SC.1.4 Festivals & Familiar Faces

Session Preface

As morning light illuminates the wide streets of Waterdeep, the city is already bustling with activity. Alongside the routines of house staff tending to their nobles business or merchants sweeping out storefront entries, the signs of the days festivities seemed to have bloomed overnight. Banners depicting the sigils of the gods snap in the crisp, autumn wind. Shrines to deities familiar and foreign stand outside doorways. Some stand as simple, wooden carvings meant for quiet reflection. Others are precisely carved marble adaptations inviting awe and reverence. Citizens who would normally don the colors and crests of their wards or houses now wear the garb of their gods, from the almost-black blues of those who bequest Umberlee's mercy upon the waves to the iridescent rose and gold of Lathander's worshipers grateful for the rise of another dawn.
As you stir and begin your days in turn, each of you eventually make your way to the annual festival held surrounding the House of Wonder, the most magnificient temple to Mystra across the continent. Perhaps you are brought by nostalgia, tradition, excitement, or simply the flow of the crowds pulling you towards the Sea Ward. As you draw closer, the ornate towers of Mystra's temple dominate the skyline. Along the walls of the temple, beautiful mosaics depict historic wizards, artistic renderings of spells, and of course, the goddess and source of the Weave itself, Mystra.
In the alleys and streets, delightful displays of illusion and arcane artistry fill the air, dizzying in their frequency. Sparks of light like crackling fireworks burst overhead to shouts and cheers. A dramatic performance of illusory figures depicts moments in Waterdeep's history with satirical flair and comedic embellishment. A pair of jugglers toss items back and forth, transfiguring them as they fly between them, where a piece of fruit becomes a blade and then a chicken and then a wagon wheel and on and on. Children run amongst the crowds, gleeful, with wide eyes of wonder.
You listen as various orators throughout the festival recount tales of Mystra's presence, her death at the hand of Helm, how the hero Midnight was chosen as her successor, and how she restored the Weave and saved the realms. They speak too, in more hushed tones, of Cyric's murder of Mystra, and the tumultous Spellplague of a near century ago, whose aftershocks are still felt to this day. Triumphantly, then, the orators speak of Mystra's Return to full divinity and power thanks to the heroic efforts of Elminster to find the still-mortal goddess and return to her the silver fire, the sacred and most pure form of the Weave.
As the morning drifts on, you eventually find one another in the crowds and set yourselves to the tasks before you.

Session Summary

Over the course of the morning, each of the companions make their way to the festival. Thaust comes directly over from the market with his pastries in toe, enjoying the festivities. Endriel meditates on Mystra and the magical capabilities he is afforded through her existence and blessing. Hawk walks through the faithful of Milil who perform along the streets of Waterdeep, depicting a single composition throughout its iterations, from the most simple melody to its most complex and complete form. When he recognizes the bard Three-Strings, Hawk stops and performs with him a moment and the two agree to catch up over drinks at the Yawning Portal another time. Hawk then proceeds to the temple of Lathander where he reflects on Tristain's resurrection, accepting a small pin of Lathander's dawnlight sigil and clipping it to his lapel. Reconvening, the companions grabbed breakfast from a dragonborn's coffee and stone-oven pizza establishment, Sip'n'Slice, and returned to Trollskull Manor.
Arriving back at Trollskull, they find Mya has already started hauling rotted wood out into the courtyard. Wiping sweat from her brow, she explains that she had a whole big speech prepared about how they should rebuild because the place deserved better, and her dad and the Harp deserved better. With that decided, they all set to work clearing the broken furniture and other rubble while Mya went to seek out a contractor through the guilds. Amidst the labor, the companions determined their next course of action would be to seek out Soveliss Xiloscient, the informant for the Ardeep Avengers.
Shortly thereafter, Mya returns with Teressa, a self-assured dwarven woman with clipboard in hand. She spends the better part of the afternoon inspecting the property before bringing the extended list of defects and necessary repairs totaling some 1,250 gold. The companions approve the fees and Teressa sets out to organizing the various guilds to handle demolition, repairs, and renovation over the next twelve days.

Passing Days

A few days pass as Hawk, Thaust, and Endriel stake out the various festhalls and taverns of the Castle Ward in search of Soveliss. In the meantime, Thaust revisits Elya and Kelnesis at the Prestiege, stocking up on potions and seeing the shelves laid bare due to the Arcane Watchers purchasing most of the magical items that manage to legally be sold in the city.
Hawk helps coordinate efforts around Trollskull Manor and investigates Zhentarim efforts in the Trade Ward. In his exploration, he follows thieves cant symbols warning of danger and finds an alleyway where a crime scene has obviously been scrubbed. Still written in blood on one of the walls despite multiple attempts to clean it reads, "The family can't protect you."
Endriel acquires a new bow from the neighboring Bent Nail and visits his sister, Velgwyn, at her costume and custom clothing storefront just south of the City of the Dead. Endriel celebrates her success, but also recognizes an undisclosed sadness or unease within his sister. She excitedly agrees to work on a costume project for Endriel, creating him a cloak that will help him hide in shadows.

Insights from Solveliss

On the fourth night, the companions track Solveliss down at a local theater. The half-elf fervently welcomes them and over bottles of wine, updates them on the Ardeep Avengers and the state of affairs in Waterdeep.
He shares that Ellian has grown into quite the public figure of late after he slew a dragon and claimed its hoard — a wealth of embezzled tax funds from the former Open Lord, Dagault Neverember. Ellian moved the Avengers into Waterdeep proper and has handed out the funds in the Dock Ward and Field Ward where rebuilding efforts have lagged most. He has also taken to making embolded speeches against the nobility, particularly the Masked Lords.
When asked about Xanathar Thieves Guild, Soveliss shares that they are lashing out in desperation following Hawk and Thaust decimating their former vicegrip on the Skullport region. While unaware of the mindflayer working within their ranks, Soveliss is not surprised that the infamously paranoid Xanathar would seek such means of maintaining control and investigating his opponent's maneuvers from the shadows.
Regarding the Zhentarim, Soveliss explains that the Black Network is currently overseen by the Doom Raiders, an adventuring party who made their fortune raiding lich's lairs, whose skills were procured by Manshoon himself. He explains that while he doesn't know exactly where the Zhents are getting their weapons, he knows Istrid Horn, the Master of Trade and Coin, will have plenty of intel. He points them towards her offices in Crammor's Hold where she runs a money lending operation, or the Quaffling Quaggoth, where she seeks out their dwarven ale selection.
With these clues, the companions depart for Crammor's Hold to investigate the warehouse.

Session Overview

Date Played:
July 28, 2024
Party:

• Endriel
• Hawk
• Thaust

Time Passed:
Marpenoth 15, 1493 AM - Marpenoth 19, 1493 PM
NPCs:

• Mya
• Teressa
• Elya
• Kelnesis
• Velgwyn
• Soveliss Xiloscient
• Istrid Horn

Loot:

• 6 Potions of Healing