Hello! I'm still very new to DMing, and I need some suggestions on building an encounter.
My group just finished our first campaign, and we're about to start our second one, Rime of the Frost Maiden. My players want some more roleplay, so I decided to run a shopping trip session in Waterdeep. Basically, have them prep for the harsh environment. Storywise they're heading in that direction to search for someone's missing father.
The problem I'm having is with a fight I want to run. Basically, if the party wants to go to a tavern. When they go to the nearest one, they find out it's actually a drag queen brunch cafe. I recently purchased the Griffons Saddlebag, and the tavern games and monster stats in there are really cool, and I'm excited to try them out.
The players quickly learn that the tavern is having problems. All their ale keeps going missing, and any couple who comes in quickly breaks up and leaves in a huff. Not to mention sabotage during one of Drag Queens acts.
Basically, one of the drag queens, Katya Dikov, has beef with another queen, Polly Morph. Jealousy plus, someone stole someone's man, kinda situation. Katya is a wizard and has been the one breaking up couples, stealing ale to make an Ale elemental, and mimic kegs. And she's been trying to make Polly's death drop a permanent one.
I'm having trouble setting up clues for the players. I don't want the fight with Katya and the ale elemental to come out of nowhere. Any suggestions would be great.