A5 - Guild Work to Fill the Time

The city guard locked down the Gralhund estate and began interviews. The 2 nobles agreed with the characters version of events on what took place.

Nacho and Izzy noticed that the Gralhunds did not mention the Cassalanters sending the characters to help as was assumed by the lady.

Izzy investigated the house and found no forced entry.  This was strange as how did the Zhents get in?

2 days later the private investigator hired by Durzog brought Urstul (the burned face man from the estate) into the bar.  He informed the party they had 1 hour to ask questions and then to send him on his way as he is a dangerous man.

Urstul was obviously under the suggestion spell. He answered that he did not cast the fireball and was caught in its blast as he was chasing the gnome. He had been staying at Gralhund's estate but when he returned wounded they betrayed him and locked him up. He had seen the automaton in the estate for a long time. The Zhents were already in the estate as they thought they had a deal with the Gralhunds. He does not know who made the teleportation circle as the Gralhunds are not magic users.

The Lord's alliance launched a crack down on the Zhents with Khul being recruited to help in raids and general attacks on the Zhents.

Mirandis was asked to check on Meloon (Nacho's contact from the beginning) at The Yawning Portal as he was acting strangely. Nacho joined and followed Meloon as he cruelly cut down a Zhent agent with a magic axe. After a few more days Mirandis and Nacho determined that Meloon is combating a sentient axe that wants to enforce the law and this is draining him of his normal jovial nature.

The party went to Zord's ships to find why the automaton sensor was alerting them. Zord explained that he has 2 automatons on board doing mundane chores.

Later Bragen Daerthe asked the party to keep a kidnapped Xanathar guild member (a dwarf that claims he cares for Syglar the fish) for a few days as they try to arrange a swap of prisoners.

That night 6 bugbears attacked.  Kluh was taking a beating but was able to stand with the assistance of several cure wounds spells from Mirandis. The party prevailed.

The next night 4 humans were acting strange right before they went to bed. Nacho caught them disassembling the ceiling right below the room where the dwarf was being held. A fight began, but to the party's horror once the human dropped a brain with legs (Intellect devourers) popped out and began mentally attacking the party. Both Nacho and Kluh were stunned and taken out of the fight. Fortunately, Izzy and Mirandis were able to stop them from devouring either Nacho or Kluh's brain.

The party rested up dreading what the next night would bring.