Session 9 Notes

Neverwinter. It feels like an age since you last walked her cobbled streets, and in truth she feels like a different city, even under the crisp afternoon light. Where the protectorate enclave once rang out with bustling traders, laughter, and citizens comfortably going about their lives (at least, those resident of the enclave district), it is now a more subdued place. More guardsmen walk the streets than you remember, and passers-by walk with the same cautious steps of those you saw in the impoverished Blacklake district. Something has to have happened….but what? You pass by the homes of the wealthy, locked up tight and double watches at the gates. You pass through the market, heading to the central checkpoint, merchants eyeing you and your weapons warily.

As you approach the checkpoint, there is a line going into the Blacklake (where before there wasn’t), with greycloaked guardsmen roughly searching the commoners and traders seeking to return home, or go about their business. The line moves slowly. Just ahead, you see a young man pulled out of the line and surrounded by a group of guards with blades drawn. Fear flashing across his patchily bearded face, he looks around desperately, but no one meets his gaze. You watch as he is dragged away, shouting that he isn’t with the Sons, that he hasn’t done anything. He’s struck across the face with a gauntleted fist, and the cries become whimpers. Neverwinter…..welcome back? A guard approaches you as you await your turn to cross the checkpoint. “Alright you lot, what’s your business in the Blacklake then? What’s going on with all these arms and armor eh? Well, speak up!”

The interaction doesn’t go well, and then Kerri shows up and passes some coin into the guards hand, sweeping them away towards the Pearl.

“Miss Val, good to see you hale and healthy. Gil, Dungar. And you must be Dr. Yglesia? And of course, the one and only Thorne. I see you’ve still got scud on your face, lady elf.” Kerri flashes a strained grin that quickly fades to consternation as they enter the Blacklake proper. “Too bad its all in the streets now too…Aurelien is expecting you, sent me to make sure you passed untroubled. Let’s move quickly."

If the Protectorate was tense, the Blacklake is militarized. Where the greycloaks once patrolled with ease, at least close to the walls, there are now guard posts at every other corner. Commoners scurry by, heads down. Children no longer played in the streets, clutched tightly by their parents as they went about their furtive business. Kerri leads you swiftly, keeping to main roads. His head is held high and he shouts friendly greetings to guards and citizens alike, but you can tell from his pace that he is eager to be off the streets. He explains that there have been a series of attacks, claimed by the Sons of Alagondar, or at least individuals claiming to represent them. Lord Neverember has clamped down on the city, sending out his men in force to secure the streets and announcing that the detente between the SOAs and the protectorate was over. People were being picked up left and right, the prison overflowing. Kerri isn’t sure why the conflict had escalated over the past few days when all signs were that parties on both sides of the walls were attempting to resolve the conflict, or at least bring the parties to the table.

The Pearl’s peaked roof soon rises before you, tucked off a side road. “Alright then, let’s get yeh inside, conquering heroes and all that.” He pushes the door open, and the warm wooden floors and stone walls of the common room come into view. Kerri hustles you in and ducks his head out quickly before closing the door. The hearths burn merrily, the serving staff bustle, a small number of patrons sip their mugs and murmur over tables. Even here the cheer feels muted. “Can I get you anything?” He asks over his shoulder as he strides toward his bar, "Food? Drink? I’ll send it up, the food at least, you know Aurelien’s got the good stock. Shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

You go straight upstairs to Aurelien's office, knocking and entering when welcomed. They see Aurelien slouching against the bar, one leg kicked up and tumbler of dark liquor in hand, with Fie seated at her side holding a glass of red wine, looking up at the taller woman over the rim. For once Aurelien is sleeveless, revealing a deep indigo tattoo on the inside of her right arm. Her left is slung around Fie's shoulders, swiftly withdrawn as the team walks in. She tells them to sit and says they look like they all need a stiff drink. She seems neutral, asks them to give her an update on what’s gone on the last week. She sips calmly as they speak, stoney eyes moving from face to face.

Aurelien was at first critical of the series of decisions that led to the battle with Celene, but ultimately admitted that had she brought you in earlier, things might've been handled differently. Otherwise she listened to your report closely. She gave you a number of items that might come in handy, some information about the Sons of Alagondar (and the spiraling security crisis impacting the protectorate and blacklake districts), and told you to see her tomorrow after checking in on the Many Starred Cloak for results of their investigation into the undead that attacked Lord Aralests mansion during the Torque heist. She also tells you that if you need a smith Mim, a male halfing in the artisan district, might be able to help. —Character item gains: ~Val gets a cloak (+2 AC), gains advantage on history checks that have to do with the Zhents ~Dungar: enchanted coin (owner can hear whatever is happening where the coin is, can only use 1/day, vanishes after 1hr and returns to owners pocket) ~Guil: gets a shield (+1 AC if surrounded by two enemies, +1 for every enemy after 2) ~Yglesia: gets an egg (Linu tells her how to hatch it) Aurelien acquired it on a mission years back and was told only a druid with affinity for fire would know what to do with it. ~Thorne: Aurelien removes the inkstain on her face, gives her a burglars cloak (+1 to sleight of hand, investigation checks) ~Harper tattoo: locate ally (see locate creature), sending,  alarm. Once per day use one. Appearance: a small harp with five strings (each represents one of the team), —each harper master has their own glyph, helps them keep track of their agents. Identify them to each other. Aureliens is a harp dancing on waves, in the center of her arm tattoo (CANON UPDATE, i said behind her ear, i changed my mind). —Fie is their tattooist, Thorne’s a teardrop on her face, Guil’s a trampstamp, Dungar at the edge of the scar music coming from pain, Val upper collarbone situation, —the ink is invisible, only appearing when a spell is activated or triggered to light up when proving identity to a fellow harper. Once done with Aurelien, you let off steam from the hard week in the field by getting ripping drunk and partying with Kerri and the few patrons. Aurelien and Fie made a brief appearance, the former promising Dungar she would look into Longsaddle (and word of his missing sister), the latter gently nudging Val to be more assertive with her crush. Gil destroyed Kerri in a dance battle, and then brought the fire from the stage with an epic set on his bagpipes. And of course, other hijinks occured....glasses, disguise self, and the makings of an epic hangover.

The next morning you reconstitute the group, all hungover but Yglesia. Aurelien gives Val a scolding about treating colleagues well, and then they are dismissed to begin their day. Aurelien and Fie will work on breaking the zhent coded parchment while the team is out. The group heads to the artisan district, where Val and Dungar purchase new instruments. The group has a rather awkward encounter with Mims, who has apparently started using new pronouns, settling on 10GP for repair of Yglesia's dented helm and a shield for Dungar. The session concluded with the approach to the Cloak Tower....