[SCENE THREE — QUEST SEED | KARESHKA’S FAVOR | 9:26 AM | WATERDEEP]

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  1. THE LETTER ARRIVES

  A courier — half-elf, half-bored, pale and rain-damp — enters holding a wax-sealed envelope.

  He hands it to Krummar with two fingers, then notices Melodia.

  Pauses.

  Stares.

  She blinks, cheeks flushed.

  “H-hi.”

  He forgets to speak. Then turns and walks directly into the doorframe.

  Krummar opens the letter as the courier limps out.

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  2. THE REQUEST

  Sender: Vajra Safahr, Bckstaff of WaterdeepSeal: Bck fme with silver circle

  “To the Iron-Fisted Anomalies of Kareshka’s Favor (yes, that’s what she wrote),

  *A sewer cell in Dock Ward has gone dark. Scrying failed. Glow readings suggest emotional feedback loop activity — likely Codex-Css.

  *Unidentified entity present. No survivors reported from the st patrol — one shoe, one scream, one ugh still echoing in the stones.

  *Payment: 600gp, with bonus for confirmation of magical anomaly source.

  You’re the only ones weird enough to survive this.”

  *— Bckstaff”

  Daka:

  “Did she say screaming ughter?”

  Mel (deadpan):

  “We’re still going.”

  Krummar nods once.Lorin is already packing bandages.

  Melodia holds the letter.

  “They… didn’t send city guards?”

  “They did,” Krummar says. “They screamed.”

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  3. THE PREP — TAVERN ARMORY ALCOVE, 10:04 AM

  Mel ces her blighted leathers, the bark-textured ptes tightening around her hips and shoulders. She twists her hair into a braid. Her Gulthias Staff pulses once — hungry.

  Daka straps on his pirate hat. Shirtless. Again.His fists shimmer with enchantment. He flexes.

  “One-liner locked and loaded.”

  Krummar lights incense on his shield. His armor glows with inner sunlight.

  “I’ll shine. You follow.”

  Lorin (not going) hands out potion vials — fingers brushing Mel’s, Melodia’s, Daka’s wrist in turn. Her silence holds weight.

  “Don’t die. Or bleed in the undry alcove.”

  Melodia adjusts her thigh garters, tugs her moonstone choker, loads her Longbow of Melodies, and pockets three sweets.

  “I’m scared. So… let’s go.”

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  4. COMBAT ENGAGE SOON — LOCATION: WATERDEEP SEWER NODE 9B

  A cracked iron grate. A narrow descent.Glow pulsing in darkness. Wet stone. A scent of honey and rot.

  Something ughs below. Not human.