A0a - Murder and Espionage

General Summary

ACT 0A - Murder and Espionage

1496.SP.19   After successfully liberating Phandalin and removing the threat of Cryovain the white Dragon. The villagers return from the safety of Axeholm to find the village intact and unmolested. As gratitude the village hold a grand party, celebrating the heroes of Phandalin. Much merriment is had, ale consumed, and pies eaten. All the townsfolk are giddy that the wicked dragon has finally been slain; and they are once again safe. After a long period of strife and stress the group decide to take time resting and recuperating. Mostly relaxing in the manor. One by one the party begin to venture out on their own ambitions and adventurers.   Mordia and Raziel revisited Neverwinter to solve the murder of their friend Grimnir Darkbane. Whilst arriving in the city Sildar Hallwinter is waiting for the pair and escorts the two to Lord Dagult Neverember, who requests their aid in solving a financial anomaly. The city’s coffers are running woefully low and even basic facilities such as the cities guard had been sent home without pay. In addition, the normal trade supplies arrive via the dock had almost completely stopped. Now the poorest of the citizens were beginning to starve. Seeing that the city was in dire need of aid the duo agrees to help whilst looking for information of Grimnirs death.   Visiting the inn where Grimnir had been staying and murdered the pair were able to collect information and clues. Grimnir hadn’t touched a drop of ale during his stay and that he was investigating the cities difficulties with loss of monies. Whilst searching his room they found a pair of glasses with numerous multicolour lenses. After a while of playing with the glasses Mordia finds the combination which reveals hidden markings of a winged snake. Eventually after visiting a number of sites including the docks, markets and cemetery, the pair find a hidden entrance into the sewers and then even lower into a hidden vault of the Castle Never. Inside a black market had been set up where illegal items were being fenced. Mordia found a familiar face in a cage, his families imp, Grimm. He had been badly tortured, having his wings removed. Liberating the foul mouth imp, the pair continued avoiding a number of traps the reach the final chamber. A large room full of all the gold and merchant items stolen. Inside the two had discovered that the Zhentarim had infiltrated the cities guard and was skimming profits and redirecting goods. Grimnir's murder had also been carried out by the two Zhentarim agents Dain and Gromm. Killing a number of the Zhentarim agents the pair cornered the final agent a spell shooting gnome Dain, before they could strike the killing blow he opened a portal and steps through. Through the portal the pair could see a large room full of Zhentarim agents, including a huge Goliath with a winged snake tattoo on his face, Gromm, Grimnirs murder. The agents wave mockingly at Raziel and Mordia before the portal suddenly shut.   Thwarting the plot and returning to Lord Dagult the pair foil an assassination attempt by another Zhentarim agent. Lord Dagult doesn’t appear surprised and recounts how he used to be part of the lords of Waterdeep, but they now look to unstable Neverwinter. The Zhentarim agency have a large office in Waterdeep; and this wouldn’t be the first attempt on his life. With the favour of the Lord Dagult, he requested to help in the rebuilding of Leilon, an important way point between Neverwinter and Waterdeep.

Rewards Granted

Grimm - Mordai's familiar

Missions/Quests Completed

Find how Grimnir was Murdered; and who the murderers are   Investigate where the money for Neverwinter treasury is being syphoned off and the other goods such as food etc.

Character(s) interacted with

Sildar Hallwinter - Lords' Alliance member and confidant of Lord Dagult Neverember   Lord Dagult Neverember - De facto ruler of Neverwinter   Beatrice Longweight - Owner of a small bed and breakfast in protectors enclave in Neverwinter.   Grimm - Mordai's family familiar, captured and tortured.   Dain Boltslinger- A Gnome Zhentarim agent responsible for unstablizing Neverwinter   Gromm Ironjaw - A Goliath Zhentarim agent responsible for the murder of Grimnir Darkbane.