Picking up their investigation in Waterdeep, the party began Session 2 ready to explore the quarantined Copper District and uncover the source of the spreading plague [Implied from Session 1 conclusion and Session 2 start]. After taking a long rest, they were located in Waterdeep, with travel through streets like Bliss Street and Ignorance Alley noted.
Their initial attempt to enter the quarantined inner area was blocked by guards stationed at the boundary. The guards, acting under strict orders from Lord Bram Blackwood, refused entry to anyone, including the party, despite them showing a paper indicating their interest in assisting the Copper District Council. They were told Lieutenant Dan, who was reportedly in charge and possibly at the Blackwood estate, was not present. The guards were serious, though one was dismissive, and the party witnessed desperate families trying to re-enter the zone for supplies like bread.
Unable to proceed into the core quarantine zone, the party shifted their focus to a nearby bakery suspected of distributing contaminated grain [Implied from investigation goals]. Observing the building, one character noticed a suspicious worker [Implied from narrative flow]. Peeking through a window revealed three half-orcs in black cloaks mixing grain from different barrels while wearing gloves. One of them, “Mr. Dusty,” seemed particularly agitated.
Attempting to gain entry by knocking and asking for Lieutenant Dan, the party was met with dismissal by one of the half-orcs, who told them to return later. Showing identification didn’t change the half-orc’s demeanor. As the party considered waiting, a tense confrontation escalated into combat. Initiative was rolled, and perception checks were attempted. Weapons were drawn, and spells such as ‘faith’ (used on oneself) and ‘vicious mockery’ were cast. Characters took damage and were healed. The combat tracker was utilized. During the fight, one character, Skulk, went down and was unconscious. The party ultimately defeated the half-orcs.
In the aftermath, the party decided to drag the bodies inside the bakery to avoid suspicion, aware that Blackwood enforcers typically handled body collection. They agreed to deny any knowledge of the events inside or being present at a “scene of a crime”. A sample of the suspicious grain was collected. One party member even left a note on a body, detailing the find and noting the grain was contaminated [Implied from narrative flow]. They acknowledged they were essentially conducting this investigation without an official employer.
The following morning, after a long rest, the party reported their findings to the Copper District Council. Meeting with Council member Sander Lachman, they presented the grain sample, which Sander noted looked “a little funny” and promised to have examined. The conversation was abruptly interrupted by news of the discovery of three dead bodies at the bakery. Sander immediately questioned the party about the “crime scene” and the “three half forks dead”. Sticking to their plan, the party denied involvement in the “triple homicide”, stating they only obtained the sample from the back window. Sander appeared shocked [Implied from narrative].
Seeking out Lieutenant Dan, who was overseeing the district, the party found him near the infirmary. Dan, recognizing them, was visibly distressed by the bakery incident and desperate for help, even asking about baking knowledge.
They also spoke with the actual bakers outside the establishment, who described being ushered out after finding the “carnage” and speculated the deceased had broken in and “paid for it”. The party successfully persuaded the bakers to return to work, impressing Lieutenant Dan [Implied from narrative].
Still needing assistance, Lieutenant Dan offered the party different tasks: working in the infirmary or guard duty. Two members chose the infirmary, hoping to use their knowledge of the potentially contaminated bread to find a cure or better treatment. Their shift was described as difficult, showing the plague’s severity [Implied from narrative flow]. The guard duty shift was less eventful.
As their shifts ended, the party regrouped [Implied from narrative flow]. They observed a cart following tired individuals and noticed a flier on the cart advertising the Temporal Temple. The cart appeared to be collecting bodies and dumping them down a grate. One party member decided to follow the cart, and the others agreed to join, presumably to investigate this new lead and perhaps secure their promised payment from House Blackwood.
Session 2 saw the party encounter bureaucratic obstacles, uncover potential foul play involving contaminated grain, survive a sudden and deadly confrontation, strategically manage the aftermath, report their discoveries cautiously, contribute to relief efforts, and find a new, mysterious thread to pull involving the Temporal Temple and body disposal.