A new beginning *spoiler*

I'd like to your comments on my changes to Waterdeep: Dragon heist. My campaign will start quite similarly as RAW in the module except as explained here.

The Yawning Portal First of all, in my campaign, Volo is a common friend of the PCs. He managed to get tickets for a show held at the Yawning Portal. The Inn is more than just a inn. Obviously, it’s the gateway to undermountain, but also more like a cabaret where music shows are held, while you also eat and drink.

When the PCs show up read or paraphrase. It’s a cold and rainy evening in the City of Splendor. As you get near the popular Inn/tavern/cabaret, you spot a long waiting line. Walking on the other side of Rainrun Street, you finally spot your friend Volo waiting in the line. He seems preoccupied and doesn’t noticed you at all.

Volo is waiting for his friends (the PCs) and also for Floon Blagmaar

Read or paraphrase When Volo finally noticed you, he waves at you to get in the line. At that moment the line starts moving as they open the door. Loud cheers coming from the people in line confirms that everyone’s happy to finally get inside the warm main room. Volo gives everyone a ticket when you arrive at the gate, keeping two for himself. As you get finally inside, he looks one last time outside, like he’s looking for someone.

The PCs will probably ask Volo what’s going on with him at that point.

Well, I was hoping we would be joined by one other friend tonight, someone deer to me, but I guess it’s going to have to wait, he says, as you’re  kind of rushed in by the staff and gently but very effectively guided to your table.

When the PCs sit at their table take time to describe the atmosphere of the inn. See waterdeep: dragon heist. I also include a bridge/stage/ramp on top of the main well of the tavern for the shows and where adventurer can also attach ladder or rope to go to Undermountain.

The show and dinner A typical dish served at the Yawning Portal consisted of quippers (fish) and chips with Shadowdark ale. the taproom. Let conversations between PCs go or between barman/maid and PC or with Volo. When you’re ready start the show. It can be any song you like adapted to medieval fantasy setting. I’ll describe my show here.   Performer: Ammeara female bard aasimar and Lejes male sorcerer tiefling proficient in perform. them in a more lower level cause my party has only 2 PC and I’ll probably need sidekick for this game) Song: Worthy of you from The sins of thy beloved.   https://youtu.be/B5ryGUNFQqs

The violin intro of that song play for about 2:45. That’s enough to set the mood and describe the scene. When the music starts all the lights in the tavern are turned off (either everburning torch or maybe thaumaturgie.) On the middle of the stage a violin is playing by itself (Ammeara is invisible) and a white light from the ceiling illuminate the stage. (Light spell).

Let the music play some and describe the mood of everyone. They feel charmed by that song (Enthralling Performance)

Then, when at 2:45 the big voice starts singing, the white lights turn off and the stage and surrounding turns to red lighting like flames from Hell. (Silent image). Music seems to come from everywhere (thaumaturgy). Lejes look like a green tall muscular demon wearing red clothes. He levitates out of the well and those who are nearby are shocked as they think a monster from undermountain comes out. But as they realize the singing comes from his mouth they relax.

When Ammeara’s voice return you can describe her like an angel who took a human form.

After that, both singers exchange passionate looks as they sing, and everybody can feel the love that animate them as they respond to each other singing, staring into each other eyes.

What I like with that scene is that it gives the players a taste of what magic can accomplish outside of combat and that it’s possible to create a modern concert with special effect and all with some magic.

If you like that band I’d recommend continuing the game with Silent Pain (7th song of the album) in the background.

If you want you can proceed with the brawl as written in the adventure or let Volo explain his concern about his missing friend right away. The idea of the brawl is to let the players know that Waterdeep is in turmoil with those gangs beating each other. But Volo can explain that during the song.

 Read or paraphrase You know my friends, with everything going on in the city right now, all those gangs rivalry, fights and all, I’m quite nervous about Floon, my friend who didn’t show up this evening. He really wanted to see tonight’s show. I saw him last two days ago and left him near the Dock wards. He was supposed to meet someone at the Skewered Dragon a tavern there and I didn’t want to join him. I reported his disappearance to the Watch this afternoon but they are too busy with criminal gangs to investigate a commoner disappearance without any evidence. If only I had some proofs.

As Volo talk, the show continues but eventually it is disrupted by either the brawl or the troll.

If you have chosen your season already you might be tempted to replace the troll by a barbed devil (half hp like the troll) to put some emphasis on devil worshippers or by a drider or drow elite warrior (also half hp) for breagan dearth. Those two factions are also Fighting against each other for the Stone of Golorr. They might want to eliminate a competitor that is attending the show. Jarlaxe isn’t dumb enough to be unmasked by sending a drider (obviously related to drow), but some of his lieutenant might. Or maybe he just want to scare the competition.

But whatever you choose, after the turmoil of the fight Volo is pale and frightened. During the fight, some guy fall over your table and drop a personal object important to Floon (your call). That just confirm that something happened to his friends. He begs the PC to help him find Floon. If you like, Floon’s kidnapper can still be there and the PC could shadow him to the warehouse, skipping the Skewered Dragon. If you want to give more hint to a particular faction, he could have drop also something personal (cultist mask, drow hand crossbow, a serpent talisman, or a beholder sign). Volo knows lots of things and he could help the PC figure out what that object is related to. This is just to plant seeds for later in the adventure.