The street outside the Mangy Dog Tavern was busy as it sat on a main road in the Dock Ward of Waterdeep. It didn't seem like much, hell it looked like it was held together by termite spit and prayers despite being four stories tall.

Well four and a half? The owner was advertising some attic space for rent to any aspiring businesspeople with enough coin. The guild had to start somewhere right? Money was tight but this would at least give a place for people to find them and hire them.

So it was our trio of adventurers stood on this particular street outside a tavern with a diseased poodle licking its own backside on its carved wooden sign....
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:54, Wed 24 Mar 2021.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 1):

Cody turns to Kayleigh, "How much did this place cost, anyway?", expecting her to answer immediately, he asks again. When he gets no response, he turns away. Cody begins to fidget with his weapon's handle.

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 2):

Kayleigh has been staring at the tavern in front of them, clearly unimpressed.  A frown purses her lips and her green eyes narrow in distaste. "Mangy Dog is right," she mutters to no one in particular.  As Cody speaks to her, however, she draws her attention from the horrific sight before her and turns to her companion.  As she opens her mouth to answer, the elf asks again, before immediately becoming distracted once more.

"Are we sure this is all we can afford?" she asks, ignoring the actual price point as she tries to recall the advertised price.  Besides, it is likely he'd negotiate, right?  Heck, he should be paying them for even considering it!  "This place doesn't exactly scream trustworthy and serious business..."

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 3):

As the trio debates the merits of actually entering this tavern a few things occur. An actual mangy looking black poodle noses his way out of the establishments front door through a dog flap.



The dog barks once at a couple of provocatively dressed ladies who had been languidly chatting next to a street lamp. The ladies stop talking and half glare at the dog for his bark but instead of going back to their conversation they start to try and tempt passing sailors into the tavern for drinks and other vaguely insinuated activities.

Then the dog turns to rear up and put its front paws on the edge of a large trash bin beside the front door. It barks a couple more times into the can...which wobbles ominously in response. Then the dog turns away and goes back inside the tavern the same way it came out. A couple moments later a psychedelically colored mushroom seems to grow out of the top of the trash can. It is covered in garbage scraps and other much smaller mushrooms...and has root like arms...and two beady black eyes centered narrowly over an expressionless slit of a mouth.

It had to be some sort of fungus monster the size of a halfling as it clamoured out of the can and pushed its way inside the tavern!


This message was last edited by the GM at 07:16, Thu 25 Mar 2021.

"Let's be real, not very high. But mushroom man looks very interesting, might make a good potion ingredient." He says out loud, but quietly enough to not disturb those around him.

He then gestures toward the tavern and asks if they should go in. "Get started, shall we?" He says hopefully. He walks toward the tavern while still facing kayleigh and cody

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 4):

Cody walks passed Ged, and into the tavern. Cody is suddenly remembered of his childhood, all think pain and the anger. The thought of what might be inside, triggers a flashback, of his abusive father. He shakes his head, and realizes he hasn't even entered the tavern, yet. He was standing two feet from the door. His flashbacks are getting worse.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Mon 29 Mar 2021.

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 6):

Reaching into a pocket, Kayleigh pulls out her glasses and quickly wipes them with her skirt.  Satisfied, she places puts them on and adjusts them on her nose.  With a sigh of discontent, she follows the boys towards the tavern.  She gives Cody an odd look as he stops, recognizing the situation and giving him a moment to re-center.  Then she flashes him a smile before looping her arm through his as if to escort him.

"Ged, leave the mushroom alone.  Come on, let's go find the owner so we can get in and out as quickly as possible." She pushes the tavern door open and starts to drag Cody towards the bar, glancing over at Ged to make sure he's following.

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 7):



The inside of the Tavern is actually rather packed with an assortment of beings who range from Seedy to downright Ominous. Lizard folk and Elves, Dwarves and Gnomes ranged across the tables and stools with drinks that looked like stuff out of mad alchemy labs.

Despite the jaunty music being played by a couple bard types in a corner and the dancer girls and cute waitresses scattered among the crowd there is a sense about the place that you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Behind the bar is a half orc man 'cleaning' a mug with a rag, tiny tusks jutting out from his lower lips and pale seafoam green skin. The mangy poodle from earlier is laying on a dog bed that pokes out from behind the bar at one end and the Mushroom being is in a corner with some obviously intoxicated and hallucinating halfling sailors. He is picking off some of the smaller shrooms from his body and laying them on a plate for the customers to eat.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 8):

Cody goes straight to a table with a few elves and chats with them, for a few minutes, hoping to make friends. After, he goes back to Kayleigh and Ged to tell them everything they talked about.

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 9):

The elves greet Cody cordially in elvish and welcome him to join the table and their discussion of recent news.

OOC: Make a Gather Information Check please!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:38, Fri 02 Apr 2021.

"Eh, I guess the shroom guy can be picked up at a later date." He notices the pause in Cody's movement, but doesn't acknowledge it. He goes up to the bar and orders a water. "Who do I talk to to rent the bar upstairs?" He asks the bartender.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:53, Sun 04 Apr 2021.

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 11):

Herding cats.  She'd have better luck herding cats than these two, she swears!  Well, Ged is moving onwards towards their goal, so there's that at least?  Letting Ged take point for the moment, while still keeping an eye on Cody, she uses a handkerchief to wipe a spot on the bar before resting a sleeved elbow on it.

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 12):

The Half Orc doesn't stop wiping mugs as he replies in a tone that expresses some concern for Ged's mental well being, "You mean the attic space I advertised, little gnome? There is no bar up there. Just some empty space with low ceilings."

He then eyes the spot Ged cleaned off like it might have been a personal insult. Considering the Half orc is nearly three times the size of either of the two friends at the bar, personal insults might be contraindicated.

The dog barks and the bartender shrugs it off for now, "Anyways what did you want the space for? It will be two gold pieces a week and a 5% cut of any business conducted on the premises."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:08, Thu 08 Apr 2021.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 13):

Cody Panther returns to Kayleigh and Ged. "There is news of recent goblin attacks to the north, outside of the troll gate. The main target of these attacks is Greenfork. Greenfork is, evidently a village between the city and the foothills of the sword mountains. However, my fellow elves don't believe this, to be true."

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 14):

A dusty road worn human man in dirty clothes a couple stools further down the sticky bar gulps the last of a mug of booze before slamming it on the countertop.

 He growls in response to Cody's announcement, "Oh it's true alright. I saw the attacks myself. Another one barman... I need to forget." He waves at the empty mug and the barman moves to fill it while he waits on the Gnome to answer the earlier question.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 15):

With her hood up and hair down, Kayleigh's race isn't as readily identifiable as her companions.  Most likely some sort of elf or human, but many of the defining features are hidden.  What is visible, however, are emerald green eyes and fiery copper hair and a fair, pretty face.

Kayleigh does notice the look at the wiped spot she made, but offers no apologies.  She is smart enough, however, not to continue wiping down things and instead decides not to touch anything instead.  "We'd have to see the space first before we agree.  Planning to use it as an office space if it's acceptable."

As Cody returns and the stranger speaks, her attention shifts to study him. She frowns, absolutely certain she's going to regret her next action, but decides to speak nonetheless.  "Well, uhm... sir, if you could give us a moment of your time to learn a bit more before you proceed to forget, the next round will be on us."

Ged (with some trouble)climbs atop a barstool and sits down. "Are we even sure that we can trust this guy? He seems a tad bit intoxicated" Ged whispers, eyeing the man. "If you don't mind, we are going to be a bit, duties and all." He says to the bartender, hoping not to anger him as much as Kayleigh already has.

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 17):

The dog barks again once and the half orc shrugs, "That is the price, you can check it out when your done conducting your business...but clearly this place will bring your group some."

The bartender smirks and subtly gestures at the ragged half drunk man as he gets up and moves closer to take Kayleigh up on that offer of a drink for more info.

"Well Miss, the goblins came down out of the foothills and set fire to parts of the town, took a bunch of stuff...and then stole my daughter Gwendlyn! I was trapped behind the burning pieces of my windmill and I saw the nasty beasts carrying her off over their heads!"

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 18):

Cody Panther walks up to the bar, giving the bartender money, asking for a pint of ale.

"Was there anything that you could have used to identify the leader?" Ged questions. He slides the bartender a coin, and asks for something non-alcoholic.

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 20):

"One pint only," Kayleigh says pointedly to the elf in question.  It's very clear she's the mother hen of the group, and it takes everything in her not to wipe down the glasses before the bartending orc passes them off.  "Okay, so clearly you escaped, so why did you not go in search of your daughter immediately?  Instead, you're here..."  She doesn't mean it insultingly, but it is a good question, since his daughter is apparently, at best, being held by a bunch of evil goblins.

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 21):

"I tried miss. I am a miller not a hunter. I lost their trail pretty quickly. most of the hunters that could have followed got hurt trying to fend off the beasties during the raid and the rest were needed to guard the town in case they came back. I came straight here looking for someone to hire but no one seems to think they keep her alive this long."

He chugs some more of his mug of ale, and then sets it down with a thunk, "But I know what I saw. That charred and scarred goblin in the lead was snapping at any of his ilk that tried to hurt her as they carried her off. I don't speak no goblin but I think they had plans...I worry what kind but i think they needed her alive."

he hangs his head, "I just need to know what happened to her one way or the other at this point. I got a small purse of gold here, and more in gold and trade goods back at the village if you folks would take the job?"

He sets a little bag on the table that could probably hold twenty or thirty pieces of gold in it.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 22):

"Kayleigh," Cody says, "Why won't you let me get more than 1 pint? What if I want 2 pints?" Cody makes a "begging" face, at  her. Realizing there was no point in arguing he grabs his 1 pint of ale, and downs it, all at once.

"Where was this village again?" Ged asks. "And why didn't you try the village guards, instead of just drinking your mind away at this fine establishment?

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 24):

"Because we've got work today, and that's done better sober."  She doesn't mention the questionability of any of the drinks, or the glasses, or... Okay, she doesn't need to continue the mental list.  It would take all day and certainly make her ill.

"Okay, say we take this job. We need as much information as you can give us, location, where they were headed, where your village is, what your daughter looks like, how many you saw, anything you can remember?"

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 25):

"Like I said sir," the drunk slurs," I tried the hunters in the village first. We don't have any guards like the city does. We rely on watersdeep for that kind of protection but when I came asking here they said they would be of no help to a dead girl. They sent some soldiers to the village or they said they would to stave off future attacks."

He gesticulates a little too wildly and sloshes some ale down his front. He doesn't even notice though as he continues, "I saw eight of them. Led by one that was bigger and had older burn marks. But there were more in the raiding party. I don't know how many. The village is just a bit outside of the troll gate. We are between the city and the foothills of the sword mountains. My daughter is has rose gold hair past her shoulders, granite Grey eyes, buxom, and stands yeah tall."

He holds an unsteady hand out to show height though it indicates the woman to be anywhere between four foot ten and five foot five...



(The game map of waterdeep and faerun maps

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 26):

"That's why you can only have one," Kayleigh states to Cody, watching the hand keep changing heights.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 26):
"Oh, come on!", Cody said angrily. Then starts downing the pint of ale. "Good stuff.", Cody said contently, slamming the empty glass on the table. Giving the bartender the required money, Cody walks off to talk to Ged and Kayleigh. "This place is nice!", Cody said to Ged and Kayleigh.

"If we stay here too long, you might have to rethink that." Says Ged, pressuring the group to get moving. "We have to check out where our HQ is going to be"

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 31):

Kayleigh drops a few coins on the counter to cover the drunk man's next drink as promised, maybe even one after that.  After all, he was giving them a job, and a happy customer...

She accepts the offered coin purse as down payment.  "We will take the job offer.  We will take the rest of the day to ready ourselves and leave in the morning to rescue your daughter."

She looks to Ged, agreeing with his sentiment of needing to do more than sit around.  "Okay, we would like to see the space, so do we just go up or must we be escorted?"  Oh, please don't let it be escorted!  She absolutely does not want to be any closer to anyone in this bar than necessary...

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 32):

Cody, walks over to kayleigh to accept the quest, as well. "I'm ready when you guys are.", Cody says, ready to go.

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 33):

The man starts to blubber drunkenly in happiness as he quickly reaches out to shake what ever hands he can manage to nab but the booze and exhaustion seem to finally catch up to him with this emotional release. He wobbles on the stool sniffing back snotty tears then just sorta crawls down off it and lays down on the filthy floor. Snoring, the buzzsaw kind, starts issuing from him only moments later. The pouch he had waved around with coin in it was left sitting on the table.

Behind the bar the orcish man sighs in mild annoyance. He scoops up the coins Kayleigh offered up as well as the bag of the mans coins even as he moves to step out from behind the bar.

"No. The space is at the top of the stairs over there. Here is the Key. Bring it back and drop it on the dog bed if you don't want the space. keep it and the space is your's. I am gonna go put this guy in a room to sleep off his booze and his stuff in the safe till he can claim it in the morning minus the room fee and our cut of your business if you keep the space."

With that the half-orc reaches down and hauls the unconscious miller off the ground with one hand like he was a light sack of potatoes and heads for a different set of stairs.


The mangey poodle follows you all up the stairs when you go to check out the space and when you open the door you find...



It is an open space with a couple beat up old beds, tables, stools and some other assorted things that were being stored up here after being retired from other parts of the tavern. It was all covered in dust but it was not drafty and didn't seem to have spots where leaks had dripped water or anything horrible....

Kayleigh looks very put upon as the man manages to shake her hand before she can withdraw it.  She may have been understanding when Cody had an emotional moment, but he was her friend and this guy was... not.  He was drunk and emotional all over the place and she doesn't care for it.

As such, she quickly grabs the key and makes a break for the attic space.  She comes in far enough to let the others up as well, looking around before moving to physically inspect the area.  "This... Could work," Kayleigh states, clearly surprised.  "Maybe it could be cleared out, we can put in a work space, a desk, cabinets for files?"

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 34):

"It's okay...", Cody says, unimpressed. He was hoping for more.

"I thought it would be worse." Ged says, moving to inspect the beds and whatnot. "It's not all bad. There doesn't look to be any leaks, and the floor works. What do you think, Kayleigh?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:14, Mon 24 May 2021.

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 37):

"I think it's a good space.  You're looking at it wrong, Cody. It's a decent space, really.  Structurally seems fine.  It's a decent size.  We'd have to find out if we are able to use any of these things out, but ... You just have to imagine it, what it could be.  I think, really, the question is do we think it's worth two gold a week plus five percent?"  She looks at the others, having gestured at the various items in the area.  A bed would be helpful if they have to pull an all-nighter or need a place to lay low for a moment.  "I'm not sure we're getting a better deal for the gold.  It's the percent, really, that I'm hung up on. I wonder if we'd be able to work that out..."  Kayleigh muses, trailing off as she follows that train of thought.

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 38):

The dog wandered around the room as the discussion continues over the merits of the space and the price. As kayleigh finishes speaking it hops up on one of the beds, which could make this a living space as well as an office. It barks once and circles thrice before laying down.

A single night in a decent room at a commonplace inn often runs around five silver a night, so the big open attic space for a mere 2gp a week was a steal... kayleigh was right, the five percent on the business would be the biggest charge.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 39):

Cody goes over to the dog, to pet it. Then, he sits on the bed.

Ged sits down next to Cody, bouncing up and down on the bed to test his springy it is. "You gottaa use your Imagination" Ged says, complete with jazz hands. "Also, if we ever will really need to lay low, we need to make sure the bartender can be trusted we wouldn't want a black sheep in our flock. Does anyone trust their smooth talking enough to get on his good side?" Ged inquires.

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 41):

She had known there were beds and other things, ergo the comment on it.  However, she is surprised that the dog went to it the moment she thought it.  Weird dog.

Still, the boys were acting like children, playing with the dog and testing out the bed.  Her distress at them touching the dirty mutt is obvious in her expression as she starts considering all of the diseases it had, and how they'd clearly have to replace the bedding, if not the entire thing.  Disgusting dogs...

"I'm not sure he likes me," Kayleigh states in response to Ged, though still keeping her distance.  "He seemed offended by my standards of cleanliness."

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 42):

Cody's touch sent several flees with odd white spots on their heads scattering away from the dog. The dogs fur was dry and rough, the skin under it just as bad. Definitely not a pleasant thing to pet even if the weird dog seemed to appreciate the attention.

The bed is dusty and not overly soft but actually would probably be comfortable. The space really did just probably need some TLC and Imagination despite how the building looks from the outside. In fact the dichotomy of the ramshackle exterior and the much more sturdy interior may be something to investigate some time...when you had time anyways. There was afterall a damsel potentially in distress someplace in the foothills to the north being held by goblins for who knows what purpose.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 43):

Cody jumps back in surprise. His first instinct was to apologize, so he did. He didn't bump into anyone, which was awkward.

Ged looks at Cody funny, given him jumping. "We really do need to get going, we have women to save, and dragons to slay. We can handle the HQ when we get back, maybe pick up some bedding on the way. But that's my opinion, also, stop petting the dog, he is foul."

In reply to Ged Poomjer (msg # 45):

"We'll need to put downpayment on the room, clearly, before we leave.  Maybe a few weeks in advance, as we can't guarantee that we will be back in one week's time."  Kayleigh's eyes haven't left the weird fleas that fled the dog, that was still on the bed, and looks almost green at the idea of it's fleas infesting the bedding.  Fire, that was all that would come to mind...

"Also, Cody... you realize you apologized to thin air.  Again.  Right?"  Her tone is teasing, but there's a hint of concern for the attention-errant elf.

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 46):

The dog doesn't seem upset by Cody recoiling, and takes the apology to be aimed at it instead of thin air. Oddly enough so do the Fleas. They all start hoping back onto the mangy poodle and disappearing into his fur. The last of them seeming to gather and do a strange bowing dance thing. Cody's hearing is acute enough to hear a very faint chanting in a strange language then the tiny vermin join the others on the dog.

This goes seemingly unnoticed by the dog as it turns a glare upon the rude Ged with a small growl at being called foul. This does not last though as Kayleigh brings up the topic of gold and it hops up to head back down stairs ahead of everyone.

The Barmen is back in his customary place again wiping mugs with a rag like before.

In reply to An Uncaring Universe (msg # 47):

"'Foul' is a strong word, Ged" Cody says angrily, hoping Ged would take it back. Then, Cody walked downstairs with kayleigh.

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 48):

"And yet, somehow, still not strong enough," Kayleigh mutters with a look, and wink, at Ged.  Turning to follow Cody, she adds, "So, I think a month up front should cover the space for the entirety of our first mission.  Two gold a week, four weeks, so eight total.  We can round it out and make it nine gold up front.  Does that work for everyone?" she asks, pausing to the side of the stairs for confirmation or denial.

"Works for me. A month sounds like enough." Ged heads down the stairs, passing by Kayleigh as he goes. Completely ignoring the fleas' Silly little dance.

In reply to Kayleigh (msg # 49):

"Cool with me." Cody says, excited for some action.

In reply to Cody Panther (msg # 51):

The Bartender seems to be okay with the arrangement as well and so it is you find yourselves with a guild hall in the attic.

You can move in right away and your first job is just outside the city.

OOC: You now have both an office and living space in the attic. I am going to assume that you settle in tonight and leave the next morning.



Exit to Greenfork thread