KWN.2.2 Chasing Clues

Session Preface

As the sun begins its descent behind the western wall, the Gem of the North seems to bask in the warm glow of late summer. Rays of golden line cascade across the smooth stone streets through fluttering leaves and swaying branches. Verdant blooms of purples, blues, and yellows dance gracefully in the wind alongside the walkway, their bold, floral scents wafting through the city streets. Vines climb structures of immaculate dwarven architecture while towers of elven design cast elongated shadows across the river. The serene beauty of Silverymoon during this golden hour is almost enough to forget for a moment the reason for your march through the Southbank.
Approaching a modest, somewhat dilapidated home, you see a pair of Silverwatch guards standing at attention, their eyes following their captain accompanying you. The guards nod solemnly as Captain Grapeshot waves them aside as he steps forth and opens the door and ushers you in.
Inside, the home seems to be of two distinct appearances. The floors, much like the exterior, show years of wear and age, boards out of place, jutting up in spots, or missing altogether. In the corner, a small, soot-covered hearth sits cold with long-extinguished wood and a cooking pot hanging over top. Flies crawl along the mouth of the pot, buzzing noisily among themselves. In sharp contrast, the room is finely furnished with a well-crafted set of chairs and tables that appear almost new. Atop the table, a box of tools that includes hammers, nails, and a saw, all in mint condition, sits next to a piece of parchment.
"The victim was found in the backroom. We don't know much else, but I'll stay an try to answer what questions I can. Take a moment to look around and report back to me."

Session Summary

The party splits up through the humble abode, investigating the crime scene and surrounding circumstances. Pax examines the victim's remains, discovering a grey, withered corpse with the words, "Snakes and vipers will be crushed beneath the heel" written in Common on his chest. Aethuriel searched the room to try and recreate the scene, realizing that the figure likely rolled out of bed only to immediately be attacked by the presumed assailant. Tristain learns from Captain Grapeshot that the victim's name was Berdir and his absence had been brought to their attention by a cousin, Riovar, who operates the Adbar Trading Coster on the Northbank. Grapeshot goes on to explain that Berdir was known to have a bit of trouble keeping work, but that most recently he had been helping Riovar out at the store. Separately, Grapeshot also shares that a Spellguard by the name of Allanel Reynelis had mentioned something regarding necromancy and the mausoleum south of the city.
During their search of the property, the party also notices the new furniture throughout the living quarters featured the same mark of branding, a flourished script of the letter "N." In addition, the party found a note next to a set of tools, reading "Congrats on the new job! Glad to hear you're finally gonna be able to take care of mom and dad's place. Got you these as a way to get started. - E"
The party then tracks down Riovar who is in the process of closing up his shop. Realizing the sort of business the party is on, he invites them into the storefront and offers them shots of a drink from behind his counter. When each of the Knights politely refuse, Riovar proceeds to down each shot over the course of their conversation. Through meeting with Riovar, they learn that Berdir had been a "bit of a layabout" and that he owed Berdir money from him making sure he could make ends meet for the family, but that Berdir had been helping him around the store with inventory and stocking shelves of late. The dwarf also explained that his cousin had recently gotten some mysterious new job that had taken him out of town for about a tenday, with the last day the two saw each other being five days ago.
Thanks to directions from Riovar, the party then heads westward and finds themselves on the doorstep of Emlen, Berdir's sister's, home. Peaking through the window, Pax observes a significantly nicer, albeit unoccupied, abode in comparison to Berdir's. Correctly guessing her to be enjoying a meal at the nearby tavern, the party finds Emlen seated alone in Helmar's Wall. After breaking the news of her brother's death, which Emlen seems to respond to with emotions subdued behind shock and uncertainty, the party learns that Berdir had indeed taken on work with the Zhentarim. Emlen also corroborates much of Riovar's responses.
After Emlen's patience wears thin of their questions, the party stops at the Wayward House to see if the Zhentarim that Pax observed the night before were present. Finding their spot empty, Pax shares a shot with the barkeep, a burly human by the name of Lars, who shares that it is indeed odd the Zhents are absent on this evening, as they typically gather any night they aren't out on work such as traveling with carts to Everlund, the merchant city south of Silverymoon. Lars also mentions the leader of the Zhentarim, Viper Uzorel Hornbalde, sharing that he "isn't as close to the High Mage as he makes it sound." With this in mind, Pax rejoins the group and they return to their original investigation of the artillery, now believing these matters to somehow be interconnected.
As the evening progresses, they find Brammus, the Shift Captain for the evening patrols giving directions to his crew from atop a crate. Once he has finished, he and the party speak privately about the string of thefts and sabotages that have taken place during his charge. Agreeing with many of the party's suspicions and assumptions, Brammus shares a trio of his own suspects. Dulgram, a dwarf on his team, was present for many of the thefts, but hasn't shown up for work since the fifth incident. Wilhorn, a half-elf, had been working with Dulgram those same nights and had access to the other machines as well. Finally, Thordir, the newest member of his team, had been on the maintenance crew previously and thus would have the expertise to pull off the job effectively.
The party learns that Dulgram has been missing for more than a tenday and decide to start by looking into his absence by searching his home. Making their way across the Southbank, the party arrives to find a gruesome scene in which the dwarf had met the same fate as Berdir, with his skin withered and decayed, this time with the phrase "the bandit king will have his due" carved into his remains. The party also observes that is seems Dulgram tried to defend himself, with his arm cut off by a blade. A chest in the room lies overturned, its contents of clothes, including those with a Zhentarim sigil on them, spilled across the floor.
With this revelation, Tristain returns to the Silverwatch barracks to find Captain Grapeshot, but only meets a trio of guards just finishing their shift. Providing them news of their discovery, he charges the guards to stand watch outside Dulgram's home while he goes and speaks to the Shift Captain. When he arrives at the Sundabar Gate to discuss matters with Brammus while Pax uses his knowledge of alchemy to determine the body had been in this state for five days and Aethuriel studies the room to better understand the turn of events. When Tristain arrives at the gate, he discovers Wilhorn knocked unconscious and the Shift Captain nowhere to be seen. Providing healing to the Silverwatch, Tristain then proceeds to the nearest artillery, a ballista near the riverside, and discovers it to be similarly dismantled. Noticing the missing component and bent rod, Tristain concludes the same individual, likely Brammus, worked on this device as the one the night prior.
Returning to Dulgram's home, the party briefly discusses their options and who they could turn to for aid regarding the larger matters that they have uncovered. As they go to leave, the trio of guards block their passage, mocking the Knight's failure in Sundabar and implying their involvement in Dulgram's death. When the party stands fast at their insistence to leave, the two sides draw weapons.
While Tristain tries to prevent any bloodshed using magic and force to restrain the guards, two of the three attempt to strike Pax with their spears. At this escalation, Aethuriel makes quick work of the guards before taking the third out at the knees. On the edge of his life, the remaining guard's disposition changes dramatically. Through howling screams of pain, the guard asks "By the gods? What have I done?" as the party comes to grips with the new complications they now find themselves wrapped up in.

Session Overview

Date Played:
December 2, 2020
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax
• Tristain

Time Passed:
Elesias 16, 1493
NPCs:

• Captain Grapeshot
• Berdir
• Riovar
• Emlen
• Spellguard Allanel Reynelis
• Lars
• Viper Uzorel Hornbalde
• Brammus
• Wilhorn
• Dulgram

Loot: