The Underlane Assignment Plot

Transcript: Talk with Alynda d'Cannith, for your next objective: "S.W.A.P hired an inquisitive in Underlane to investigate the rally incident, and she just discovered an important lead. Talk to Inil Norwyth and she'll tell you all about it." 'I'll find out what this inquisitive has to say.'

Speak with Inil Norwyth: "Ah yes, you're the one who stopped the attack on the Warforged rally. That's all anyone in Underlane is talking about!

Good to meet you. I'm Inil Norwyth, an inquisitive from Underlane. S.W.A.P. hired me to look into the Orc who led that raid.

I've been scouring the neighborhood, talking to all his known associates. I've managed to track down his immediate boss, a Half-orc the neighbors say he was supposed to meet the night after the rally. Someone should have a talk with this bloke ... someone who's ready for a fight." 'Who were the thugs who attacked me on the way to the rally?' "Turns out those were just locals. Hired for the day and ordered to stop anyone who was trying to help the Warforged. They got paid in cash and claim to know nothing about the people who hired them, other than they "talked like Upper City toffs."

I'd watch your step if you go back to the neighborhood, though. Sounds like whoever hired those thugs can afford to hire plenty more." 'Those strange creatures that attacked the rally - what were they?' "Those weird animals with mechanical bits? No idea. Talked to some experts at Morgrave University, and they didn't have any idea either. Whatever they are, they're not in any of the books." 'Tell me who this person is and where they live.' "The Half-orc's name is Taugh Ignath and he lives in an appartment in Underlane.

You should hurry if you want to catch him, though. If he has any brains at all he'll have figured out there will be people after him." 'I'll take the Wharfside Access lift to the Underlane neighborhoord and investigate.'

 Quest text: You are hot on the trail of the person in charge of the attack on the Warforged rally. Take the Wharfside Access Lift to the Underlane Investigation Area and track them down.

DM: You've reached the residential complex the Inquisitive told you about. Now to find the people responsible for the kidnappings.

When you've reached Taugh's appartment: DM: The splintered remains of the door suggest that you may not be the only one looking for this kidnapper.

In the room, there's a Torn page: "Taugh,

Remember, if anything goes wrong with the operation. the emergency meet-up point is at the central gate. It should be secure - I've hired some local toughs to guard it and make sure only our people go through.

Agnor"

</li>DM: The torn page you found points you to your next destination: the gate in the central tower of Underlane.

</li>Note (behind the closed door): "Agnor,

I've gone to the Old South Fort to make preparations for the soul-splitting. Meet me at the hideout once you have the warforged.

We should be able to process them quickly. There's plenty of space - one of the advantages of running an operation in this run-down neighborhood!

Taugh"

</li>Moving further down the appartment-building, you find another note: "Agnor, I've made shipping arrangements for when the operation is complete. Make sure your goons guard the crates well. I don't expect any problems, but the last thing we need is some snoop prying open one of the boxes and finding a Warforged inside. Taugh"

</li>Moving out of the Eastside Heights Apartments: DM: Things seem strangely quiet as you enter the Underlane neighborhood.

</li>Entering the square: DM: some of the locals look up as you approach, then start heading your way.

</li>Moving into the side square, there's another note: Note tells you, 'Agnor, I expect that those S.W.A.P. pests will try to interfere with our operation. Have your men seal the door and hide the crests. That should distract them long enough for me to perform the soul-splitting. Taugh' </li>Moving into the Waterwheel Power Facility: DM: This area seems to be a part of the city's massive water purification system.

</li>Moving to the Northside Deeps: DM: Another group of ruffians singles you out and heads your way.

</li>Moving on: DM: Frightened faces disappear from nearby windows as another band of ruffians calls you out. Someone's intend on stopping you.

</li>Entering the Central Tower: DM: You enter the central tower of Underlane, only to find your path blocked by even more ruffians.

</li>Moving to the gate: DM: Thugs in ragged clothes and battered armor guard the central tower gate.

</li>After defeating the last enemy: DM: A thug cries, "Don't let them get to the old south fort!" - but too late, for all of his comrades are dead.

</li>Moving to the next area: DM: Still more thugs block the passage out of the central tower area. They do love their bottlenecks.

</li>There's a note here too: "Taugh,

</li>Remember, we expect you to deliver the soul-split Warforged on schedule. Failure will not be tolerated - not by me, and especially not by those who finance my enterprise. It would be foolish to disappoint me. And it would be sheer madness to disappoint the Aurum.

</li>Finding the Dwarf Community: DM: The gate to this small Dwarf community is bolted shut.

</li><li>Moving further into the area: DM: This group looks far more determined to stop you. You must be getting close.

</li><li>Reaching the Old South Fort for the first time: DM: You approach the entrance to a fortified tower. Could this be the "Old South Fort" the thugs were referring to?

</li><li>Speaking to Trielling Ravenwing <Soarsled Share Program>: 'Thanks! They were threatening to kill me if I put any of these Soarsleds in the neighborhood. I don't know what they have against convenient public transportation.' You tell Triellin Ravenwing, 'Well, you're safe now. Best get out of here.' Triellin Ravenwing says, 'Thanks! I'll go put out the Soarsleds!'

</li><li>Near the Soarsleds, there's a poster: Poster tells you, 'Introducing the SOARSLED SHARE PROGRAM! A part of the city's effort to alleviate the effects of want in Sharn's less-advantaged neighborhoods. Feel free to borrow these soarsleds, then return them to one of the designated soarsled stations after use. Please do not remove from the neighborhood. (Defaulters are subject to fines of up to 5000 gp and/or ten years in prison.) A joint effort of House Cannith and the Sharn City Council.'

</li><li>Walking into the Old South Fort: DM: The door is sealed by four magical sockets - recently installed, by the looks of them. Perhaps you can find their crests back in the Underlane neighborhood.

</li><li>Going into the sewers next to the Old South Fort: DM: The dank stench of sewage fills the air.

</li><li>Jumping further down: DM: The pipe opens up into a massive catch basin. You can hear the distant echoes of movement. </li><li>Moving into the center of the area: DM: The air grows suddenly hot, and whispers fill the area. </li><li>Halfway through the fight: DM: The Forgewraith lets out a wail - and the refuse in the basin begins to stir! </li><li>Defeating the Forgewraith: DM: With a final, keening wail, the Forgewraith dissipates.

</li><li>Opening the Old South Fort: DM: As the fort door opens, you can hear frightened whispers ahead.

</li><li>Opening the left gate: DM: You open the prison gate. Several Warforged murmur thanks as they bolt for the door. Yet others just stand there, motionless.

</li><li>Opening the right gate: DM: You open the gate - but the Warforged trapped inside don't seem to notice.

</li><li>Moving into the amphitheater: The Half-orc looks up and scowls as you enter the ampitheater. "So - you're the ones disrupting my operations? You don't look so tough."

</li><li>Defeating Taugh Ignath DM: The Half-orc collapses from his injuries with a wordless moan.

</li><li>Moving into the final chamber: DM: Torture equipment and strange machinery fills this room.

</li><li>There is also a note: Note tells you, 'Taugh,

I've sent you a selection of Arcane Assistants to use as soul-splitters. Vaunt may be gone, but his device still has its uses. Who would have dreamed that his gadget can be used to strip away the very soul? It's only thanks to our Aurum contact that we learned of this ability. Send the soul-split Warforged and the soul containment vessels to headquarters as soon as the operation is complete. I have need of both. -V. ' </li><li>Speak with Inil Norwyth to finish the quest: "Hmmm. Sorry to say it, but it sounds like that Half-orc was just another underling. We're not any closer to the higher-up behind al lthis.

</li><li>Still, we're building up an overall picture. We know these people are kidnapping Warforged, then using a device to literally steal their souls. Then the soul-split Warforged are being put back out on the street as pliable servants. This isn't some crazy cultists or a lone lunatic. Crazy as it sounds, this appears to be a business.

</li><li>Thanks for your help. We'll keep digging." 'If this is a business, we should find out where the Warforged are being sold.'

</li><li>Speaking with Inil Norwyth again: "I've got a job for you, . We need someone to talk to the bloke behind the attack on the rally."

</li><li>Finished quest text: You've learned how the souls of the Warforged are being stolen. Now to learn the identity of the people behind this.

</li><li>Speaking with Alynda d'Cannith to progress the Story Arc: "This kidnapping operation is bigger than we thought. It's time to change our tactics. We can't expend all our investigative resources on the small fry. We need to figure out how to strike at the top." 'What's next?'</li></ul>