Mootscarp Redux

After drinking with the orc food vendor, a large Red Tusk named Rexgin approached the party and told Dala'gse to leave because dwarves had killed his kin in the North. They brawled. The Red Tusk diplomat, Chekka Burr, got involved and recognized the party as Golun-dal's accomplice. He said he would make sure they all had the mark of the demon on them, they would find no rest! The brawl resumed until a massive half-sea-giant named Laurie broke it off. He fined the Red Tusk and told the party to meet him at his den at five bells for their punishment. 

In the meantime, they approached the inn, passing through the market. They saw a new hot food section had popped up where all manner of food were for sale, the odor overpowering: some funky, some fresh.  They reached the inn proper and paid a silver to a new gnome front-of-house worker who marked them down for lodging on the popular (read: cheap) side of the inn. Waiting for them inside was the innkeeper, Bhin. He hadn't aged a day. Ledo, the half-elf behind the bar, nodded at the group, still handsome as ever. 

Bhin approached them looking stern. He pointed to a large sign behind him that read:

Bhin then produced a ledger from somewhere on his person and floated his finger above the pages, which somehow turned, fluttering to some mid-point in the book, until he was satisfied. "Ahh, yes, here." He looked the party up and down. "Slothrop, Dala'gse, Rya, Ironica, Safad, and hmm, newcomer, elf. Nancy, missing." 

He turned to the ledger and read, "Previous visit to the Mootscarp, 25 years ago. Crimes included: thieving, use of magic, assault, indecency, blackmarket trading, impersonation, and wanton debauchery." He looked up at the group, "You have a lot of nerve showing up back here." 

Then he broke into a smile and gave a low chuckle. "So have you come back to find what was lost? No? Well, regardless, behave yourselves." The gnome came over and put an arm around the man's leg. "This is my darling daughter, Lissoli. She runs the business now. Lissoli, if they give you ANY trouble at all, please, just smile at them nicely, customer service, as we practiced. And then tell Ledo to kill them all quietly in their sleep." 

With that, he turned toward a back room behind the bar, whistling as he went. "Enjoy the Mootscarp," he called back to them. 

Slothrop headed straight for the gaming tables he saw in the rustic-refined side. He sat down to what looked like a game of Three-Dragon-Ante, one of his old standbys. Rya went off to find her old pal, the goblin, Kallax Fen. Ironica saw a sign advertising auditions for the night's entertainment, and went to inquire with Crollis, the bean-counter. 

Falka, Dala'gse, and Safad collected the group's unused weapons and armor, and went off to the market. They passed by Rya who had learned from Kallax's apprentice, Shen-a, that they would need to learn mootchi if they didn't want to get ripped off. Rya picked it up quickly. Safad learned a passable version, and they went to sell goods. They met Lasstur and Giscond of the Serpent Sons, Kalen and Gaulgra and Agenkal of the Mist Crows, and Fistman and Genta of the Red Tusk. 

They bartered away the bandits' goods, and acquired arms and armor, the requisite Artificer tools for Safad's kit, camping supplies, and other sundry goods for their travels. Safad learned about the Star-throp stargaze from Lasstur the Serpent Son, who invited him up that evening. Dala'gse made friends with Fistman, who liked that he bossed around Safad--showed who was alpha. Dala'gse bought an old Mist Crow shield off Gaulgra, and had Agenkal carve his Heron star sign into ancient lifewood. Now he had a shield. Kalen threw in a bottle of 13-year peatsmoke to Safad for all the business he brought. 

Falka went to buy arrows from the elf tribe, who she learned were called the Lessandyl. On the way she was approached by a Hark called Tempi who was asking to buy body parts, particularly baby parts. Falka shook her head. When she got to the Lessandyl, she stirred up some trouble, accusing them of ignoring the Hark body merchants. Kadalan didn't like her tone, but told her they were working on putting an end to it. Falka went back to the weapons part of the market where she met Porassel to buy arrows. She later learned they were crafted by Nell Danovna of the Second Weir, who had spent time with the Lessandyl. They called her Mellen'Quessir, or Sorrow Strike. 

The group was finishing up trading and passed by a tent that was advertising loans. They inquired with the three regal figures behind the counter, who introduced themselves as Jay, Jan'et, and Benny, the moneylenders. Falka tried to figure out the rough size of the Mootscarp economy, and what might be social size for a contract killing. They didn't quite follow. Five bells rang and they had to visit Laurie's den. 

On the way, a boisterous half-goblin named Rufus Danz asked in heavily-accented Common if they were planning on eating onions that night. He said there were some rare exotic onions and even a turnip in town, wouldn't want to miss it. 

...

He went on to explain in a stage whisper that there was a secret underground animal fighting ring, called the Onion Ring because it took place in Bhin's root cellar. They should come and bet on the matches. Or better yet, enter that pretty little raven he saw flying around. You never know, long odds sometimes pay off, he told them. 

They met up with Laurie who was waiting for them in his den, a surprisingly large underground burrow with high ceilings, reinforced by wooden supports. It was incredibly humid inside and smelled overpoweringly of brine and musk. Laurie had changed into a clean canvas tunic, and had tried to wet his hair down to one side. He had some sort of kelp and white bean broth bubbling in a cauldron. Conch shells and seaweed adorned his walls. It was surprisingly tidy. 

"Thanks, welcome, so glad you could make it. Do I look OK?" 

Falka reminded him they were there to receive punishment. 

"Oh, right yes, that, oh bugger-it. Look, I need you to take this note to the innkeeper's daughter for me. You do that and we're all square in terms of punishment for causing trouble. You know her right, the really pretty gnome lass?" 

Ironica said they had met and asked about the letter. Laurie told her he wanted to invite Lissoli over for dinner, that he had been trying to court her for months but it was so hard under Bhin's watchful eye. Bhin would likely not approve of his daughter getting involved with the hired muscle.

"Not to mention, the size difference," Falka chimed in. 

"How do you mean?" Asked Laurie. 

"I just don't see how it's going to work, friend. Physically, I mean," Falka told him. 

Laurie got serious, "look mind your own business, just give her the note, OK -- and don't let Bhin see!" 

The party agreed. 

They went back to the inn where Dala'gse met up with Fistman. Fistman invited him to play Heads-I-Drink-Tails-You-Drink, but had some trouble with the rules. They sorted it out and drank. 

Ironica tried to slip Lissoli the note, but Bhin noticed. She played it off easy enough, and engaged Lissoli in conversation. Lissoli said she was tired after a long week and would Ironica like to get a drink later to unwind. She agreed while Falka, Safad, and Dala'gse went to the backrooms with Bhin and Ledo to discuss business. 

They told the duo about their time as mind flayer thralls. Bhin and Ledo were skeptical but Bhin cast Zone of Truth and Safad showed them a minor illusion of his nightmarish scene that fateful night during the Battle for Old Weir. They were taken aback. This was news. Big news. The party told them they were looking to learn more about a goddess and were trying to find the library at an arcane college on the Moor. Ledo told them it was called Melarn's Door and he could draw them a current map of the tribes' neutral zones. It'd be ready by morning. He appraised the party and told them, "I don't think it's quite what you're looking for, but it may still help with what you've lost." Cryptic. He slipped them four keys with eye symbols for handles and told them to find the Archivist at Melarn's Door. Ledo agreed that Candlekeep would ultimately be the best place to learn more about an old goddess. 

They also learned that Jeremius Mason had moved on to Waterdeep and that the Monarch and the Captain were now honorifics conferred upon the ruler of Innesbyr, currently Lusran Mint and Ol'kes Rett. Bhin asked if they could act upon this news of the Monarch and the Mind Flayers working together, this was massive. Safad advised them to keep it close for now. Bhin told them if they needed any help in Waterdeep, Bhin knew an old friend named Mirt the Moneylender. If they showed him Bhin's symbol, a miniature black onyx staff, he'd help them. They also learned the new Innesbyr mining product was jadeite, a beautiful, deep green gemstone. 

Meanwhile, Lissoli had taken Ironica back to her room where they shared a drink and talked about Laurie. She was nervous--tentative, but excited. Ironica encouraged her, and helped her get ready for the date. 

Falka had more devious plans. She slipped off toward the Hark camp and sought their leader, a goblin-wererat named Durr. She crafted a story about how the Hark had sent her to kill him. He was skeptical she had ever seen the Hark and didn't buy the story. She transformed into a werewolf to help make it sound more reasonable that the Hark would employ a fellow lycanthrope. Durr laughed at her, but seemed to think his right-hand-man Splin had put her up to it. 

Those still inside the inn were suddenly interrupted by a terrible scream of agony as a haggard and muddy elf woman stumbled into tavern, clutching her belly. She barely whispered, "my baby..." before collapsing. Dala'gse and Ironica bolted over to help. Bhin sent for Kallax Fen while everyone else did their best to keep the woman comfortable. Kallax barely arrived in time to help pull out a gangly premature baby. Bhin brought them all up to a private, larger, room in the new-build side of the inn. Kallax administered oils, potions, salves, and set her assistants, Shen-a and Rya, to preparing teas and tonics. Bhin muttered something under his breath and laid hands discretely on the mother and child. 

The woman came-to for a moment and said her named was Heathayla, and explained she had been traveling from her home in the High Forest, when she passed through some tribal land and she swears a curse was put on her. She was on her way to somewhere on the Moor but passed out before she could convey any more. 

A few Hark goblins came sniffing up around the room, including one who scurried in in rat form. Dala'gse held the baby close, skin-to-skin, and the assembled group chased them out, locking the door behind them. After everyone had settled down, Dala'gse and Shen-a stayed in the room to care for the two. Dala'gse explained that he had raised seven children. He thought. 

At seven bells, the group gathered at the inn and prepared to go down into the cellar, to enter an eager Rook into the Onion Ring fights. On their way out the side door, Bhin cornered Ironica. 

"I saw some exchange between the two of you, you will now tell me what is going on with my daughter." 

Ironica told him she couldn't do that, she was sworn to secrecy. She told Bhin not to worry, her daughter was safe, and to trust his daughter. 

Bhin scowled, but agreed. For the time being. 

"If you leave the Mootscarp and I haven't learned from you what is going on, you will never be welcome back." 

The party set off for the Onion Ring.