After resting for a few minutes, the PCs decided to have a look around the warehouse, searching the other rooms and all of the crates and barrels that were left laying around. There were grim discoveries as they found several bodies of citizens - half eaten and crammed into crates. Under the platform were more crates and a chest containing some treasure, a few spell scrolls, a potion of healing and a magical ring of Force Shield, which was given to Nash.
As they were resting and deciding what their next move would be, the city guard began busting through the warehouse doors, breaking the lock and entering the warehouse, weapons trained on the PCs. After some explaining the Corporal was quickly brought up to speed with the situation and the evidence at hand. The PCs were delayed for some
time as the guard investigated the scene before finally releasing the PCs to be about their business. The Guard would identify the bodies and inform the families of the deceased.
The group then made their way back across the Winged Wyvern Bridge into Protector's Enclave and reported in to Captain Selbane at the Hall of Justice. She was impressed with their report, if not the with rather theatrical way that Finder presented their story. She paid the PCs their 500 gp as agreed. They decided that their best move now would be to secure rooms for the night and take on the wererats of the Bell Tower in the morning.
They walked across town to The Wall and passed through a securely protected and heavily manned gate leading into the Chasm District. Just inside the gate and to the right was the Inn Selbane had told them to seek out - The Witch and Cup. She had even given them a notice with her signature asking for the PCs to be treated well and given shelter. The Innkeeper was a pudgy elf named Lurasaer, who took their note and made room at a table for them to have supper and gave them keys to the two rooms he had left.
The PCs spent the next few hours eating and drinking their fill not bothering to really interact with any of the other inn patrons. They enjoyed each others company and just relaxed their tense muscles from their very busy day fighting for the city of Neverwinter. After a while the party moved upstairs as Bronn had brought along his keg of dwarven ale he had purchased in the market from Delzoun merchants. Not a drop of ale was left in the keg when Bronn was searching for a drink in the morning. Most of the group got blackout drunk off the powerful drink and slept in till almost noon.
Heading out with a hearty breakfast, the made their way to the Bell Tower. It was in the northern part of Protector's Enclave, just a few blocks away from the White Dragon Market. They approached the tower to investigate and immediately identified a few under-cover Neverwinter Guardsmen who were posted and watching the bell tower from a distance. They also identified a wererat lookout dressed as a beggar in an alley near the tower. He was watching the Neverwinter guards carefully.
Farooq and Bronn walked directly forward and opened the door to the tower. Inside they found another door and a winding stairway to the right. Thinking nothing of it, Farooq opened the interior door and walked in to the living quarters of the caretaker of the bell tower, who was quite shocked at the intrusion. Bronn remained at the outer entrance. The old man demanded to know what they were doing and told them to leave as this was not open to the public.
Farooq barely listened to the frustrated man as he questioned him about wererats and searched about his apartment for secret doors. Finding none, Farooq gave the man 10 gp for his troubles and left the tower to discuss things with Bronn. They went to hook up with the rest of the team but did not want to go straight towards their hiding place, so they took the long way around. As soon as they left, the beggar got up and went to the edge of the bell tower to see where they were going, then quickly went into the tower, closing the door behind him.
When the party was all together and Farooq learned of the beggar, they immediately all went to the bell tower. Opening the outer door, and then the inner door, he did not see the old caretaker - he must have gone up the stairs with the beggar. The PCs headed up the creaky stairway they led up the tower. They came to a platform and a door after climbing 30 feet or so. They opened the door and immediately a battle was joined with several wererats who were waiting to pounce from within a small room beyond.
Farooq and Bronn held the doorway while Nash fired arrows along a very narrow arc to one side of the doorway. Finder cast spider climb and was moving up and down the walls to get into position to fire his agonizing blasts at the enemy. Soon, Bronn was wounded and had to switch places with Nash. The battle is currently ongoing with several of the wererats downed and Farooq has entered into the chamber beyond.
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