Faction Response Team

This page describes the various faction response teams that can attack the PCs through their investigation. Use one of these teams as a "man with a gun" in case the PCs are stuck. Don't forget that the PCs should backtrack these teams to an outpost to move the plot forward.

## Bregan D'aerthe Response Teams

* 1-2 **drow gunslingers** (here)
	+ One of these is likely to be one of Jarlaxle's lieutenants (below)
* 4-8 **drow** (here)

**Fel'rekt Lafeen**: *Recommendation for Materiel*, a note written in silver ink on black paper. "Regarding the need for alternative sources of materiel, make contact with Grinda Garloth. Use all caution and do not reveal your true heritage, as she is allied with the beholder and that poses certain risks. -J"

**Krebbyg Masq'il'yr**: *Sealed Letter to Fenerus Stormcastle*, a simple missive addressed to "Fenerus Stormcastle, of Quill Alley". It thanks him for his service. It is written in silver ink on black paper and signed "J". Attached is a velvet pouch containing 100gp.

**Soluun Xibrindas**:

* Carries a bloodstained playbill from the Seven Masks Theater, belonging to a performance of *Blood Wedding* which took place several nights earlier. (In the play, according to the playbill, a young woman is brought to a castle by a count only to fall in love with his younger brother, a man of faith. Her betrayal eats away at the jealous count. He murders the brother on his wedding day and pursues the bride, who hurls herself off the castle battlements. The count is cursed by the gods and transformed to a creature of darkness, damned to live in the castle and feed on blood.)
* Soluun does not have a pistol, because Tovarish of the UFFR stole it. He has taken to attending plays and then murdering elven and half-elven members of the audience after the show.

## Cassalanter Response Teams

The PCs have agreed to help the Cassalanters, so Seffia's team may be deployed in their benefit if they provide information or otherwise earn favor.

### Seffia Naelryke

**Seffia Naelryke** is a loyal Asmodean cultist. She lives at the Converted Windmill outpost with Arn Xalrondar. Use Fanatic stats.

* 2 spies
* 1 veteran
* 1 invisible imp

*Seffia's Letter*: Seffia carries a letter from Lord Cassalanter:

> Seffia—Lady Ammalia and I are both deeply moved by what your ritual accomplished. It speaks to your true faith in the power of our Master, and you have clearly been blessed by Him. As you suspected, we did, in fact, find Neverember's Third Eye in the crypt of Lady Brandath. Thank you for all that you have done. -Lord Victoro
>
>

### Willifort Crowelle

Supposedly the elderly tiefling valet of the family. In truth he is a doppelganger and most trusted lieutenant. Willifort may approach disguised as a friend or ally to pump for information, or he may try to burn bridges by doing something to piss off powerful people offscreen while disguised as one of them.

* Willifort Crowelle (doppelganger)
* 1 Bearded devil or 2 cult fanatics
* 3 cultists

## Xanathar Response Teams

One of the response teams carries **A Directive from N'Arl Xibrindas**, instructing the leader of the team to be "properly outfitted" by Grinda Garloth. They carry a *potion of healing*, a *potion of greater healing*, and a *+1 weapon*.

### Gorath

Gorath is the leader of a team of duergar. His is the first line of attack. 4 duergar

### Korgstrod Uxgulm

IF Gorath is killed, Korgstrod is sent from the Xanathar Sewer Hideout.

* Korgstrod Uxgulm (duergar)
* 3 other duergar
* 1 half-ogre
* 1 gazer

### Noska Ur'Gray

Noska, a shield dwarf, is another enforcer of the second tier.

* Noska Ur'gray (DH p.213)
* 6 bugbears
* 1 gazer

## Zhentarim Response Teams

All of Manshoons response teams consist of

* 1 lieutenant (Vevette, Urstul Floxin, or Agorn)
* 3-5 thugs

All lieutenants carry pass-amulets to Kolat Towers, but will try to destroy them on capture or death. Except for Agorn, who is a feckless weasel and will use it to barter for his life. The lieutenants leave their *teleport rings* with Sidra Romeir when journeying outside the Towers.

**To the Safehouse!**: All response teams will be instructed to take the PCs as prisoners to the Zhentarim Safehouse. If questioned, they'll point to the one in Brindul Alley in the Trade Ward.

### Vevette Blackwater

When she was young, Vevette was abused by her mother. A Zhentarim agent came to her when she was twelve, put a blade in her hand, and asked if she wanted to take control of her life. She did. And she’s been in the Black Network ever since.

Vevette’s past manifests itself in a deep streak of cruelty and ruthlessness, but to most outward appearance she is a charming bon vivant. She has fiery red hair with two streaks of brilliant platinum, which can actually glow in the dark on her command.

Use stats for a swashbuckler.

She carries **Seffia Naelryke's Visiting Card**. It gives Seffia's address as "the Windmill on Coachlamp Lane". Seffia approached Vevette to open a discrete line of communication fromt he Cassalanters to Manshoon but was rebuffed as the Zhents expected a trap.

### Agorn Fuoco

~~Agorn made such a good impression on Manshoon that he was elevated quickly through the ranks of the organization, but his life was full of disappointment otherwise. He has not achieved the fame he craved nor earned the wealth he felt he was entitled to. He has adopted the Zhentarim credo that power comes to those who deserve it. In fact, he believed it so much that he murdered his own mother in order to “escape” her poverty. He has come to see the Black Network as a new family of sorts.~~

~~Agorn is a hollow coward. When engaging with the PCs, he will generally send the thugs under his command to attack while he remains at a safe distance. If his men are being slaughtered, he will bravely run away as quickly as possible in order to save his own worthless hide. As noted above, he will offer up his pass-amulet to Kolat Towers in exchange for his own life.~~

~~Agorn is friends with Amath Seccent (see Yellowspire in *Part 3B: Faction Outposts*), but he will gladly sell her out, too, revealing the existence of the teleportation circle in Yellowspire. Use bard stats.~~

Agorn carries *Report to Agorn Fuoco*: “Korgstrod Uxgulm’s outfit is based out of the Orb Confectioners’ on Rising Ride just off Caravan Court. Not sure how the backroom can fit them all, but there’s no question that Xanathar’s duergar come in and out of there on the regular.”

Agorn Fuoco has been convinced to leave the city for the UFFR and is presumed dead by the Zhentarim.

### Urstul Floxin

Urstul is a thuggish man who notably leads both the Zhentarim attempt to capture Dalakhar (and gets blown up for his trouble) and their operation at the Gralhund Villa. If he survives the latter, he can crop up later leading a response team. He has a scar down his face.

Stats: DH p 216

Ursul carries *Directive to UF*: "Any prisoners taken from the other factions of the Grand Game should be delivered to Avaareen in Brindul Alley. By order of M."

## Open Lord / City Watch Response Team

* 1 veteran
* 3-5 guards
* Sometimes 1 apprentice wizard