KWN.2.8 Confessions & Contracts

Session Preface

Realizing you've somehow spent most of the day down in the sewers and subterranean vaults of the city, you watch as the setting sun paints wisps of cascading clouds in iridescent shimmers of gold, purple, and orange.
Descending the grand marble stairs of Arkhen's Invacotorium, students in red robes skirt to the edge to avoid you, their faces contorting with disgust. A few overlook the rancid stench clinging to your clothes and express a distant sense of concern over the blood dripping from your wounds and already discoloring bruises. In the street, Passerbys give you a wide berth, whispering and pointing in your direction in equal parts disdain and amusement.
"By my beard, what a day. I need to see to the business of my fallen Silver Watch. As for you Knights, I can't thank you enough for your service. For now, I'd recommend a nice long bath and a good night's rest. Tomorrow, we'll get to the bottom of all of this, eh?" Captain Grapeshot nods with a somber grin before turning with his remaining guards and disappearing into the thinning crowd.

Session Summary

Returning to the Halls Invincible, the party debate what to do next, understanding the risk of returning the Truesilver Crown to Deckon Thar, as well as the threat he poses if his demands are not met. Caught between two poor options, they seek out a source of information on the crown, namely the High Mage of the city.
Tracking down Grapeshot who is in the midst of orchestrating raids of locations associated with Arkmenos' operation, he quickly shares with them that the High Mage recently stepped down in place of the new High Lord following the controversial decisions of not supporting Sundabar sooner and with more aid. Even so, he suggests they'll be able to find the former High Mage in his stately home given the recency of events. Approaching the relatively humble home, the party is soon welcomed in by Taern, a tall but thin older gentlement with soft features and a neatly kept grey beard.

Visiting the High Mage

During their visit, the party inquires with the High Mage regarding the Truesilver Crown. In his quiet, unassuming demeanor, the High Mage explains that it is a relic of Silverymoon's founding, worn first by Ecamane Truesilver, who crafted and wore it as the founding High Mage who then passed it onto the next elected leader, his nephew, Aglanthol the Red. He then confirms the artifact was subsequently stolen generations later by Deckon Thar and lost to Silverymoon since. When describing its capabilities, he shares that it has enchantment capabilities, but more importantly it amplifies the mental and charismatic capabilities of an individual, confirming some of the companion's previous investigations of the crown. Realizing part of it to be damaged, the High Mage magically mends the crown before returning it to the party. Though recognizing the difficult position they find themselves in, Taern encourages the party gently to follow their hope to pursue returning the Truesilver Crown to the rightful wielder - the new High Lord Methrammar, knowing it will mean facing Deckon Thar more directly.

On Patrol

Following their evening meeting with the High Mage, Aethuriel and Pax both go out on a walkabout of the city while Tristain returns to his accommodations in the Helmite temple. While out searching for more news on the murders, Pax learns that the most recent bodies were confirmed to be Zhentarim members and that Black Network operatives are quickly jumping ship to join the Zhentarim establishment in Everlund instead. He also comes across a salesmen pitching a Potion of Vitality, but doesn't take him up on his eager offers regardless of price.
Aethuriel, on the other hand, finds himself assaulted by a wight, the lieutenant of Deckon Thar who echoes his master's voice "I will have what I am owed" before stabbing Aethuriel and seeking the steal back the crown. Aethuriel manages to ward off his attacker, slicing open his satchel and grabbing the artifact before nearly being overwhelmed by the wight. Approaching the more populated portion of the block, Aethuriel is saved by a Spellguard and pair of Silver Watch who try to fend off the wight while Aethuriel retreats to the Halls Invincible. Here, he wakes Tristain to share the news, the pair deciding they have no choice but to face Deckon Thar after much needed rest. Aethuriel seeks out the remaining Knights of Holy Judgement and asks them to keep watch over the temple.
In the exchange, Aethuriels sees once again Marthen, now an Agent of Helm. Marthen shares his exciting promotion, though in confidence admits it was out of necessity and that he only survived the battle of Sundabar because he was kicked by a horse and thought dead. Nevertheless, the brave Agent agrees to defend Aethuriel, even after regretting learning what a wight actually is.

Spellguard Isle

The following morning the party catch up with a sleep-deprived Captain Grapeshot who spent much of the night directly overseeing the evening shift and the investigations of Arkmenos' operations. Grapeshot admits that he is worried about letting another repeat of Brammus' betrayal affect the city given the current threats, but the party reminds him that he can't do so at the neglect of his own health, either. With this in mind, the party take a small rowboat across the River Rauvin to Spellguard Isle.
Approaching the small island, the party takes note of the majestic tower rising in the gleaming morning light, finely hewn stone as if made directly from the outcropping of rock the island consists of. The companions are introduced to Warden Wiseoak, a kindly woman with greying curled hair and bright eyes. Grapeshot splashes his face with water to freshen up and offers pleasantries before the group make their way to the basement where they will interrogate Arkmenos under the affects of a Zone of Truth enchantment.

Questioning Arkmenos

As the enchantment falls over the room, Arkmenos laughs with a thick rasp. Through the interrogation, he enlightens the party to his devotion to Cyric, quoting to them a portion of their holy text:

"May the Black Sun shine upon us
and reveal to us the reality which brings truth to heel
and illuminates the way forward into his greater glory.”

When asked why he is involved with Cyric, he simply answers that his life was once only pain and anguish, but that the "shadow of the black sun provided purposes and peace" and that he wishes similar blessings for others. When challenged on his faith following a figure blindly, he simply retorts "it is the best way to live" with a wide smirk. "The easiest way to tell a lie is to not know the whole truth," he continues, when pressed on his limited scope of the larger schemes.
Questioning the tiefling on his plans in the city, he reveals that he had convinced the foolish Zhentarim to serve as "cheap bodies" for his quest to seek the Truesilver Crown and found them as dispensable figures in his greater plans to move artifacts and stolen items out of the city. As to where they end up, he shares "everywhere. Those loyal to Cyric throughout the world are beyond count. To the north, in the trees. To the south, in carts. To the east, through the Underdark, and to the west, through the bogs." He freely tells the party he knows little of the schemes beyond his own purview, but that the greater mission is the "unraveling of the false portrait of reality" and "Cyric's eventual freedom and return to the mortal plane."
Regarding the Truesilver crown, Arkmenos prides himself on fooling Deckon Thar into giving him the crown in exchange for future favor and position under Cyric's inevitable rule over the realms, then freely admitting that the bandit king likely killed his Zhentarim companions as a means to betray and seek out Arkmenos after regretting the arrangement. The thief also shares under the influence of the spell his use of the crown to free himself from under the restrictions of the city's defenses and that it felt like "more of myself and I'm my favorite person."
The party then questions Arkmenos about a letter found, tying him to another operation across the Sword Coast.

Arkmenos,
I write you to inform you that my operation will be moving to Neverwinter - the new Duke of Daggerford proved to be a more … perverse pest than anticipated. I was instructed to have you join me in the City of Skilled Hands once your final job is complete.
Ever his loyal, Folio

When Aethuriel asks about Folio, the party learns that this is a Gith, who "will certainly find you first." Arkmenos admits to him being a compatriot, but doesn't know to what end Folio summoned him to Neverwinter, nor does he know, "the true names" of other Cyricists. At this, he makes reference to "the old man" that he answers to. When Pax seeks clarification on this moniker, Arkmenos responds, "Well, that's how he appears to me, at least. The Thousand-Faced Demon." Turning his attention to Tristain, Arkmenos continues, "But you know him by a different name, don't you? You have seen him in his true form. You're Tristain, are you not? He's told me all about you."
At this revelation, Tristain provides a sharp retort and shortly thereafter leaves the room. Aethuriel follows after his companion, leaving Arkmenos along with Pax and Grapeshot, who is furiously detailing the conversation. "He has no idea what's coming for him. I wouldn't be anywhere near him when it happens," Arkmenos warns Pax. The blood hunter hesitantly responds, "That's interesting," before also taking his leave of the Cyricist. As the door shuts behind them, the rasping laughter of the master thief is the last noise the party hears.
Out in the hallway, Aethuriel tries to provide resolve to Tristain, acknowledging that they are now bound, the three of them, no matter what trials they will face or what events are in their past. As Pax enters the hallway, he pushes Tristain for more information, though when he is reluctant to provide details, Pax simply says that he hopes he'll share more if it becomes a pressing threat. As they turn to leave, Pax muses that Arkmenos, though clearly insane, isn't that different from the Knights in that he follows his beliefs with conviction. Tristain retorts that Arkmenos does so blindly, and when Pax asks him if he "truly follows Tyr with his eyes wide open," Tristain simply concludes the conversation with "I hope so."
On the return trip across the river, the party discussion options in terms of allies to face Deckon Thar. When they warn Grapeshot that he'll "need to be ready in the ever so slight change of our failure," the Captain corrects them by saying he'll be joining them, citing their near-death experience with Arkmenos prior to his rescuing them. "Plus, I'll miss out on the bulk of the paperwork this way," he continues.
On the shore, the party recall the dagger they claimed from Arkmenos' person and request Grapeshot translate the dwarvish inscription on the hilt, which reads, "Always aim true, my son, and I'll be proud of you no matter where you go." Realizing it to be the missing dagger of the local blacksmith, Optym, they return the blade to much gratitude and relief.

Completing the Contract

With plans in place for their trek back to Deckon Thar's Barrows alongside Grapeshot and other Knights, the party return to the High Mage's home to present their completed contract regarding Arkmenos. They are surprised to be greeted by not only Taern, but also Viper Hornblade, who they learn is the High Mage's nephew. The High Mage accepts their contract and excuses himself to collect their reward from the bursar.
Left alone with the Viper (and Masterbreaker, just out of sight), the party make their case that they had completed their end of his agreement as well, though the Viper draws a line at the technicality that they had not brought the head of the responsible party and that it was not Arkmenos he was really after. The party and Zhent come to an impasse when Tristain argues for an empathetic view of how their aid has saved the lives of his men, but the Viper refuses to back down, arguing, "a man is only as good as his contract."
As the discussion falters, the Viper takes note of Pax hiding behind his companions, and Hornblade's tone shifts entirely. "The Devil! I had no idea you kept the company of such monsters. The deal is off. Leave at once. Get out!" When Aethuriel and Tristain challenge him, citing his own words about the importance of the contract and that he made it with only the two of them, he responds, "I made a contract with an understanding of the quality of the Knights of Holy Judgement, not aware that they accepted men with so much blood and ruin on their hands. No, the deal is off! Be gone!" Disgusted with this dismissal, Tristain warns the Viper that it was their aid that protected him, but that just as he didn't care for the innocent deaths and the harm brought on by his men, so too might he meet a similar fate. Aethuriel bids the Viper farewell, saying, "No doubt the wight already knows where you are." The party take their leave of the Viper and his hired help, waiting outside for the High Mage's return.
Shortly thereafter, Taern approaches with a heavy pouch of coin, apologizing that their reward had to be paid in a mixture of platinum, gold, and silver, but that it totaled the remaining balance of 510g. He questions their waiting outside and seeing through Aethuriel's polite explanation of matters, comes to understand their falling out with the Viper over a contract. He offers to talk some humility and sense into his nephew while he stays with him amidst the uncertainty of recent days.

With their first contract complete and their reward in hand, the party plans to wrap up a few loose ends before departing with Grapeshot and their Helmite allies.

Session Overview

Date Played:
February 15, 2021
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax
• Tristain

Time Passed:
Elesias 24, 1493 (PM) - Elesias 25, 1493 (AM)
NPCs:

• Captain Grapeshot
• Arkmenos
• High Mage Taern Hornblade
• Viper Hornblade
• Draxhar, Thousand-Faced Demon
• Folio
• Deckon Thar
• Agent Marthen
• Warden Wiseoak

Loot:

• 510g