Session 57 – Return to the Blaze

Written by KoshcheiBessmertnyi

General Summary

After Theobald and Adrie return to Neverwinter following the Council of Shining, they busy themselves with work for the Company and meetings with local physicians, respectively. Adrie is settled at a walled estate, and given a guard detail. Several days after arrival, she presents her findings about the disease to a physicians’ consilium in a Company-run surgical theatre. She displays discolored organs, and lectures the assembly about the origins of the disease, with helpful interventions by Theobald. The physicians listen politely, but some ask prodding questions, and on the whole, seem unconvinced by the presentation, or at least desire greater detail: what is the mechanism by which the disease spreads, what proof is there that it originates from the underground realm of the dark elves. Some who examine infected tissue with the aid of looking glasses claim to be unable to see any difference between it and normal organs.
Five days after their arrival, both companions desire a break from the documentary grind or just life in a new town, one visibly afflicted by anxiety about an imminent orcish attack. Theobald pleads with Adrie’s handlers to release her for an evening of light entertainment at a tavern, and after several days, they finally acquiesce, though they insist on driving the pair in a closed carriage, and waiting outside the establishment. The two are strictly instructed to get Adrie back into the carriage at the sign of any trouble.
Theobald – a relative recluse, who has lived in Nevewinter only a month as a free man, chooses the only tavern he knows – an establishment called the Blaze, that he visited back in the winter with Miletus, Glitterstem and Enkidu just prior to their first fateful trip to Claymore. The establishment in conveniently located near the center of town, just across from what used to be the Firehands Company headquarters (which has since been taken over by the Zhentarim Company.
Inside, there are about a dozen people seated around a big table, and a few side tables in alcoves. Theobald and Adrie take seats at one of them, order a couple of pints, and observe the scene. Aside from the large group of apparent regulars seated at the main table, there is a lone halfling in one acove, and a group of three displaying the colors of the Order of Telperion – Enkidu’s order of rangers – at another. One of their number is a gnome. Theobald hails him and invites him over, letting him know that his former companion, Enkidu, also belonged to that order. The gnome, whose name is Galen Rubyfingers, says that Enkidu is the only thing his fellow rangers talk about, and that as a new member, he finds it increasingly annoying. The two find common topics of conversation regarding political affairs back in the old world, as well as the flow of specie.
In the meantime, the halfling has been trying to listen to their conversation intently, as talk of money, and the fact that Theobald has identified himself as a local official, peaks his interest. To get a better sense of what is being discussed, he orders a round for all present, and is rewarded for his efforts by being slurred as a “deugnit” by one of the regulars at the big table. He challengers the offender for his rudeness, and the tipsy man gets up, and tries to throw the halfling against the wall. Galen, at the table nearby, is incensed at the slur, and the seemingly uneven fight, and gets up to confront the man as well. He summons his friend, Wim, and a tavern brawl begins. Theobald sits back, seeing how the two non-humans comport themselves in a fight, while Adrie merely directs some invisible magical flows at the two offenders when they get close to their table.
The halfling’s opponent throws his mug at him, and then tries slamming him against the wall a couple of times. But the little man is slippery, dances out toward the main door, and is able to kick the offender in the groin, while continuing to lecture him about etiquette. The proprietor calls on all the combatants to leave, and the halfling places a few guilders on the table for the trouble caused. Wim and the other hangers on of the first brawler slink out, dragging their friend with them.
Theobald has a brief chat with the halfling as they are leaving. His name is Shadyford Swifthands, and it turns out that he is a sailor with good contacts among local mariners, who is currently looking for work. Theobald invites him and Galen to his cabinet on the morrow. He then leaves with Adrie, who is quickly spirited away by concerned handlers in the carriage.
The following day, the four convene in Theobald’s closet-sized cabinet. Theobald explains that he is looking for companions to go to Yartar, to investigate whether the southern neighbors of the New Wyrmmoors colony are in fact supplying weapons to the natives, as is nearly universally assumed in Neverwinter. They meet with Steen Hellink, who is Deputy Director of the Company’s privy council. Hellink first has Theobald vouch for his new companions’ reliability, and then come up with a travel plan, and false identities. Shadyford guarantees to find the team a passage on one of the ships docked at Neverwinter harbor. Adrie can travel as the ship’s doctor – a highly sought-after position. And Theobald can go as a merchant (with Galen as his assistant). The group will hitch a ride on whatever ship Shadyford indicates, and sail it to Ar-Caras – a free-for-all trading port in the Summer Isles, roughly 10 days’ journey away. There, they will use the 2000 guilders Hellink has agreed to award them for this expedition to buy rum and other merchandise, and then find passage on a ship going to Yartar, so that it does not appear that they are coming from Neverwinter. After Hellink receives Theobald’s pledge that Adrie will be well looked after, the deal is sealed.

Report Date

17 Nov 2018