# ✧ Episode 14 - Whispers of the Dead and Shadows of the Portal **Date:** Tuesday, 6th January, 2026 **Location:** [[Waterdeep]] - Temple District, [[Market Square]], and the [[Yawning Portal]] ## Session Summary The Mighty Hands sought answers about a mysterious dead gnome at a temple, using Speak with Dead to uncover clues about a potential pattern of deaths. At the [[Yawning Portal]], [[Kozu Marphanis]] received a cold reception from [[Beatrix]], who fled at his greeting, and later a harsh slap from [[Durnan the Wanderer]] for causing disruption. Between these tense encounters, the party visited [[Market Square]] where [[Sarah]] provided valuable information and Kozu acquired a purple cloak and a valuable Magical Emporium coupon. Multiple story threads emerged: the dead gnome mystery, Beatrix's strange behavior, the party's unclear purpose, and whispers of the upcoming Day of Wonder parade. ### Morning: Voices from Beyond (Dawn) The Mighty Hands arrived at a temple in the early morning light, their purpose grim yet necessary. A dead gnome lay before them, his fate seemingly intertwined with larger, darker events unfolding across the city. Questions haunted the party: Had this gnome served as someone's mentor? Was his death part of a pattern they'd encountered before? The temple priests, somber and practiced in such dark rituals, offered their aid through the ancient spell 'Speak with Dead.' The answers they received would set the course for the day ahead, though they raised more questions than they answered. ### Afternoon: The Market and The Message (13:45) After leaving the temple, The Mighty Hands made their way through the winding streets of [[Waterdeep]] toward the famous [[Yawning Portal]] inn. Upon crossing the threshold, [[Kozu Marphanis]] called out cheerfully for his friend B.B. [[Beatrix]], the establishment's familiar barmaid. But something was wrong — upon hearing his voice, Beatrix suddenly bolted away into the back kitchen, her face pale with an emotion Kozu couldn't quite read. Confused but undeterred, Kozu placed 3 silver pieces on the counter, securing a private corner table for the party's return. Before settling in, the party ventured to the bustling [[Market Square]]. Kozu sought out [[Sarah]], who ran a clothing stall among the maze of merchants and hagglers. After purchasing an elegant purple cloak for 2 gold pieces, Kozu received something far more valuable — information. Sarah directed him to the offices of the Wazoos newspaper, suggesting answers might be found there. At the newspaper office, Kozu scanned the broadsheets for any mention of upcoming high-nobility events: charity balls, galas, or gatherings where coin and secrets flowed freely. Finding nothing of immediate interest, his eye instead caught something else — a coupon tucked between the pages. **The Magical Emporium - Special Offer:** - Buy 4 items, get the 4th at half price - Minimum purchase: 500g per item - Valid until May Kozu carefully tore the coupon from the paper and tucked it into his pocket. Perhaps it would prove useful when gold was plentiful and magic was needed. ### Evening: Trouble at the Portal (16:00) Returning to the [[Yawning Portal]], the party settled into their reserved corner table. But the atmosphere had shifted. Whatever had spooked Beatrix earlier now manifested as tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Suddenly, [[Durnan the Wanderer]] himself — the legendary proprietor of the Yawning Portal and survivor of countless delves into Undermountain — approached Kozu. Without warning or explanation, his massive hand connected with Kozu's face in a resounding slap that dealt four points of damage and sent a clear message to everyone watching: disrupting the peace of his establishment, especially where Beatrix was concerned, would not be tolerated. As the evening wore on and tempers cooled, conversation turned to upcoming events in the city. Someone mentioned The Day of Wonder, a grand parade celebrating summer's arrival that drew crowds from across the Sword Coast. It seemed far off, but in a city like Waterdeep, major events often became flashpoints for intrigue. ## Key NPCs Encountered - **[[Beatrix]]** - Barmaid at the Yawning Portal; fled at Kozu's greeting, suggesting unresolved tension - **[[Durnan the Wanderer]]** - Proprietor of the Yawning Portal; delivered swift justice to maintain order - **[[Sarah]]** - Market Square clothing vendor; provided valuable information and sold Kozu a purple cloak - **Temple Priests** - Assisted with 'Speak with Dead' ritual - **The Dead Gnome** - Mysterious victim whose death may be part of a larger pattern ## Loot & Acquisitions - Purple cloak (2 gold) - purchased from [[Sarah]] - Magical Emporium coupon - 4th item half price on purchases over 500g each, valid until May ## Party Notes - [[Kozu Marphanis]] - L3 Rogue, managing complex social dynamics and gathering intelligence ## Story Threads & Mysteries - **The Dead Gnome's Purpose**: What role did this gnome serve? Was he a mentor to someone important? - **The Pattern of Death**: Does this death connect to previous incidents the party has encountered? - **Beatrix's Reaction**: Why did she flee from Kozu? What has changed since they last met? - **The Purpose of The Mighty Hands**: What is the party's true mission in Waterdeep? - **The Yawning Portal's Secrets**: The famous inn continues to serve as a nexus of intrigue and danger - **The Day of Wonder**: This summer parade may become significant as events unfold ___ ## ⚡︎ Tags - #dnd Session 14 - Episode complete - #sessionnote Narrative format established - #waterdeep City intrigue and social encounters - #yawning-portal Central location for party activities - #kozu Rogue investigations and social dynamics - #beatrix Unresolved relationship tension - #durnan Authority figure conflict - #sarah Market contact and information broker - #mystery Dead gnome investigation ongoing - #speak-with-dead Divination magic used - #loot Purple cloak and Magical Emporium coupon acquired - #npc-relationships Complex social web developing - #storyline Multiple investigation threads active - #the-mighty-hands Party purpose unclear - #day-of-wonder Future event foreshadowed - #market-square Shopping and information gathering