Session 6 Notes

The fire crackles in the corner. You can hear Yornik's snoozing as he rests his weary old head on the gnarled wood of the tavern tables. Across the common space revelers from the Hold have taken up a dance, enjoying the presence of strangers bringing music and entertainment. The group is seated at their own table, deep in conversation of what to do about Celene—currently resting upstairs in her room--and what happens next as they wrap up their quest in Neverwinter's environs. The group discusses over drinks their concerns about Celene --her safety, but also whether she's told them the whole story. Is she just a cast off pawn to the Zhentarim, like Dungar and Thorne were to Aurelien? They decide to keep watch on her through the night, each taking turns sitting with her in her room. They also expressed concerns about the priests of Helm - Thorne thinks they're a cult, others concerned this place isn't as safe as it claims to be. Further, Yornik's tale raises question as to whether the Ashmadai threat is really long past.

The night comes to an end and the watches begin, with Dungar promising he will contact Aurelien in the morning to update her on the situation. Val's watch passes uneventually, followed by Thorne's. Celene awakens and they have some elf chit chat. Celene tells Thorne she shouldn't wear her weapon so openly, as the weapon of the eldreth veluuthra means different things to the elven community. None very good. Dungar's watch goes uneventfully as well, as does Thorne's second watch. Yglesia and Gil sleep through the night. Before bed, Yglesia is visited by Linu, who tells her that darkness attracts darkness.

Morning comes and the team has breakfast (gil defending Yglesia's honor as she is served eggs and meat). Dungar makes his sending to Aurelien, telling her little more than that they've recovered Celene and that Everything Is Fine. He hangs up on her as she's telling him to bring Celene in to be debriefed.

As they finish breakfast and settle up, Celene impresses upon the group that she won't give them the last bit of information she has unless they take her to the Abbey for sanctuary. So they go, casting invisibility on Celene in advance so they can scope out the situation.

At the Cathedral they meet Father Martin, Abbot of Helm's flock. Clearly a former paladin. They attempt some subterfuge but ultimately Celene reveals herself. The Abbot agrees to take her in, also asking the party to keep an eye out for a priest named Friedrich, who was last seen on the road to Luskan. Celene tells the team that Garland Kramer, a lord of Neverwinter, was her handler for the Zhentarim contracts and plot to spy on and discredit Lord Aralest.

The team leaves her and heads to the abbey library, where they hope to learn more about the Ashmadai. Friar Philip is very helpful. As they review documentation Yglesia comes to the realization that the Ashmadai have probably infiltrated again. They find a dossier that mentions "Spirit Orbs" and says they need to warn Celene about the danger in this place. The team steals the Ashmadai dossier.

Gil, having grown bored of the library, went to find himself some lunch in the cafeteria. He's just saved a table and grabbed a tray when chaos breaks out, screams and shouting from the main nave.

The team reconvenes in the chapel to the sight of Father Martin lying in a pool of blood, with a trail leading past the statue of Helm and into the Sanctuary. Paladins are hustling about trying to evacuate the cathedral, leaving immediate investigation to the team. Yglesia and Val interact with the body, searching for clues, while Dungar Gil and Thorne enter the sanctuary to see what is there. Dungar sends a message to Celene, but all he receives is a sense of desperation and exertion. While searching the altar Gil discovers a hidden ladder leading into the bowels of the cathedral. Before they can go down they are attacked from behind by the corpse of Father Martin, resistant to turn undead for some reason.

As they kill the corpse, Yglesia casts augury, receiving the following: Be wary of the hounds of hell, but more wary of the dagger in the dark. He haunts your steps but walks your path.

They descend into the catacombs, where they are attacked by a pack of hellhounds, blood steaming as it touches the floor. The session ends with the bloodied party deciding what to do next, bloody corpses of the demonic hounds at their feet....