Session 1 – The Unwanted Nails

Written by KoshcheiBessmertnyi

General Summary

An unlikely group of new arrivals to the Sword Coast in Gethen – the wood elf soldier Miletus, the forest gnome druid Glitterstem, and the human aristocrat and sorcerer Theobald Waldemar, along with Enkidu FerJabbersSake – a half-orc frontiersman recently inducted into the Order of Rangers, meet in the city of Neverwinter. They have been called together by Dhellart Nightblade and the elf Esteleth – two partners of the Firehands Group Trading Company that supplies the town of Claymore – a frontier outpost 12 miles up the Neverwinter River, with basic hardware. At the company’s headquarters, Nightblade explains that Claymore is a boomtown that has been dramatically expanding since the end of the Goblin War a decade ago, and faces a shortage of much needed building materials after the recent winter holidays. The mission is routine – the region has been at peace for a while, but as a rising enterprise, the Firehands trade on their dependability. They have regular handlers, but the normal riverine supply route is shut down because the Neverwinter has frozen over. The goods must arrive by sled. To this end, the Firehands need a delivery crew – a responsible and authoritative representative who will ensure the proper documentation of the transaction and collection of payment (Theobald), a driver who is good with animals (Glitterstem), an armed guard who will defend the shipment in case of unforeseen circumstances (Miletus), and a guide who is familiar with the surrounding countryside, and can also provide backup to the guard in a pinch (Enkidu). The four must deliver the shipment to the Redshield Coster in Claymore, receive payment from its proprietor – Annika Redshield, and then return the empty sled and draft horse to the Neverwinter warehouse. In return, each participant will receive ten guilders in remuneration, and, if they prove worthy, consideration for further employment by the Group as well.
Having struck a bargain with Dhellart, the foursome retires to the nearby Flame Pub to plan the trip on the morrow. Glitterstem divines that heavy snow is approaching after nightfall, and returns to the Firehand offices with requests of delay or additional equipment. Dhellart, however, has already left for the day. The group proceeds to the company warehouse across the frozen river, but finds nothing of use within. The four spend the night in the old night watchman’s shack, and awaken before dawn to the sounds of teamsters loading a sled with merchandise. The snow pours down hard. Examining the crates (altogether 20 of them, each weighing nearly 100 pounds), they find them apparently filled with iron nails. Nothing further is discovered, though the group suspects something may be hidden in the crates. But before dawn, the snow ends, and they choose to suspend the search, and to set out in order to arrive in Claymore before nightfall.
The party progresses up the frozen river. On route, those with keen eyes espy graffiti on trees along the embankment depicting the markings of the Dire Wolf goblin clan that resides in Neverwinter Forest. The markings are anomalous – by treaty, the goblins cannot claim any territory east of the Forest. By noon, a goblin watcher is detected on a tree along the embankment. Theobald conjures a Dire Wolf symbol, and the group proceeds unmolested, reaching Claymore just before nightfall. Paying the toll at the gate, the group enters the town from the Riverside Gate, as the guards look on, askance. The sled proceeds to the Redshield Coster, where it is met by the dwarf Annika Redshield, who orders her stockboys to begin unloading the cargo. As soon as one crate is opened, Annika protests. She did not order this shipment, having received an earlier shipment only a month back, requires no nails in such large amounts, and is in any case unfamiliar with the Firehands Group. Perhaps her subordinate, Mim Guildercrystal, filled the order with no authorization from her. But he is not there.
The foursome realize they may have been had, but do not know why. Receiving Annika’s permission to leave the horse and sled at the Coster while they ponder their next move, they are led by Theobald to the Eager Beaver, a raucous local tavern located on Trader’s Row. On the way, they pass two goblin traders in the main square. The two are probably in town to trade beaver pelts – the main business which keeps the town running. They consider selling the nails to the goblins, but are later informed that doing so is a violation of the treaty – no settler community may sell iron to natives. At the Beaver, they sup while being entertained by a local’s tales about the origin of halflings, and an unexpected visit by “Outrageous” Kasmyr Ratatosk – Glitterstem’s long-lost cousin, an apprentice wizard, and the town furrier. Enkidu and Miletus return to check on the sled to find it gone, with tracks leading to the main drag, and likely, to the Furrier’s Gate. They return with the unexpected news, which the party reports to Petyr Elst – the town’s Commander of the Guard. Elst and the party proceed to the Furrier’s Gate, where they learn that one sled – driven by Mim Guildercrystal, left the town within the hour.

Report Date

17 Jan 2015