Into the North

After a short breather, we continued our track further west, the terrain around us slowly losing in intensity of the waves of hills and flattening out more and more. Eventually we laid eyes again on the Sea of Swords in the distance, drawing in deeply the fresh, salty breeze blowing our way. Movement along a long strip of vaguely visible darker textures signified that we were approaching the High Road that sees a fair bit of traffic all year round. The sun was just beginning to set when we finally reached the road. By now, it had calmed down a bit due to the later hour but when we turned south, we hardly had moments of seeing no other travellers anymore. There was something reassuring in the fact that we were no longer alone, Nysqwen had not stopped smiling ever since we laid eyes upon the sea. Thinking back at the silent darkness of the last days sent an uneasy shiver down my spine yet the notion of it seemed almost unreal as if only encountered in a dream. A dream that was a proper nightmare for the most part.
Kyla turned to one of the passing by caravans to ask them if they had encountered some travellers making quick pace towards Neverwinter and gave them the description of the people we were after. Other than one of them who told us he had spotted a troupe that could roughly match this description however, they could not recall anything further. A few hours later at least a good few of us were too exhausted to continue our march and thus we found shelter in one of the farmsteads along the road.
 
The next morning, the farmer allowed us to borrow horses to make for a quicker journey back to the city. He sent one of his farmhands with us who after visiting a relative would take the animals back with him. Thus quickened, the rest of our travels flew by quickly though if the animal had not been trained as well as it appeared in just following the others, I would have not known what to do on its back. We handed the reins over to the young man that had accompanied us just before entering Neverwinter. Voices upon voices drowned each other out, muddled by the sound of hundreds of people going about their daily business. The air smelled of wet clothing, dozens of different types of food, sewage, exotic flowers and spices and all the mingled races. Where over the last days we had been just amongst ourselves in either open terrain or confined tunnels, suddenly bodies brushed against each other, a determined chaos of destinations in mind. All these impressions, I sucked in like water after a long hot day, drinking deep from the results of civilisation. Between the humans, half-elves, dwarves, halflings and rarer other races there was a noticeable number of full-blooded orcs mixed amongst the crowd.
We headed straight south towards the Protector’s Enclave to inform the offices there of our incoming report. After parting ways with Daril there for the time being, we ventured on to the Lords’ Alliance where we were told that master Zashier was not present currently. Therefore, we just left behind a brief account on what we had found, and all decided that it was finally time to grab a cold drink and enjoy the warm atmosphere of a tavern. Nostalgically we went to the Singing Anvil, back where it all started what seemed like an eternity ago. The evening was spent with a good few drinks, shared stories and laughter and was accompanied by the overwhelming joy of returning from under the earth. It truly is a blessing, thinking back at all the unexpected events that have led to this, to now be able to sit amongst such heroic people and be part of their group with a connection almost as deep as the one I foster with those who raised me. After some time and many pints of ale Grum excused himself to find a comfortable rest in his own home which the rest of us took as an opportunity to likewise leave towards Anataea's and rest in a proper bed.
 
We slept until late in the morning, enjoying the peace and comfort that this place brought with it. Grum and Irakin then joined us for a hearty breakfast over which we discussed what we might want to do next. There might be a possibility to get ourselves hired by the Lionshields as mercenary guards for their next transport and thereby first-hand discover what was going on. But there was no guarantee that every caravan they sent out definitely would be raided by the same folk and we did not know when that would be possible in the first place. Irakin, who was listening in to our conversation, mentioned that he had kept his ears open as well and that some warehouses in the northern district of Neverwinter that were unoccupied previously due to the affair with the orcs might have some business outside the confines of the law or guild rules. It could be possible to have a look around there as well, maybe we would find some of the faces we were looking for. This seemed a lead easily perused and thus for the immediate future seemed the best course of action. Of course, there also might still be a possibility to set out to sea to follow the trail of smuggled artifacts Nissa Murnik had told me about. And, with a glance at my dragonborn friend, I mentioned that we still should look into the traces we had found of Nysqwen’s brother.
Our discussions were interrupted by a knock on the door by a messenger who brought word from the council and Neverember’s invitation to a meeting this evening. This would be a good opportunity to relay all we had gathered thus far as well, for the time being however, we drank up and left towards northern Neverwinter to check upon the warehouses Irakin had mentioned.
 
After crossing over the Dolphin bridge, the further north we got the higher the density of orcs and goblins became amongst the general crowd. When last I ventured into this area for a small errand I had to run for a nobleman a few weeks ago, this entire section of the city had been desolate, abandoned and barred up, the ground often spattered with blood of run-ins between ‘concerned citizens’, orcs, vagabonds and other figures. Now it was a buzzling cauldron of merchants, workers, carts and a plethora of other figures breathing new life in the district. Repair works were ongoing on plenty of buildings all around, the demand for builders higher than it had been in years.
We kept a keen look around to discern any familiar faces or signs but none of the buildings seemed to display any insignia or names that would tell us anything about its occupants. Many doors were guarded by all manner of folk. With a mere visual search seeming pointless, Kyla found herself a quiet corner where she hunkered down, drawing lines in the dirt at her feet and uttering a prayer closing her eyes. Just a heartbeat later she looked up at us, a determined grin on her face and pointed down the streets. She had magically found a trace of the leader of the gang we had been following from the underdark. Taking point, she led us to one of the larger buildings almost at the outer city wall. In front of the structure was a palisaded area often used for carts and the like. The heavy wooden gate was closed, and no people were to be seen from the outside.
After a futile attempt to employ the help of some rats with the pipes I had kept from Lystramon to find any useful information about the interior, I offered to go ahead and try and sneak into the building by myself to see what might be discerned. Before someone could interject, I began to shrink rapidly, fur sprouting in thick orange patches all over my body, my cursed horns receded while my ears grew pointy, and whiskers spread around my face. Transforming into a cat was a very odd sensation. All my insides seemed to rearrange in not necessarily a pleasant manner. How did Grum do this all the time? It did not really hurt but still, the nauseating feeling was almost overwhelming. Then it was gone. Suddenly I had an inexplicable appetite for a juicy mouse and already picked up the scent of a few from the basement of the building behind us. A quick snack certainly… but I remembered that I was here for a purpose. Right, that window over there, it was time to see what the inside had to offer to a wandering cat. I headed across the main street, scanning all my surroundings for people paying attention to what I was doing. Yet what was that? Not a single face was turning my way! I spotted a kid some paces down the street whose face displayed a broad, warm smile when looking down at me, tugging at his mother’s dress to go towards me but she just dragged her on, determined to reach wherever she was going quickly. This was a freedom I never experienced at daytime in this city! No dark glares, whispers and pointed fingers at all sides! Exhilarated I ran a few strides up and down the street, delighted by this discovery, before I finally took a big leap, landing surefooted on the windowsill of the warehouse in question.
I found myself in a kitchen of sorts where I took the liberty of snacking on some of the bacon that was sitting on one counter. Scorching hot, but worth every nibble. The next room seemed to be an office where a single figure sat at a desk over some paperwork. Through an open door I then continued on into the main storage hall. A handful of people were scattered throughout the spacious room, pacing bored through the rows and piles of crates, boxes, sacks and packs of unknown content. The people were chatting amongst themselves about all kinds of things but none that would incriminate them of any wrongdoings. Just the idle chit-chat of bored humans. On my stroll through and over all the goods, the people around seemed to either not take notice of me or were not bothered by a stray cat amongst their goods, so I had complete freedom of movement. In a side-room, I came across what might have been stone sarcophagi but with no markings that would tell of their purpose or origin. Eventually however I came across some crates with the crest of the Lionshields amongst the mostly unmarked boxes. I now began to notice the shortcomings of my current form, it is far harder to try and quietly open a sealed crate as a small, scrawny feline than it would be even for my normal, not particularly strong form. As there was not much else, I could do about this, I made my way back outside, with a quick stop to get a glance at the desk in the office room where I had to avoid an annoyedly flung blade by the person sitting there. Thus encouraged in my decision to leave, I doubled my pace and headed back to my friends.
When I met back up with them, Grum and Teynos were gone to fetch some more official support. They returned shortly after with a handful of guards in tow, the sergeant of whom demanded an explanation of our query with them. One of them was dispatched towards the Lionshields to enquiry whether they indeed store some of their goods in this facility, while another one accompanied by Nysqwen towards the warehouse for an unannounced control of the place. They were greeted by a rather charismatic man, strong in statue who greeted them warmly, offering wine and free entry into the building. When they returned, Nysqwen reported that they had access to the paperwork which seemed to be fully in order, with the apparent leader of the guardsmen being markedly open and friendly towards them. They even were able to glance inside the Lionshield crates, most of which turned out to be empty. If the people here were hiding something, they were doing so rather well.
Upon this fruitless search, and the confirmation by the other city guard that the Lionshields indeed stored some goods out here, the two soldiers took their leave. Dissatisfied, we took to an inn close by for lunch, discussing the possibility of the Lionshields maybe even being roped in with the absconded wares themselves.
 
In the evening, it finally became time to follow Lord Neverember’s call and join in on the council meeting. The same figures were present as in the last meetings, Layla Rösslingen, Zashier Khalid, Mayor Soman Glad, Balthasar Wörmling, Mantka Riiba with Tarosh and another guarding orc, general Sabin, the commander of the city watch Rama and of course the Lord Protector himself. Thus, in the presence of all these important folk, it was time to tell the tale of what had befallen us and what was discovered during our descent into the upper reaches of the underdark. Daril joined in soon as well and added to my report the details that I had missed and the proper locations of the cave system. Especially when describing the gigantic creatures fighting in the underground lake, a murmur was spreading around those listening in, especially Sabin and Wörmling seeming rather invested in their descriptions as if this was nothing, they would have much prior experience with.
When I finished, Lord Neverember expressed his thanks for our scouting and presented us with the monetary reward for our troubles. Lady Rösslingen confirmed that she also had heard of the caravan raids in the north and added that she knew the Lionshield family well and thought it improbable that they would so lie to the guilds as to have caused the incidences themselves. Lord Neverember added that there was still plenty of work to do if we were so inclined. The observations of the Kuo-Toa had to be amplified, trade routes needed to be secured and then there was the matter with the awakened trees in the Neverwinter Woods. He and Zashier explained that this could be the doing of a deviant magic user and that there was still the until now cold trace of a certain Iarno Albrik who was highly wanted by the Lords’ Alliance. Finally, word of the new developments in Neverwinter had to be brought to Mirabar, where they also had high demand for adventurers at the moment. Layla Rösslingen added that in her position she could for now deal with the ongoings around the raided goods and do some research of her own if we wanted to tend to other things in the meantime. We offered to go to Mirabar in the name of Neverwinter and perhaps on our way deal with what had befallen the trees. Afterall, Grum had an old friend in the northern city who he had not seen in quite some time. And I am admittedly quite curious to meet this Quercus, if Grum permits.
With heavy pockets and not much lighter hearts due to all the events around us, we went back to Anataea’s for the night. Upon our arrival, we noticed several notes on the table, Irakin had collected a couple of open jobs from the noticeboard we had seen a few weeks ago. The one with the lich looking for servants had an added line by the Halfling that that should be something for me. Well, I love that bastard, but he just never had the appropriate respect for the work of those that deal in the finer arts than just breaking and entering!
 
When the next morning came around, we discussed our travel plans over yet another plentiful breakfast. Grum explained that Mirabar is a city with two distinct areas: while the upper level is mostly inhabited by humans, with some elves and halflings mixed among them, below the ground extended the dwarven city. A proper city, as he pointed out, with all the amenities a dwarf’s heart could desire and an important trading hub in the north. They exported all manner of ores and crafted metal, all of fine dwarven making. Unfortunately though, slightly further east was Mithril Hall, which shared almost the same export goods and in, as some said, slightly better quality. Therefore, there was an ongoing rivalry between the two places, even if they to the exterior they did not let on to any quarrels. The quickest way to get up there might be by boat up the Swordcoast, at the notion of which, Nysqwen’s eyes glowed brightly, or via two land routes: up the High Road to Luskan and then eastward along the river or first east over the Triboar Trail and then north from there. Luskan, in contrast to Mirabar, is not part of the Lords’ Alliance and thus has some tensions with Mirabar as well. Due to its proximity with Icewind Dale and the Spine of the World, it also can be a good bit rougher than Neverwinter.
Ultimately, due to our interest in looking into the living trees and the potential for coming across a trail of Glassstaff, we decided to travel over land and take the High Road. Yet, it would be a track too long to absolve on foot, thus we went to the stables near the northern gate to purchase some horses, with Grum insisting on getting a donkey for himself. It turned out that Kyla had some experience with horses and ended up picking some for Teynos, Nysqwen, herself and me. When the animal was brought before me, I very nervously reached out to it. Animals don’t always take too kindly to my race, cats usually being the exception. But something about us, maybe a scent or so, makes them afraid or aggressive, or both, most of the time. Initially, the horse indeed dodged my hand, and I could see the hesitation in its large eyes. But eventually it seemed to calm down or accept its fate, showing some proper training in its past. We would fetch the animals later once we had finished our remaining business in the city.
 
We split up now, I decided to first go home and leave a letter for Anataea and then to head to the Harpers. The others were visiting the Lords’ Alliance and would later inform me that aside from Lystramon we should inform the Lords’ Alliance there of the reopening of the lost mine of Phandelver and of the developments involving Drow, as there was another entry into the underdark through Mirabar. Our contact there would be Zashier’s equivalent, a man named Orsik Stonedigger.
At the Harpers, I found Nissa in the same office as before, her badger bathing in the heat in front of the crackling fireplace. She told me, that in Mirabar I could seek out Adran, a person she called the Fox. There I might get further information or instructions, should they be required. The ship that we could have been on before going into the underdark had not yet returned even though it was overdue, but another vessel currently was in the harbour that had been battered heavily by storms rather atypical for this season. If the ship did not sink, there was a chance that it would have found its way to Luskan, meaning we could have a look for it there.
 
With everything wrapped up and provisions bought, we finally set out from the city around noon. With the mounts we had purchased we made good pace. Towards the evening Grum pointed out a farmstead where he knew the owners to have a last night with a roof over our heads. After a hearty and filling meal provided by the family, we had an early night, not before Nysqwen and Teynos named their steeds Smith and Peter respectively.
Travelling the next day went equally smooth, yet our backsides began to feel the toll of sitting on horse- and donkey backs for prolonged periods of time. Only Kyla seemed to be more comfortable, clearly this was not her first longer ride. Eventually we reached the fork in the road where we knew to branch off to get deeper into the Neverwinter Woods. In the late afternoon, we came upon the place where we had fought the awakened trees and shrubs a few days ago. The formerly hypnotised trees were nowhere to be seen and our search revealed no new tracks that we could follow. Grum said that after a good night’s rest he might be able to communicate with the wild animals of the forest if they noticed anything strange happening, but for the night we felt uncomfortable to stay between the darkening trees. So, we rode a short stretch back the way we came and made camp in a small valley between hills, well away from the treeline.
Soon, we were bedded down for the night, sheltered in a bubble of comfort against the elements and the most common threats of nature. With the very faint melody woven around us, sleep came easily and deeply until it was my time to watch, which went without any trouble. I had just found back to sleep after waking Teynos to take the last shift, when suddenly a thundering roar filled the air, majestic and terrifying simultaneously. All of us immediately woke up as dozens, if not hundreds, of birds rose from the forest, scared to death and the horses fighting against their reins. We jumped up only to find that the source of the draconic shout was Teynos, who seemed as taken aback by what just happened as the rest of us. Throughout the last two or so weeks he had spend many a quiet minute in meditation to get closer to understanding that strange manifestation he had found after the slaying of Venomfang in Thundertree. Apparently, he now had a breakthrough. Something about our half-orcish friend had changed – he seemed to stand straighter, more charismatic than before. We were all in awe at this display of our friend who was now eager to go straight back to his meditations in the hopes of finding more of these hidden talents. But he quickly gave up on that, too excited to focus on anything. Similarly excited was he that he now was able to speak to Nysqwen in Draconic and soon after I heard them hissing in unison in a strange melody, apparently singing a song together.
Abruptly, Nysqwen stopped. She pointed out that there was one horse too many outside our tiny hut. She grabbed her glaive and strode out the protecting sphere to check on what was going on, when the fifth horse suddenly started to shimmer and shift in a very similar manner to Grum. Mere moments later a dwarf, clad in a green cloak and leaning on a wooden staff stood before us. He called himself Andrik and asked us what business we had in his forest and what the reason for the sudden tumult could be. Nysqwen explained that Teynos was just having a bit of ill-advised fun. Upon offering him a place at our camp he sharply refused, claiming he despised fire for all the destruction it could bring to his woods if getting out of control. Still, he sat down a few paces away to discuss our purpose so close to the Woods. Grum noticed something on the collar of the newcomer’s cloak which prompted him to wander over to the dwarf, sit down next to him and offer something from his flask. There was something else happening in that exchange but none of us was able to discern what unspoken communication had just happened. However, Andrik now explained that while we were here, there was something that he could use our help with. Since about two weeks, entire patches of trees have been burned down in the north-eastern reaches of the forest. Once he had witnessed how a portal opened there that seemed to lead directly to the elemental plane of fire. Beings that he called azers had come forth from these portals, humanoid creatures wreathed in flame and spreading heat and destruction among the plants he was determined to protect. Sometimes they were accompanied by others he called mephits. These patches usually occurred in circles, about 150 paces in diameter but he had not noticed any temporal pattern to them. We promised to help him find out the reason for this. In return, Grum asked if he knew anything about a mage that might recently have come here and himself tempered with the flora of the region. Andrik replied that while there occasionally were humanoids and goblinoids passing through the rim of the Neverwinter Woods, the latter also sometimes deeper, he had not seen anybody that would match Grum’s description. He appeared honestly surprised at what we had to tell him about our run-in with the awakened trees and said he would support us stopping such unnatural occurrences.
After we forged this agreement of helping each other, Andrik has now left to tend to other matters in the forest. Over breakfast, Kyla has kindly offered to begin teaching me some elvish, something I have been meaning to do for a while! What better way is there to learn about a culture or people than learning their language and its peculiarities! And to weave consistent stories or write moving songs, such understanding was in dire need. We have just finished breakfast and she has already told me more words than my poor head could process in this short a time, especially after the events of this past night. But I am eager to learn more! Just don’t lose focus on the task at hand and healing the forest, Morthos!