C2 E5: A Nu Start Inn

The PCs throw a grand opening party for A Nu Start Inn. This episode starts on Ches 9th, with offscreen events from before.

**READY THE TOKENS IN ROLL20**

* Current Secrets

## Last Time

*What happened in the previous episode? Probably smart to link it as well.*

Last time, the PCs went to talk to a horse informant for the Harpers, Maxeene. They learned that a half orc and sun elf were discussing Xanathar hideouts and a recent gig to find a "Dryad Mechanism". They deduce it was Yagra Stonefist and Davil Starsong, two members of the Doom Raiders. After tracking them down, the PCs observed a number of clients come and go. Later, more guild delegates appeared: Justyn, from the Butchers' Guild, and Hammond, of the Vintners' Guild. Vincent Trench passed on what he'd learned from his investigations into the Black Viper—most notably, that it's Estele Roszvar, a minor noble, collecting gossip or information on political rivals. Finally, you were sent to track down a murderer in the Dock Ward, scaring them off but not killing or apprehending them.

## Offscreen Events

*Did anything happen offscreen before this episode? Will anything happen offscreen during this episode?*

* Petunia's shop makes money: breaks even
* repair work finished on the manor
* new sign arrived
* NPCs from United Forlorn Field-Ranch (UFFR) arrived to help
	+ Skit (barback). He twitches whenever someone mentions gambling. Loves playing his lute in his time off.
	+ Aries (bartender). Aries is an elder mountain dwarf who left his home in the Gray Vale and loves farming sheep. Bernie Sanders inspiration.
	+ Leona the Third (cook). Human grandaughter of the original Leon in the UFFR Central Committee. Fiery fighter and quick temper. Particularly fond of leatherworking. Grew up in the collective and believes the kitchen is the vanguard of the restaurant, leading the rest of the staff. Often asks, "What is to be done?"

## A New Start

### Party Prep?

* how do PCs decorate?
* what dishes do PCs serve?
	+ sausages and burgers
	+ Charcuterie
	+ mid tier beer and wine
	+ 15 barrels of "Waterdeep Blue Ribbon", a shitty beer (12g for the barrels) ("the one to have when you're having more than one")
* Invited people
	+ Volo
	+ Renaer
	+ Savra
	+ Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff
	+ Fearless Frank!
	+ Yagra

### Notable Attendees

* Volothamp Geddarm, who is recognized by some people and asked to sign books (which he pretends to dislike)
* Renaer Neverember and friends
	+ All will toast to Floon Blagmaar with their drinks throughout the night
	+ **Osco Salibuck**, who orders one of every single liquor available. He works his way through each of them and offers increasingly incoherent critiques as loud as possible.
	+ **Lord Torlyn Wands**, who has acquired an alchemical concoction that supposedly counteracts the ill effects of alcohol. He orders a lot of zzar over the night, a fortified sherry with orange color and almond scent. The concoction does not work, and Torlyn gets very drunk.
	+ **Harug Shieldmaster**, a high ranking member of the Cellarers' & Plumbers' Guild (which recently announced a steep rate hike). He drinks dwarven ale.
	+ **Laraelra "Elra" Harsard**, the heir to the Blackstaff
		- Mentions there is a "fiery-tempered temptress" playing with Renaer's heart
		- Worried about her friend Meloon Wardragon, who seems to be avoiding her recently
* Yagra Stonefist of the Doom Raiders
* Davil Starsong of the Doom Raiders
* Mirt of The Harpers
	+ has a specific mission for Ladro Lamora and Petunia during the Twin Parades on Ches 21st
* Esvele Roznar, the Black Viper
* Jarlaxle Baenre disguised as J.B. Nevercott, a haberdasher and tinkerer selling Nimblewrights "and other arcane curiosities"
* Mellannor Fellbranch of the Emerald Enclave (brother of Tally)
	+ asked for help with 3rd level Emerald Enclave mission
* Friends from Trollskull Alley
	+ Tally Fellbranch, the carpenter (brother of Mellannor). She just received a major commission: crafting an 8-foot-tall chess piece for the Cragsmere Estate
	+ Embric and Avi, the fire & water genasi smiths.
		- Squiddly has been shoplifting small metal trinkets. Embric attempts to chase, but Avi laughs and holds her back
		- stout supporters of Lord Dagult Neverember and want to meet Renaer
		- Asked to make a number of strange weapons with excessive serrations, random spikes, similar. They don't like to reveal their clients (it is the mad explorer Grinda Garloth.
	+ Fala Lefaliir, the apothecary. They try to offer a foreign tea sampler to become a supplier
	+ Vincent Trench, the detective. Does not discuss work.
	+ Rishaal the Page-Turner sits quietly in a corner, sipping a drink and reading
	+ Nat, Jenks, & Squiddly, the urchins
* Lif, the phantom
* Emmek Frewn, a rival bar owner scoping out the new competition
* Meloon Wardragon, a troubled adventurer
	+ May also challenge people to an arm wrestling competition.
	+ Under the influence of an Intellect Devourer (see DH p ). High perception may see some purple fluid leaking from his nose
	+ Upset that his hometown, Loudwater, has come under tyrannical control of the Zhentarim. The current lord is a puppet and the cost of living has skyrocketed due to import taxes on non-Zhent goods.
* Broxley Fairkettle of the Fellowship of Innkeepers
* Mattrim "Threestrings" Mereg, a bard from the Yawning Portal
	+ he has a crush on Bonnie, the barmaid at the Portal
	+ He looks for other bars to test out new material. He's trying to recompile the remains of an epic: *The Tail of C. Biscuit*. So far he has only found mention of the epic in the Bards' College library. Very grateful if the PCs could keep an eye out in their travels
* Fearless Frank, the operator of the knitting emporium and underground

### Topics of Conversation

* Return of the Black Viper
* PCs recent missions
	+ talking to the horse
	+ talking to the sage on top of the hill
	+ killing the scarecrows
	+ stopping the elf and half-elf murders in the Dock Ward, and starting a fire
* Neverember's enigma
	+ large war machine under the city
	+ cache of ancient weapons and devices
	+ big ol pile of money
* other mission hooks
* strange effects from one of the Brass Mechanisms
* The Fey Day festivities
* The Twin Parades in two days
* Lights have been seen in Kolat Towers, an abandoned wizard's complex in the Southern Ward
* Rumors still fly about the fire in the Dock Ward at the beginning of the month, but no evidence was found
	+ The murders ceased, though, so people assume vigilante justice happened
* Dasher Snobeedle, son of the richest halfling family in the city, has recently been reported missing. His family is offering a 500 dragon reward for information leading to the safe return.

### Areas of the Party

* Common room & den upstairs for close friends (wine)
* Upstairs balcony
* Bar area
* Table area
* outdoor dining

### Main Event Sequence

*when do interesting things happen?*

* Mirt gives Petunia and Ladro Lamora a job for the Twin Parades on Ches 21st
	+ "I need you to steal a silk handkerchief from Maester Roderick Bartlethorpe and deliver it to a girl in a crate at the corner of Net Street and Dock Street."
	+ Maester Roderick will be waiting on Bazaar Street "in the shadow of the Great Drunkard", as he has every year for the past few years
	+ Cannot give the reason why
* Yagra Stonefist challenges someone to arm wrestle. She takes a drink whenever she wins
* Someone tries to sell a PC Traveler's Dust (a drug)
* The urchins try to hire themselves out as an adventuring party
* Volo tries to do a book signing
* Drinking games

## Todo / Happenings

*What did those fools get up to this time?*