# Session 1- Brains, Blades, and the Birth of a Tavern

### Waterdeep Campaign: Session 1 Summary

**Campaign**: Waterdeep, blending *Waterdeep: Dragon Heist* with custom elements  
**DM**: Rewrok (Reuben)  
**Date**: Prior to May 17, 2025 (specific date not provided)

<details id="bkmrk-images-%F0%9F%96%BC%EF%B8%8F"><summary>Images 🖼️</summary>

[![inside2.jpg](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/inside2.jpg)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/inside2.jpg)

[![inside_opening_night2.jpg](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/inside-opening-night2.jpg)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/inside-opening-night2.jpg)

[![skull.jpg](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/skull.jpg)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/skull.jpg)

[![trollskull.jpg](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/trollskull.jpg)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/trollskull.jpg)

[![drinks_menu.jpg](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/drinks-menu.jpg)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/drinks-menu.jpg)

[![bard.jpg](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/bard.jpg)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/bard.jpg)

</details><details id="bkmrk-audio-%F0%9F%8E%B6"><summary>Music 🎶</summary>

<video class=" align-center" controls="controls" height="150" width="300"><source src="https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/attachments/59"></source></video>

##### "Ballad of the Trollskull Heros"

##### by [Varrick Songweave](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/books/varrick-songweave)

```yaml
(Verse 1)
In Waterdeep’s alleys, where shadows hold sway,
Five heroes united to challenge the fray.
Eyeless’s blade shone with justice’s light,
Artemis struck swift, a ghost in the night.

(Verse 2)
Dren’s hammer crashed bold, like stone unyielding,
Slim Jim’s traps sparked, his cunning revealing.
Silas wove spells, his silver tongue sly,
Together they fought ‘neath a dark, dreaded sky.

(Chorus)
Toss a coin to your heroes, O Waterdeep’s pride,
Through peril and pain, they stand side by side!
With hearts forged in fire, their legend will soar,
For Trollskull’s brave souls, sing forevermore!

(Verse 3)
In a dungeon, Floon lay, by Mind Flayer torn,
A wizard was felled, potions claimed, battle-worn.
Dren’s mind was devoured, yet a Wish brought him back,
Through a halfling’s door, they escaped the attack.

(Verse 4)
Volo gave Trollskull, a manor to claim,
A tavern they’d build to ignite their fame.
Factions like Lords call, with Eyeless’s vow,
Their path to the treasure begins taking shape now.

(Chorus)
Toss a coin to your heroes, O Waterdeep’s pride,
Through peril and pain, they stand side by side!
With hearts forged in fire, their legend will soar,
For Trollskull’s brave souls, sing forevermore!

(Outro)
Raise tankards to Eyeless, Dren, and their kin,
In Trollskull’s warm hearth, their saga begins!
```

</details>### 📍 Location:

**Waterdeep**, City of Splendors

---

## 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Party Members:

<div class="_tableContainer_16hzy_1" id="bkmrk-character-player-rac"><div class="_tableWrapper_16hzy_14 group flex w-fit flex-col-reverse" tabindex="-1"><table class="w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)" data-end="898" data-start="232" style="width: 100%; height: 229.172px;"><thead data-end="285" data-start="232"><tr data-end="285" data-start="232" style="height: 29.7969px;"><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="244" data-start="232" style="width: 25.6045%; height: 29.7969px;">Character</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="253" data-start="244" style="width: 16.4454%; height: 29.7969px;">Player</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="260" data-start="253" style="width: 13.6831%; height: 29.7969px;">Race</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="276" data-start="260" style="width: 18.4375%; height: 29.7969px;">Class &amp; Level</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="285" data-start="276" style="width: 25.7106%; height: 29.7969px;">Notes</th></tr></thead><tbody data-end="898" data-start="340"><tr data-end="451" data-start="340" style="height: 46.5938px;"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="364" data-start="340" style="width: 25.6045%; height: 46.5938px;">**Eirlys Shadowstep**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="383" data-start="364" style="width: 16.4454%; height: 46.5938px;">Justin / Slitzer</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="393" data-start="383" style="width: 13.6831%; height: 46.5938px;">Aasimar</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="413" data-start="393" style="width: 18.4375%; height: 46.5938px;">Paladin (Level 2)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="451" data-start="413" style="width: 25.7106%; height: 46.5938px;">Exhaustion Level 3, justice-driven</td></tr><tr data-end="549" data-start="452" style="height: 29.7969px;"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="488" data-start="452" style="width: 25.6045%; height: 29.7969px;">**Captain John Mercer**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="496" data-start="488" style="width: 16.4454%; height: 29.7969px;">Kenneth / Artemis </td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="504" data-start="496" style="width: 13.6831%; height: 29.7969px;">Human</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="522" data-start="504" style="width: 18.4375%; height: 29.7969px;">Rogue (Level 2)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="549" data-start="522" style="width: 25.7106%; height: 29.7969px;">Stealthy and persuasive</td></tr><tr data-end="651" data-start="550" style="height: 46.5938px;"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="561" data-start="550" style="width: 25.6045%; height: 46.5938px;">**Dren**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="582" data-start="561" style="width: 16.4454%; height: 46.5938px;">MichaelKong / Mike</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="599" data-start="582" style="width: 13.6831%; height: 46.5938px;">Mountain Dwarf</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="619" data-start="599" style="width: 18.4375%; height: 46.5938px;">Fighter (Level 2)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="651" data-start="619" style="width: 25.7106%; height: 46.5938px;">Mind restored via Wish spell</td></tr><tr data-end="775" data-start="652" style="height: 46.5938px;"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="689" data-start="652" style="width: 25.6045%; height: 46.5938px;">**Slim Jim (Tiberius Aun Argent)**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="707" data-start="689" style="width: 16.4454%; height: 46.5938px;">Baconbuff / Rob</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="715" data-start="707" style="width: 13.6831%; height: 46.5938px;">Human</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="743" data-start="715" style="width: 18.4375%; height: 46.5938px;">Rogue (1) / Artificer (1)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="775" data-start="743" style="width: 25.7106%; height: 46.5938px;">Exhaustion Level 1, tinkerer</td></tr><tr data-end="898" data-start="776" style="height: 29.7969px;"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="812" data-start="776" style="width: 25.6045%; height: 29.7969px;">**Silas “Silver Tongue” Rushtyn**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="831" data-start="812" style="width: 16.4454%; height: 29.7969px;">Sicareus / James</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="841" data-start="831" style="width: 13.6831%; height: 29.7969px;">Yuan-ti</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="862" data-start="841" style="width: 18.4375%; height: 29.7969px;">Sorcerer (Level 2)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="898" data-start="862" style="width: 25.7106%; height: 29.7969px;">Charismatic, role still emerging</td></tr></tbody></table>

<div class="sticky end-(--thread-content-margin) h-0 self-end select-none"><div class="absolute end-0 flex items-end"><span class="" data-state="closed"><button class="bg-token-bg-primary hover:bg-token-bg-tertiary text-token-text-secondary my-1 rounded-sm p-1 transition-opacity group-[:not(:hover):not(:focus-within)]:pointer-events-none group-[:not(:hover):not(:focus-within)]:opacity-0"><svg class="icon-md-heavy" fill="none" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M7 5C7 3.34315 8.34315 2 10 2H19C20.6569 2 22 3.34315 22 5V14C22 15.6569 20.6569 17 19 17H17V19C17 20.6569 15.6569 22 14 22H5C3.34315 22 2 20.6569 2 19V10C2 8.34315 3.34315 7 5 7H7V5ZM9 7H14C15.6569 7 17 8.34315 17 10V15H19C19.5523 15 20 14.5523 20 14V5C20 4.44772 19.5523 4 19 4H10C9.44772 4 9 4.44772 9 5V7ZM5 9C4.44772 9 4 9.44772 4 10V19C4 19.5523 4.44772 20 5 20H14C14.5523 20 15 19.5523 15 19V10C15 9.44772 14.5523 9 14 9H5Z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></button></span></div></div></div></div>---

## 🧩 Key Events:

### 🔧 Party Formation

- The group convinced Slim Jim to join, finalizing their adventuring team.

### 🧠 Dungeon Rescue

- In the sewers, the party discovered **Floon Blagmaar** and **Dren** being tortured by a **wizard**, a **Mind Flayer**, and an **Intellect Devourer**.
- The wizard was slain.
- The Intellect Devourer **consumed Dren’s brain**, incapacitating him.
- Loot collected: healing potions, a Level 1 wizard spellbook, and gold (amount unconfirmed).

### ⛪ Temple Restoration

- Escaping through a halfling’s house, the party brought Dren to a temple.
- **Floon funded a Wish spell**, restoring Dren’s mind.

### 🏚 Trollskull Manor

- Back at the **Yawning Portal**, Volo couldn’t pay in gold, but gave the **deed to Trollskull Manor**.

[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 12_36_38 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-36-38-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-36-38-am.png)

- The party decided to **renovate it into a tavern**, establishing a base of operations.

[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 12_38_38 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-38-38-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-38-38-am.png)

<details id="bkmrk-before-%26-after"><summary>Before &amp; After</summary>

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 1px; border-style: hidden;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"></col><col style="width: 50%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td>[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 12_42_21 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-42-21-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-42-21-am.png)</td><td>[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 12_42_27 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-42-27-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-12-42-27-am.png)</td></tr><tr><td>[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 01_54_03 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-01-54-03-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-01-54-03-am.png)</td><td>[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 10_17_59 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-10-17-59-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-10-17-59-am.png)</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details>### 🧭 Future Planning

- Discussions began on **which Waterdeep faction to align with**:
    
    
    - Harpers (idealistic)
    - Zhentarim (rogue-friendly)
    - Lords’ Alliance (order-focused)
- Plans paused until the **new Player’s Handbook** is released.

---

## 📈 Outcomes:

- **All characters leveled to 2**
- **Eirlys** suffers Exhaustion Level 3
- **Slim Jim** suffers Exhaustion Level 1
- **Trollskull Manor** acquired
- **Faction alignment** under discussion
- **Campaign paused** for Player’s Handbook release