KWN.5.3 The Second Contract

Session Preface

The journey through the mires and swamps of the lizardfolk is not a pleasant one. Each begruding step is weighed down by the muck beneath the opaque water's surface, as if threatening to pull you beneath at any moment. The sulfrous air burns your nose, the scent mingling with the mold and mildew growing along each waylaid log and stone. Conversation is hushed, mostly minimal direction from Captain Colley who leads the way, each of you wary to draw the attention of more of the lizardfolk or some other monstrosity.
Eventually, the swamp gives way to firm, but still sodden soil as you approach the edge of the pirate's stronghold. The pirate captain leads you onward until you reach a sewer grate along the wall with a massive padlock afixed. Colley fetches a key from a pocket within his jacket and opens the gate. A slow, steady stream of foul water drains, soaking into the ground. The captain wrinkles his nose, sighs, and crawls into the tunnel on hands and knees, doing his best to avoid the refuse trickling out. In turn, each of you follow.
After several disorienting turns and curves, distant moonglow illuminates the tunnel beyond. The captain leads you outward and you find yourself within the crumbling stone walls of Pirate's Skyhold. Over the captain's shoulder, you see a sprawling complex of dilapidated ships, a maze of docks, and miscellaneous crates and barrells in disarray. Overhead, the tattered sails flap in a swirling wind. Ropes creak as they snap taut. The hulls groan as the ships grind against their landlocked moors or wood and stone. In each ship, skeletal figures man their stations dutifully, as if they were still upon the open seas. You have not yet drawn their attention, but you notice a band of the zombie pirates patrolling the docks, heading in your direction.

Session Summary

The party, along with their fellow Knights, push their way through the Pirate's Skyhold city of rotting docks and boathouses through hoards of skeletal pirates. The red dragon, Folio's mount, threatens to devestate the party, but Pax's hemocraft eventually felled the beast. Pursuing Folio to the captain's ship, the party find themselves teleported to the Astral Sea by the gith, who used his familiarity with the planar space to press his advantage. Eventually, Folio is defeated as well, and the second of Tristain's contracts completed. With the gith's demise, the party return to the material plane and are able to recover Second, along with many stolen goods and treasures. Along with the Knights and the captain who brought them, the party return to Neverwinter aboard the Astral skiff.
During the trek, Tristain expresses his deep gratitude for his companions, admitting his dependence and reliance on them. Pax nods solemnly, while Aethuriel reassures that the bond between the three of them exceeds only the work that has brought them together. During the night, Tristain experiences a vision similar to that of when he died. In the vision, Sir Isteval, the retired Knight in Daggerford who knew his father, reveals the fate of Rulidd, now that Tristain has completed two of his contracts.
As Tristain learns, Rulidd traveled to Chult during a Death Curse to fight back against the spreading darkness. There, he discovered a plot by Draxhar and his followers of Cyric who were attempting to steal an artifact of Helm, the Guardian's Tear. Rulidd died defending the artifact, but because of the curse, his soul was unable to pass on into the afterlife. To this day, his soul, along with those who were similarly trapped during this time, wander and haunt the jungles of Chult, searching for a way to leave.
Waking from this dream, Tristain feels an irrefusable duty to travel to Chult and save the lost soul of his father. He shares this information with Pax and Aethuriel, who are understanding, if not forlorn at the splitting of their triad. The Knights express sentiments of gratitude, comraderie, and hope one last time before Tristain departs.

Note found on Folio's Person

Folio, I grow weary of this meddlesome child’s interference. Continue your work unabated and with all due haste, as these spurious knights have already halted our operations in the east.
Be certain that should you cross paths with these interlopers, the worshipper of Tyr does not escape your clutches. He cannot be allowed to further hinder these final preparations.
If among your next drop, I find the head of this troublesome whelp, I will consider your duty complete. You will have dutifully earned the information you seek regarding the colony of Ch'Chitl for which your services have been so expertly rendered.

Session Overview

Date Played:
September 22, 2022
Party:

• Aethuriel
• Pax
• Tristain

Time Passed:
Elient 17, 1493 PM - Elient 18, 1493 AM
NPCs:

• Captain Colley
• Hammer Ephen
• Shield Avri
• Gauntlet Fausta
• Folio

Loot:

• A Sending Stone (one of a pair)
• 2 Silvered Daggers
• Silver Greatsword
• small wooden carving of an odd sailing ship (trinket)
• The Everburning Candle of Lathander (relic - one time use item, cast resurrection as a ritual)
• A Lathander Scribe's Journal
• Dwarven Thrower
• Dwarven Plate Armor
• Rope of Entanglement
• Silent Horn
• Mariner's Hide Armor
• Gloves of Thievery
• Ring of Feather Falling
• 7500 gp