The Music Box (Episode)

*This article is about the first episode of the season. For the season itself, see The Music Box (Season).*

***The Music Box*** is the first episode of a character-building arc in which Waylon, a transient member of the Evandhu Artisanal Conglom, responds to a plea for assistance from the Ratscheschachtel handicraft company.

*Today's adventure takes us back 20 years to Citadel Adbar, where Waylon has been called upon by a certain Varny to investigate an S.O.S. sent by a clockwork company in depths of the Ice Mountains.*

## Assignment

In DR 1470, twenty years prior to the events of *Mystra & the Crystalline Curse*, Waylon visits the Dwarven stronghold of Citadel Adbar and awaits assignment. He has not received any messages from his guild contact Varny for some time now and he is almost out of coin. Given the dangers of the Northern wilds, he had accompanied a large caravan for several days before finally arriving at the gigantic fortress.

Although Waylon has never visited the underground city before, it reminds him of his clan. He feels an instinct to "hunker down" with his fellow mountain dwarves. After making some inquiries at EAC's headquarters, he finally receives a hastily-written, hand-delivered message directing him to investigate calls for help originating from one of the conglom's subsidiaries, a workshop called *Ratscheschachtel*.

After almost a day's journey, heading deeper and deeper into the network of caverns, Waylon eventually arrives at the commune's gates. He hops off the trolley and knocks on the big metal gate. An EAC guardsdwarf answers and explains that he and another dwarf are guarding the commune's only exit. He directs Waylon to a pair of conversing gnomes at the other end of the foyer.

## Help at Last!

Mergrim, an elderly gnome with a peculiar accent, excitedly greets Waylon, relieved that *someone* has come to save them from their predicament. He explains that he, Jexif, and Father Safan are the "Elders" of the commune and that they had placed the community under lockdown for the past two days.

Arthur, a talented craftsgnome, was found murdered in his room. His body is kept in the chapel under the Father's watch. Waylon studies the deep gash in the side of the gnome's neck, but fails to discern the weapon. Arthur's fingernails appear immaculate, suggesting that there was no struggle. Father Safan shares that he and Callin, Arthur's superior, were the last to see Arthur alive. He also shares that Nyci, Arthur's lover, was the one who found his body.

On his request, Mergrim leads Waylon to the door of Callin's quarters (opposite the chapel) at which point the Elders agree to confine themselves to their quarters. "Feel free to let us know if you need anything!" says Mergrim. Waylon then opens the door, but finds no one inside.

## The Bottom Layer

### Gate

Puzzled and slightly alarmed, Waylon doubles back to the commune's gates. He asks a guard whether anyone has left the commune. The dwarf, a little insulted, states that not a single gnome has left the commune since the Elders placed it under lockdown two days ago.

### Music Box Workshop

The bard continues his investigation by visiting Arthur's place of work, the Music Box Workshop. Inside, he witnesses Jefan tinkering with a large wooden clock. After snooping around a bit, he finally hails the young gnome. Visibly in shock, stuttering, Jefan explains that he enjoyed working with Arthur and that he believes Nyci is responsible for his murder. He tells of a fight the two had had in the stairwell the day before the murder, though he doesn't know what it was about.

When Waylon inquires about Callin's absence, Jefan chuckles cautiously. Jefan and Callin are both workaholics and simply cannot remain cooped up all day. After begging Waylon not to snitch on them, he directs him to visit the forge upstairs, the master's favorite hangout.

### Wood Workshop

Before going upstairs, Waylon investigates the Wood Workshop, but finds nothing of interest.

### Watch Workshop

Next, Waylon enters the Watch workshop, finding it to be well-organized. Based on the praise he reads on a corkboard there, he infers that Nyci is a dutiful worker, having been employee of the month on multiple occasions. He finds a clockwork mouse on a workbench, seemingly out of place...

### General Store

A sad, light-skinned gnome is stocking the dusty shelves of the General Store when Waylon walks in. Elephina has short, fiery red hair, big eyes, and slightly pointed ears. She speaks fondly of Arthur, who used to tell her stories about elves and legends about their eternal love.

Although Arthur's fiancée would have been furious had she discovered their affair, Elephina doesn't believe Nyci to be the culprit. Instead, she accuses Jefan, who has always been envious of Arthur's success. On Waylon's behest, she reveals her ledger of special orders (reviewed and approved by Mergrim):

```
## Red wine, smoked ham
Sleeping draught 1x (in messy handwriting)

```

### Canteen

Waylon is greeted by the smell of baking chicken as he enters the commune's cafeteria. A dozen casks line the wall. A shelf holds a uniform collection of tankards, each engraved with a name. The bard studies Arthur's mug, but finds it clean and dry.

The sound of clanging pots and pans leads Waylon into the kitchen, where he finds a sturdy-looking gnome hunched over a stove. The kitchen is sloppy, every surface spattered in oil, gravy, sauce, etc. Garben, whose hair is as greasy as his food, casually offers Waylon a cup of ale from the "guest's cup". When Waylon declines, Garben asks that he refill his own tankard from the cask closest to the kitchen.

The scent and head of the ale is immediately familiar to Waylon. "Ah, I see you're a gnome of good taste! How did you get a hold of Dapabok in these parts?!" Garben hushes Waylon, explaining that he got the cask as a "special" order — under the nose of the Elders no less! He confirms that the cask originated from the very clan where Waylon had spent his youth.

Deciding to lower his guard, Waylon decides to pour himself a drink, deciding to indulge in the memories of the harvest. To his pleasant surprise, the overwhelming hoppy taste he was once accustomed to seemed to have mellowed down with age. What changed? The ale or his taste?

Returning to the task at hand, Waylon inquires about Garben's relationship with the other gnomes. Garben speaks highly of Arthur and Corryn, who he believes are the most capable of the lot. Arthur had been complaining bitterly about Nyci, asking advice on how to woo Elephina instead. On the night of Arthur's murder, he says, he was drinking heavily with Corryn.

After downing a drink or two, Waylon decides to go up the worn staircase and inspect the crime scene.

## The Middle Layer

### Arthur's Quarters

Arthur's suite is smaller than Callin's, occupied mostly by a large bed (a queen-size mattress by gnomish standards), a nightstand, and a bookcase. There is a large crimson blotch on the rug before the bed.

Waylon inspects the elven smut first. (The perv!) As he pulls out *Sharp Daggers & Pointy Ears*, a greasy note in messy handwriting falls out:

> ~~black wood, gold rim, song 2, – 50pg~~
>
> ~~darkredwood, velvet, light enchantment – 100gp~~
>
> ~~bluewood, silver, velvet, light+song – 200gp~~
>
> redwood, gold, illusion – 200 gp.
>
>
>

He shakes the other saucy novels, but finds nothing. Under the bed he finds a quality sketchbook of music boxes with several pages missing. By happenstance, under the mattress, he finds a leather pouch with 300 gold pieces! At first he decides to leave the purse, but then decides to take it with him as evidence.

The nightstand's single drawer is empty, but does not account for its bulkiness. An inspection of the wooden table yields no clues. Waylon finds a weak point at the bottom of the nightstand and makes two strikes with his warhammer. Prying open the cracks, he can barely reach in to open a musicbox hidden within! It plays a pretty song as dainty elven ballerinas take turns leaping into the air. The song ends abruptly, suggesting that Arthur never managed to complete it.

## Bibliography

Orthrix. *Deadly Music Box*. Dungeon Masters Guild, 10 October 2021, https://www.dmsguild.com/product/373597/Deadly-Music-Box/.