BAR BRAWL IN THE YAWNING PORTAL PROVES
that nowhere is safe from the gang war be-
t ween the Zhentarim and the Xanathar Guild.
In this atmosphere of danger, the characters
are offered a quest by Volothamp Geddarm.
Volo promises a reward if they can rescue
his missing friend, Floon Blagmaar, who he
fears has been caught up in the conflict. Volo's
quest is a straightforward introduction to the streets of
Waterdeep, providing the characters with an excuse to
explore the city.
In their hunt for Volo's friend, the characters might
make allies and enemies who can resurface throughout
the adventure. Following the completion ofVolo's quest,
the characters gain a home base with an address in
Trollskull Alley, in Waterdeep's North Ward. From their
new base, the characters can plot their own course,
whethe r it involves interacting with Waterdeep's people,
joining one of the city's many factions, or simply poking
around for danger.
Where to Start.
This adventure assumes that the characters have al-
ready formed a party and arc presently in the Yawning
Portal, perhaps knocking back a pint of Shadowdark ale
and wolfing down a plate of quipper and chips. Alterna-
tively, you can begin this adventure as the characters
first enter the raucous tavern, or by having them all meet
for the first time as Volo hands them their initial quest.
TAVER N BRAWL
As the characters are relaxing in the taproom of the
Yawning Portal. a fistfight breaks out. Read the follow-
ing to set the scene:You sit around a sturdy wooden table lit by a brightly
burning candle and littered with plates cleared of food
and half-drained tankards. The sounds of gamblers yell-
ing and d runken adventurers singing bawdy songs nearly
drown out the off-key strumming of a young bard three
tables over.
Then all the noise is eclipsed by a shout: "Ya pig! Like
killin' me mates, does ya?" Then a seven-foot-tall half-
orc is hit by a wild, swinging punch from a male human
whose shaved head is covered with eye-shaped tattoos.
Four other humans stand behind him, ready to jump
Into the fray. The half-ore cracks her knuckles, roars, and
leaps at the tattooed figure- but before you can see if
blood is drawn, a crowd of spectators clusters around
the brawl. What do you do?The human combatants are five members of the Xana-
thar Guild (CE human bandits). The one with the eye-
shaped tattoos on his bald pate is their leader, Krentz.
Their foe, Yagra Strongfist, is a half-ore employed by
the Zhentarim (see the Yawning Portal Friendly Faces
handout in appendix C). Yagra fights for her pride.CHAPTER 1 J A FRIEND IN Nl!l!D