple homicide. Their investigation leads them to the home of Basil Mureal where they uncover evidence of demon summoning. Declan finds a magic Ballpeen hammer that makes Ghilanna uncomfortable, along with other evidence and clues about a cult operating nearby. They stake out the cabin overnight and are attacked by the rumored scarecrows. The group defeats the scarecrow and heads out to Snowbeadle Orchard and Meadery. There they confront and intimidate Quinten Snowbeadle into helping them setup an ambush for the cult of the Mercilessly Gloved Fingers at their next meeting.
The party proceeds with the ambush in a broken down barn. They successfully engage the cult and lure most of the members away while they capture Vance Lifften alive. Lifften turns out to be the leader of the cult. Snowbeadle is killed during the altercation. The group finds a map indicating a tunnel near the city wall near Cliffwatch to the south. “Tunnel! Crazy Dark” is scribbled on the paper.
XP: 1330 each
