Session Preface
Following your half-tenday venture into the depths of the Underdark, even just the few stray beams of sunlight pouring in from a small octagonal window overhead are a welcome sign of your return to the surface and to the city of Avraathe. The teleportation circle's sigils slowly cease their humming as the purple glow of arcane light fades back to mundane stone.
As you exit the empty administrative offices of the Augurium, the atmosphere of the city already feels noticably lighter as you step through the crisp morning breeze rolling across the school's open courtyard. From the Library of Libation's doorway, your dwarven companion waves with a bright smile and hearty chuckle.
"Well, by Bahamut's scales! If it's not the Saviors of the City! Please, if you would be so kind, grant me the blessing of being able to tell my children I once served such lofty figures my humble sustenance and poured beverages into my modest mugs for the heroes of Avraathe! Oh, what an honor! Come, let me prepare a breakfast worthy of your tasting!"
The dwarf bursts into laughter once more, leaving the door to the tavern open to you as he crosses the threshold and sets himself to work behind the bar.
Session Summary
Following a delicious, filling breakfast with Beldan spent recounting the stories of the Underdark, the party makes their way to the Barracks to find Thava and Headmaster Chauncer to promptly return the Augury. Before finding them, the party stops in Justiciar Bronzeroar's office to also catch him up on recent events.
Justiciar Bronzeroar is initially content to allow Dradke to waste away on his own in the Underdark before Vorothruun makes an impassioned comparison to the lack of justice for the treasonous and murderous priest and Vorothruun's would-be execution without a trial. After storming out, Parathrax sides with his brother, saying ignoring Dradke would be "the easy way out," and suggests Bronzeroar reconsider the city's handling of the matter.
Bronzeroar also reveals his forthcoming announcement to step down from the Justiciar position and dismantle the position entirely, with the Platinum Scalers folding into the Talons of Justice who will once again be the primary policing force of Avraathe. He also notes his support of Speaker Zorvathrax as the next High Priest to replace Dradke given his leadership skills and the fitting sign of welcoming Clan Zirthund back into Avraathe officially, sharing that the idea was originally voiced by Thava, whom the party visit next.
Finding Thava and the Headmaster staying in Vyodaar's quarters, the party returns the Augury while Vorothruun strongly encourages its deployment in discerning the true nature of shapeshifters and other forms of deceit as well as preparing defenses for the coming threats Avraathe may face. Thava shares her relief in seeing the party return in good health and awkwardly tells Vorothruun she'll speak to him further at a celebration Beldan is preparing in their honor.
While still in the barracks, the party track down Vyodaar and Madlyn, allowing Endriel the opportunity to catch his fellow Harper up on recent events. When he reveals the both of them will likely be needed in Silverymoon, Madlyn hesitates, expressing her hope she'd be able to remain in Avraathe before excusing herself to attend a training session, obviously emotional distraught. Vyodaar offers to talk to her about the matters at hand and confirms both of them will meet the companions at the event later in the evening.
With their work at the barracks finished, the three heroes return to Parathraaj's home and take a moment to speak candidly with one another in Parathrax's childhood bed chamber. The party confirm their plans to journey to Silverymoon together as soon as the evening's festivities are over to deal with the presence of Cyric within Endriel's home.
Endriel then steps out to go find Durth, who is recovering from his injuries sustained in the assault on Avraathe while enjoying free drinks as a war hero. Upon learning of Endriel's intent for the Harpers to return to Silverymoon, Durth simply says he's willing to go where the work goes, but with his injury he might prefer a role that doesn't involve holding a pickaxe ten hours a day.
While Endriel catches up with his fellow Harper, the dragonborn brothers update Parathraaj on the matters of recent days. Taken aback, the father expresses an awkward, but sincere pride in both of his sons. Parathrax reveals for the first time the nature of his vision and Bahamut's choosing of him. Expecting this to mean Parathrax will stay and lead Avraathe, his father is disappointed to learn the brother's must be leaving at once to see to the dangers beyond Avraathe's walls. On their way out, Parathraaj provides a journal discovered in the Platinum Keep archives of their ancestor related to the shield Parathrax wields. Seeing a potential connection, Parathrax summons forth his ancestral spiritual guardians, at which Parathraaj recognizes one shieldbearer as Parathorn, a famed hero of Avraathe's past.
The companions then spend the rest of the afternoon resting and reflecting on their journey. While taking off his armor, Parathrax observes for the first time two streaks of bright-silver scales which have replaced the natural blue hue along his shoulder blades. Following the downtime, the three reconvene and head into the temple to meet with the six remaining High Priests.
Porath opens the meeting with an apology, offering condolences for their failure to see the manipulative and duplicitous nature of Dradke's efforts. Parathrax describes this as the nature of Cyric's influence and after sharing all of the recent events, he and Vorothruun make another convincing argument for brining the fallen High Priest in for interrogating and proper justice to be doled out befitting Bahamut's people. Bronzeroar speaks up, endorsing their perspective, arguing it would be "a more complicated response in the short-term, but a better long-term foundation for the new era of Avraathe's history."
In response to the party's efforts, Porath pushes what was previously Dradke's small invisible chest to the party as a reward, within which is 1,500 platinum coins. The High Priests explain that while they have enough money from the platinum gem trade to continue the rebuilding efforts, they believe it best that Dradke's personal funds secured in his deceptive work be used by the companions to fund their efforts of rooting out Cyric's presence across the Sword Coast.
Parathrax further pushes the council, given the nature of the forthcoming threats, to seek alliances with Silverymoon, King Waruk, and beyond the Nether Mountain region while Vorothruun displays the journal of Wing Waruk to further secure the fact that Dradke manipulated the king into attacking against his better judgement. The High Priests also ask about potential diplomatic opportunities with Blingdenstone to ensure the market for Platinum Gems allows the city to continue growing.
With the city entering into a new season of transparency in their governance, Porath extends a request to Endriel that if he knows any Harpers in Silverymoon, to have the organization reach out to work alongside the High Priests in securing countermeasures against a future abuse of power.
Finally, Parathrax reveals his newfound status as the Chosen of Bahamut, displaying an image of draconic wings around him and the visage of Bahamut surrounding him out of pure, radiant energy. While obviously surprised, the High Priests are understanding in the necessity of Parathrax's journey taking him beyond Avraathe to deal with the matters of Cyric's influence. The meeting then comes to a conclusion and the dragonborn brothers and Endriel make their way to the celebration at the Library of Libation.
On their way to the Augurium, the party discovers the Augury's recent reactivation as the magical street lamps are lt for the first time in months, with the gentle breeze carrying sounds of sweet music and floral fragrances throughout the whole city.
Arriving at the celebration, the party has an opportunity to speak once more to their numerous companions from throughout the recent events. During the event, Vorothruun receives a new bottle of Praetura Wine from Beldan, learning of his contact Normad Kegshield who receives shipments of the wine from the Halfway Inn to the south. He also speaks to Thava, who offers for Vorothruun to keep her ring to keep him safe so he can eventually return back to Avraathe to visit her before shyly kissing his cheek and hiding among the crowd.
During this time, Parathrax speaks to Vyodaar and Madlyn of the importance of rebuilding the Talons and Platinum order while Vyodaar tries to convince Parathrax to stay and serve as a General before Parathrax shares the nature of his task and his new role. In jest, Vyodaar teases Parathrax about his position, saying "the last Chosen of Bahamut could fly, what about you?" At the conversation continues, Kethliax, a young infantry member of Clan Zirthund's forces offers to be a squire to Parathrax who, while honored, encourages the young dragonborn to pursue a career in the Talons and ultimately the Platinum Order to become a great warrior in his own right, giving him his trusted handaxe as a gift before sending him on his way.
Noticing several members of Clan Zirthund seated at a booth, the dragonborn brothers join Zorvathrax, Stragri, Rocreth, and Vudrogg and discuss recent events, Zorvathrax's likely promotion, and the three soldier's next steps as becoming members of the Talons of Justice and their ongoing wager to see who can rise in the ranks most rapidly.
Finally, the evening ends with a heartfelt toast from Beldan and the heroes find rest in their respective sleeping quarters before departing for Silverymoon at dawn, bidding farewell to an Avraathe draped in the first light of a new day.
Campaign Conclusion
With Avraathe in the process of rebuilding, the three adventurers make their way to Silverymoon.
Upon returning, Endriel is greeted by his welcoming circle of family and friends, enjoying a much needed time of rest and peaceful days at home. With Endriel’s guidance, Silverymoon’s diplomats reach out to Avraathe and initiate the first steps towards rebuilding trade partnerships and a regional alliance with the new leaders of Bahamut’s city. The Harpers then set out to uproot Cyric’s presence within Silverymoon alongside Endriel and his dragonborn companions.
After their work in Silverymoon, the three companions part ways with warm regards, their lives intertwined by the threads of friendship and fate in ways unique to companions who have shared such strange and dangerous journeys and survived to tell the tales.
Parathrax and Vorothruun find themselves once more within the now finished and fortified walls of Durindale, surrounded by old friends and new companions alike. On the eve of their return, a city-wide celebration is held in their honor where stories of their adventures in Avraathe pass around the Stoneway Inn’s festhall, growing increasingly embellished in each telling.
After the chaotic events of the last month and a half, life eventually returns to a new semblance of normal. Even with the foreboding warnings of both Ragnalla and Bahamut fresh in mind, routine soon replaces the constant upheaval of the recent events.
For Vorothruun, he is pleased to discover Caltha hard at work in the library, training a trio of new devotees in the ways of eldritch study. Hours and days pass as he furiously records his learnings and updates the threads of truth and evidence connecting the recent events back to Cyric, the Betrayer god and all those who worship this lesser truth.
While his brother labors away in his library, Parathrax rejoins the training efforts for the growing number of guards working to keep Durindale safe from the wild threats beyond the walls. While his dreams are no longer consumed with the constant nudging of prophetic visions and cryptic messages, the subtle presence of the Platinum Dragon now persists through his waking moments, bringing both a sense of comfort and strength, but also a solemn reminder of the newfound obligation as a Chosen of Bahamut.
Amidst their other responsibilities, the dragonborn brothers continue to seek out intel on the apparently widespread reach of Cyric and his followers. Despite taking steps to thwart their schemes and weaken their forces, the network of Cyric’s worshippers proves to be vast and perpetually expanding. Even so, ongoing efforts are made in collaboration with allies across the Sword Coast to stifle the spread of their deception.
At home, tendays turn to months as Durindale continues to expand from a simple waypoint for adventurers to a small town in its own right. Merchants who previously only passed through while traveling the Triboar Trail now keep permanent trading posts within Durindale’s market. The Stoneway Inn continues to gain notoriety, soon becoming a popular destination for those willing to trade the extra day’s journey from the Long Road in exchange for the stories and entertainment provided by Davan and the other artists calling this new community home. Each day, new families arrive with hopes of calling Durindale home and creating a new life for themselves.
Seasons pass in a similar fashion, until one evening Parathrax wakes suddenly, his mind spinning with a sharp realization. While making sense of his dizzying thoughts, the door to his private chamber is thrown open and a dragonborn silhouette stands in the doorway.
“Brother, I’ve received another vision. It would seem there is-”
“Yes. I saw it too. Make your preparations. We’ll leave at first light.”
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