Session 023 - The Great City of Neverwinter

Regrouping

The session opened in the late hours of the night of the 25th of Sapphirus, 802 Ag. The party regrouped with each other, gathering their horses into a singular location and looking around for any sight of more foes before discussing next steps.

The mysterious martial artist that Illsaiim had rescued from the cage partially introduced himself as Wu Tang - a man from another land who had been fighting in Feldon until recently.

The rest of the party members searched around the camps for loot from the Goblins.

Finding Stuff

Salvador and Illsaiim searched around the more Northeasterly camp and found 25 gold and a bag of 10 small gems respectively.

Fill searched the area closer to their own campfire and found an a mysterious book that wouldn’t open despite repeated attempts.

”You see a large, old, leather-bound book that is locked on the side. All attempts to open the book are resisted from some unseen force.

The book has 12 round inserts spaced evenly in an oval around the front cover. The title is faded but reads ‘T.. Te.l.al. B.o…r.’ ” - The description of the book Fill finds, as narrated

Is that a centaur??

At the same time, Alberic sees an unfamiliar and odd creature in the far off distance towards the Neverwinter Woods.

”You seem what you thought was another horse for a second until you look up to see a humanoid torso. The skin is likely a deep brown, but it’s hard to be sure from this distance. You catch the gaze of the creature and large, glowing, red eyes peer back at you until you’re forced to look away.

You’ve never felt fear like that before - but there’s nothing there anymore.” - Alberic’s sight of something in the Neverwinter Woods, as narrated

The fear of that experience spurred Alberic to keep an eye and ear out for that creature for the rest of their journey.

Time for rest

The Bussy Knights, excluding Fill and Illsaiim who had already rested fully before their encounter with the Goblin pack, returned to sleep to finish a full night’s rest.

During the night and early hours of the morning, Fill further investigated the history of the book to determine is likely dates back to pre-Silver Era times, making it over 800 years old at the very least. It seems to Fill that unlocking the book has something to do with the 12 slots on the front cover.

Illsaiim Aasthmir spent most of his night inspecting a a Signet Ring as he sat a distance from Fill.

Travel Day 3

The party awoke in the early morning of 26th of Sapphirus, 802 Ag, chatting somewhat during the morning before Wu Tang properly introduced himself to the rest of The Bussy Knights.

After some discussion; they decide to abandon their cart and head directly North-West to recover most of the time they lost taking this detour from their journey to Neverwinter. During the trip, Illsaiim began to fill the others in on the history of Neverwinter and talked about The Ruining.

After a clear and uneventful day of travel; the party find a rest spot off to the side of the road and set up camp for the rest of the night.

Restful Night

The party all headed to sleep for the night with Illsaiim and Fill keeping watch first during watch and then Mike second.

Travel Day 4

Everyone woke up on the morning of the 27th of Sapphirus, 802 Ag. They decide to quickly head off and get on the road again.

Shortly after departing; it begins to rain relatively heavily and their journey is slowed by a decent amount. They are only able to cover 3/4 of the distance they expected to cover.

They find an overhang on the Eastern side of the road and manage to set up a campfire underneath it.

Illsaiim’s Dream

Illsaiim lays down in his sleeping pack and begins to recall a happy memory from his past.

”It is a warm day in Neverwinter - the year is 690 Ag.

You see Elora; her dirty blonde hair, pale cheeks, and blue eyes standing out amongst the crowd for how beautiful she is, walking towards you. Although you are in a disguise; she recognises you and approaches you.

As she opens her mouth to speak; her words fall silent and the memory fades…” - Illsaiim’s happy memory, as narrated

Illsaiim decides to take a full night’s rest rather than trancing to recover himself.

Salvador and Drengen

Salvador attempted to reconnect with Drengen during his downtime. He carefully navigated the liminal space of their mysterious existence; to avoid a repeat of the events from a few days earlier, and located the fiery aura of his devilish counterpart.

”You see a large fiery aura illuminating the liminal space around you - with 4 chains wrapping around the sphere and extending off into the void around you.” - Salvador’s point of view of Drengen’s aura

Salvador called out to Drengen and noticed one of the chains go slack shortly afterwards and an arm and then shoulder forming out of the aura. Drengen’s head emerges from the sphere and the two share a heated conversation.

”Well aren’t you lucky…

I WAS THE ONE WHO SAVED US. I sacrificed EVERYTHING for this and yet I was the one who was punished and locked away!” - Drengen to Salvador

The conversation ends when the chain goes taut once more and Salvador leaves the realm with a sense of just how much hatred Drengen has for him.

During The Night

Everyone quickly headed to bed as it was cold, wet, and draining even covered by the overhang they had found.

Grinchy Vivid Dreams

Fill watches out into the rain and notices a bright green light approaching him for the distance. Fill blinked his eyes and is forced to experience a vision where he is approached by The Grinch and made to wear an outfit in the entity’s image while it suggests that Fill would be more powerful as an acolyte for it instead of Santa Claus.

Fill attempted to pull the outfit off only to feel a blistering pain; realising that the outfit had become a part of his person. This pain released Fill from the vision, and he ended his watch quite shaken from the experience.

Explosives!?

Mike Hawk took the second watch alone, with Illsaiim sleeping through the night. At some stage early into his watch - he saw a supply cart pass by them heading towards Neverwinter.

Over 50 minutes later; Mike heard a commotion further towards the North and saw what looked to be the flashes of explosions over the horizon. The noise from that direction quietened down, and the rain was once again the only thing that could be heard.

Travel Day 5

The party are greeted by the sunrise on the 28th of Sapphirus, 802 Ag. Shortly after waking, Illsaiim is telepathically communicated to by an associate of his - to which he relayed this to the other party members.

”Prince. I have good news for you.

Our sources tell us Oskar Kryme has experienced greater than expected resistance and suffered blows to his available resources.

Your timeline has been extended another 7 days. I do not recommend that you waste this extra time.” - The message for Illsaiim

Mike shared the events he witnessed earlier in the night with the rest of them. With more time to complete their mission; The Bussy Knights breathed a little easier as the continued North towards Neverwinter.

After a full days travel, they reach a point where they can start to see the river-line that runs through the city of Neverwinter as well as the very top of the outer walls on the far-horizon. They take a moment to discuss the idea of continuing towards the city in the late hours of the night but decide against it to camp where it is likely safer. They set up a campfire and begin to rest for the likely last night on the road. Fill completes the first watch with his eyes shut, too scared to have another nightmare from The Grinch.

Illsaiim and Mike share the second watch together and Mike opens up with the Shadar-Kai male about his foggy memory and uncertainty about his real identity. Illsaiim resolves to help the Elvish male find some answers once their business in Neverwinter is complete. During the night, they see smoke clouds appear over what they believe is the skyline of Neverwinter, and then a sudden flash that blinds the both of them.

Travel Day 6

The Bussy Knights awake on the 29th of Sapphirus, 802 Ag ready to complete the remaining quarter-day of travel ahead of them.

As they begin to gather their things, the party see a cart heading south with blue and silver colours on it. Illsaiim thinks this might be connected to Oskar Kryme and Wu Tang and Alberic chase afterwards.

The Very Suspicious Cart

Dope monk shit

Illsaiim fires an arrow at Wu Tang who deflects the arrow into the wheel bearing of the cart causing it to jolt off the road and cease moving. The driver of the cart pokes his head around the side and yells at Wu Tang to identify himself and the rest of the party members follow after them.

Interrogating the driver

Through a combination of stealth, persuasion, intimidation, and dexterity - the party sufficiently scare the driver and then calm him down again.

”I’m just a supply driver! I take goods between Hockton and Neverwinter! Please don’t hurt me!” - The Cart Driver to The Bussy Knights

This cycle continues for a while as the party members disagree how best to get information out of him before Mike demands the man opens the back of the cart so they might inspect his goods.

Godly advice

Graxious, who had been standing off to the side with Fill, felt the motherly presence of Elatia; his pact deity, inform him of the man’s innocence and that his wife was a fellow acolyte of the Fire Fists. Graxious attempted to comfort the man and made his religious iconography visible to him.

Opening the cart

The man timidly opens the back of his cart to reveal it was full of agricultural goods including hay-bales, sealed crates of mulch, and sacks of potatoes.

Various party members attempted to search through the belongings to find what they believed would be contraband or prove their suspicions true.

”Please! Don’t take anything or make it obvious it’s been searched through! They’ll hurt me or worse, my wife, if they think it’s been tampered with.” - The Cart Driver to The Bussy Knights

Secret compartments

Meanwhile, Salvador removed goods from the back left corner of the cart and found a loose plank that when lifted away; revealed a metallic box that was empty aside from traces of an unknown black powder. None of the party members had any experience with this substance and were not sure what it could be.

”I’m being honest! I didn’t know that was in there - I just carry whatever goods they tell me take between here and Hockton.” - The Cart Driver to The Bussy Knights

Suspecting a connection to the explosions they’ve seen in proximity to Neverwinter - they attempt to ignite the remnants of dust on Mike’s finger - dealing some significant damage to the Barbarian that is immediately healed by Fill.

Sensibilities returned

The party align that the man is telling the truth and is likely an unknowingly participant in a larger plot. Alberic gives the man 10 gold for his troubles and the party help get his cart back on the road. He introduced himself as Amahd to Alberic, and thanks them for believing him before he and the party members go their separate ways.

Arrival at Neverwinter

The party finished the final quarter of a day’s journey up the coastal hills of The Sword Coast and finally found themselves at the edge of the mainland before the bridges to the Southern entrance of Neverwinter.

”You see a large, flat, coastal plains area interrupted by large gaping cracks in the ground. Beyond that you see the towering granite brick walls that make up what you believe is the outer wall of Neverwinter and then the long, durable bridges made of a darker wood and steel that connect the city to the main landmass.

Those of you aware of modern history would gather that these are the scars of The Ruining that destroyed the then outer rim of the city and lead to Dagult’s rise to power.” - Description of Neverwinter, as narrated

The party caught a glimpse of a Water Genasi individual exiting the city from the Easternmost bridge; who made no effort to acknowledge their presences.

Before they crossed the bridges; Illsaiim noticed the typical red-and-gold banners of Dagult Neverember had been shoddily replaced by blue-and-silver banners with foreign iconography. After a moment to think on it; Illsaiim recognised the symbols as firearms from the neighbouring country of Vaa’ruul.

They carefully make their way across the central bridge and through the arches of the city.

Is anybody there?

Upon entering the city, The Bussy Knights were shocked by the lack of any guards, or civilians to be seen - instead only seeing debris, broken glass, and general damage to the surrounding buildings and structures.

Illsaiim shared around the map of Neverwinter for all to get acquainted with its layout and devised a plan to check with his contacts at the Starling Library.

Heading for the library

Illsaiim led the group as they walked between the outer wall and Casino Cillian to avoid detection. A lapse in focus by the party resulted in Illsaiim triggering a hidden trap and despite some dexterous dodges by Illsaiim, and Alberic, Mike Hawk was knocked unconscious after being hit by a dart.

Fill used his clerical skills to ensure Mike Hawk would recover from the affliction before Wu and Alberic decided to run along the outer walls of the city to avoid traps in the floor, leaving the others to turtle around the unconscious Barbarian.

The two Monks displayed a high-level of skill to traverse a large distance across the sleek and still wet marble wall - they were however unaware of the echoing noise they were making that drew the attention of a human from the upper floors of Casino Cillian - who Alberic managed to hide from but Wu Tang did not.

Fill and Salvador kept a keen eye out for traps and highlighted another false cobblestone in the ground. Before Illsaiim and the party could move ahead to disarm it, the now distracted Wu fell from the wall but avoided any direct harm with an acrobatic handstand; placing his hand on the trigger of another trap. With a display of swift adjustment; Wu pushed off the ground to avoid a sudden swipe by a blade that extended from the wall.

The unknown human from the Casino ran back inside to inform others about Wu Tang’s presence; who took the opportunity to quickly hide nearby to Alberic. Once the cost was clear; the party regrouped, Mike awoke from his induced sleep, and Illsaiim disarmed a poison trap along their path - leading towards a multi-story housing block in the South-East of the city. Wu and Alberic were sent forward to scout the area for people before the rest would follow behind.

Another moment of carelessness from the two Monks resulted in springing a large metal net that enclosed around the entire party; barring Illsaiim who was fast enough to move out of the way, and Mike who was outside the net to begin with.

IT’S A TRAP

A few moments passed before a click from behind them echoed through the alleyway the party were in.

”You see a woman with dark tan skin and grey hair; about 5’7” tall, - she looks a bit familiar to most of you but you can’t exactly place it.

She’s wearing a silver shirt and dark blue pants, with a blue-er coat over the top. The distinct click of her heeled boots echoes through the surrounding area.” - Description of the mysterious woman, as narrated

Closure

The session closes with the woman introducing herself as Samira Farrow.

”Well ‘allo there, what ‘ave we got ‘ere?

Samira Farrow, the pleasure’s all mine…” - Samira Farrow to the party