SC.1.1 The Long Road

Session Preface

From the unadorned wooden stage of the Stoneway Inn, Hawk observes the filling tavern as he tunes his lute instinctively. His hands tighten the strings incrementally, his trained ears focusing on the harmonic resonance quietly droning amidst a dozen intermingled conversations, clinking glasses, and the creaking door swinging open and shut against the autumn evening chill.
The room buzzes with activity and familiar faces. The dragonborn brothers sit hunched over a parchment handed to them by Second, having just arrived from Neverwinter, apparently with news. Davan cleans a spilled flaggon, sweeping glass and mopping the spill with a mage hand while wiping the table with a rag. In front of the dragonborn, sits Lorelei, Emmyth's sister, who has in turn become like a sister to Mya as well. Mya joins her, her dark hair pulled back into a messy, practical bun, highlighting the freckles splashed across her face. She flashing an infectious smile to Hawk before taking a draw from her ale and starting to chat with Lorelei.
Thaust bursts through the doorway, ducking his head beneath the stone archway reflexively, catching his breath. He wipes beads of sweat from his brow and takes the one of the few remaining seats that will fit his powerful build. Shortly after getting his seat and signalling to Davan for his regular drink, Thaust surveys the room. Many of their friends have gone separate ways over the last six months since they helped restored the Ordning. It had only been two months or so since they returned from Waterdeep and their business in Skullport, but just in that time, Thaust had seen how Durindale was taking on a life of its own, an identity separate from just the adventurers who banded together. Even in the absence of their companions, the tavern was nearly full, full of the good folks who had settled among the adventurers and decided to make Durindale home. A community of likeminded individuals who believed the whole of the growing town was more valuable than just the sum of their individual parts. And tonight, they'd come to relax and enjoy a show, with Hawk as the evening's entertainment.
Hawk strikes the first chord, letting it ring out and reverberate against the stone walls. A hush radiates across the room from the stage to the bar to the shadow-draped tables in the far corner. The tavern itself seems to hold its breath as Hawk moves through the rest of the progression, slowly cresendoing from the simple chordal tones to incoporating the melody as well, capturing both the tune and accompaniment typically played as a duet. He lets out a sigh of satisfaction, knowing that muscle memory can carry him from here, now that the performance is underway. He catches Mya's eyes in the crowd, alit with pride and admiration.
Several tables behind her, Thaust smiles as well. For a moment, he is transported back to the Golden Harp. He allows the song to carry him through the shimmering haze of nostalgia, remembering simpler days with fondness. His daydreaming is abruptly interupted as the flaggon before him tilts, sloshing his ale. Thaust catches it just before toppling over and turns towards the disturbance. Beside him, Second has squeezed between Thaust and a pair of halfings, his metallic shoulders hunched inward to fit and awkwardly turn towards the firbolg.
"Hello, friend!" Second whispered, still full of his inextinguisable enthusiasm. "When this performance that I'm sure will be delightful has concluded, I have business to discuss with you and Hawk. A contract. For a terrible fiend. Terrorizing the streets. In Waterdeep. Should be a riveting time! Anyways, more of that afterwards. We should just enjoy the show for now. What a great day to be back among friends!"

Session Summary

Durindale

While Hawk's performance starts strong, he fumbles the end of the song, ending abruptly, his thoughts trailing off as he watches Mya work the room. Seeing her in her natural element without the pressure of keeping her family's business afloat, Hawk realizes how perfect the last few months have been and wishes that this season of life could linger. He is unsurprised at the timing, then, when he is summoned by Second and given the details of work that needs doing in Waterdeep.
Hawk and Thaust learn that Tristain has departed for the distant jungles of Chult in search of his father's restless spirit before completing his final contract, one for capturing a raksasha in Waterdeep. The two reluctantly accept the contract, mostly worried for their friend traveling so far alone in such a dangerous place. When breaking the news to Mya of his imminent departure, Hawk is surprised to hear her invite herself along for the journey. He protests of the dangers, but she insists on learning what became of the Golden Harp and getting the chance to leave Waterdeep on her terms this time.
The companions depart the Stoneway Inn and begin making preparations. Hawk packs, reticient to already be taking his bow back off the wall and leaving behind his favorite lute in exchange for his travel instrument. Mya prods and teases him for the deliberations and some of the equipment he brings before speaking with Thaust as they wait for him. The two speak of the dangers of the trip and Mya inquires about how Hawk talks about their relationship. Thaust shares that Hawk's writing lots of "good" poetry about her, which Mya blushes to learn.

Triboar

The three depart Durindale, taking the Triboar Trail eastward, arriving the next evening. Mere moments after entering Triboar's gates, they hear the ecstatic cries of Taylor shouting their names from his family's property where he had been practicing his sword-fighting with a simple wooden blade in lieu of his evening chores. Young Taylor insists on the companions staying with his family and they agree to do so on the condition of Hawk getting to make everyone breakfast. The next morning, Hawk wakes early, strolls the markets of Triboar, and brings home a bountiful spread of homecooked breakfast for everyone.
Following breakfast, Taylor's father, Arn, presents an opportunity. They are finishing the wagon repairs for family friends who are headed to Waterdeep. Hawk, Thaust, and Mya would be welcome to ride along, getting a free and much easier trip to Waterdeep, in exchange for keeping an eye out for their friends along the way. The party agrees and makes introductions with the Gardner family - Arty, the father; his wife Del; their toddler Cill; their precocious pre-teen Sera; and the solemn oldest son Jeshir, who has noticably darker features than the rest of the family. They learn the family works as merchants, in this case delivering parts of the Fire Giant construct, the Vonindod, the Gond artificers in Waterdeep for a hefty price. They also plan to winter in Waterdeep, waiting for spring before making the arduous trek back. With introductions out of the way and cart repairs completed, they set off for the twelve day journey.

On the Road

After two days of travel, they arrive in Westbridge, staying in the small Happy Halfling after Del discovered that the Harvest Inn was under new ownership with lewd taste in artwork and decor. Over the course of the next three days, the companions get to know the family a bit better, sharing meals and entertaining the kids while traveling. Sera asks Thaust many questions about his clan, documenting them in hopes of being the next traveling author, like Volo. Jeshir keeps to himself, tending to the animals, speaking little.
Along the way, the caravan passes a herd of Giant Goats. Sera dashes off to draw and document the creatures and Thaust must run to catch up. When Sera startles the goats and they begin to charge towards the caravan, he swoops Sera out of the way and uses his ability to speak with animals to calm the goats and prevent any damage to the carts or his companions.
On the fifth day, the traveling party arrives in Red Larch, where they debate where to stay before finally deciding on the Swinging Sword, where they encounter no otherworldly visitors. Hawk, Thaust, and Mya take a moment to revisit the small temple to Lathander. Dawnbringer Perrin welcomes them back as they reflect on their last visit, Tristain's resurrection ceremony, thinking of their distant friend and his own adventure.

"Where should we stay for the night?"
"How about the Swinging Sword?"
"No, there’s always the chance of strange folks being wandering around. You know they have a gate there."
"I don’t know that."
"Yes, well supposedly it’s there and I don’t want to get caught in any strange business.
"Okay, well how about Dran & Courtier?"
"And deal with the Aquisitions Incorporated applicants? I don’t think so."
"Fine, that leaves the Blackbutter Inn."
"But that place is so dreary and boring. And I hate the name. Blackbutter. Like rotting dairy."
"Well, those are our options unless we get drunk and sleep at a table at the Red Larch Rambler like when we-"
"You hush your mouth! Our guests can decide.”
— a conversation between Arty and Del, arriving in Red Larch

On the way to Amphail, tensions between Jeshir and his family finally come to a head. When Sera asks if their Aunt Fatima, who they are planning to stay with in Waterdeep, will be excited to see them, Jeshir harshly shouts back that she won't, given that she is mourning and that's what they are going for too. He storms off to feed the horses. Arty explains that they recently learned of his first wife, Jeshir's mother, passing away unexpectedly. They are traveling to pay their respects, but also help her sister Fatima run the business the two of them shared. Mya goes and comforts Jeshir, realizing they share the experences of losing a parent unexpectedly.
Approaching Amphail itself, the traveling party begins to feel the proximity to Waterdeep, seeing the familiar garb of Waterdeep noble families and city guards patrolling the roads. Just north of the city before the patrols begin in earnest, the party are brought to a sudden halt by a tree felled in the road. A curtly highway bandit makes his presence known. When the bandit tries to intimidate the traveling companions, Hawk instead flips the script, insisting that he doesn't want to break his streak of not killing people today and instead encourages the bandit and his compatriots to find something they are passionate about or to become mercenaries instead of highway thugs. Both threatened and inspired by Hawk, the bandit presses no further. Thaust heaves the tree out of the road and the party is able to make their way through Amphail, the small farming village of Rassalanter, and then Waterdeep without further incident.

The North Gate

Arriving outside the North Gate, the caravan finds a long, winding line waiting to enter the city. With the anti-magical artifact legislation still in place, there is a daunting process for entering the city with any belongings of non-mundane capabilities. Wanting to avoid making their presence known, Hawk and Thaust place all of their equipment into the bag of holding. Thaust and Mya walk in with only Thaust wearing a disguise to not appear as a firbolg, but instead an unassuming human. His illusion is only caught by a member of the Watchful Order at the last moment and he is forced to drop the disguise, feigning discomfort over his appearance.
Meanwhile, Hawk uses his invisibility to circumnavigate the crowds. Studying the rotations of guards and their clerks, he dashes through a brief opening and exits through the guard tower window, successfully getting himself and their magical artifacts into the city without recognition. Rejoining the others, they decide it best to rip off the bandage and visit Hawkwinter villa to learn the fate of the Golden Harp.

Session Overview

Date Played:
May 27, 2024
Party:

• Hawk
• Thaust

Time Passed:
Marpenoth 1 - Marpenoth 14, 1493
NPCs:

• Davan
• Mya
• Second
• Taylor, Arn, and Syreen Widdens
• Arty, Del, Sera, Cill Gardner, and Jeshir Gardner-al-Umari