Session 8 – Pelor’s Day

Written by KoshcheiBessmertnyi

General Summary

Enkidu, Glitterstem, Miletus and Theobald awaken recharged in Kasmyr’s loft to the smell of porridge and bacon. They have slept since late afternoon the previous day, their host informs them, and a visitor came to his shop after they retired, inquiring after Enkidu. He was an armored displaying a white tree insignia, like the half-orc, presumably making him a member of the Order of Telperion. Kasmyr told him that the party had a run in with some orcs the previous morning, and was now sleeping, and he left, partly relieved and partly concerned, promising to come back in the morning.
Soon, the mysterious visitor makes an appearance. He is Theirn Regenbogen – a relatively junior member of the Order, who was sent by chapter head Tubor Raskell to find out why Enkidu never returned to Neverwinter. After hearing the tale of the party’s travails over the last week, Theirn tells Enkidu that the Firehands’ office has completely disappeared, and no signs of either Esteleth or Dhellart Nightblade are evident. An investigative party from Claymore did arrive in Neverwinter a few days ago, and began to search for traces of the Firehands, but for the most part, its members seem to be enjoying themselves in the colonial capital. Theirn expresses concern about the brewing conflict with the goblins, and especially about the involvement of the Brotherhood, and asks whether Enkidu might be interested in taking up more permanent residence in Claymore and patrolling the frontier (the other members of the Order are likewise moving to take up frontier positions elsewhere). Enkidu tentatively agrees, but puts in a request for funding a facility, which Theirn promises to convey to Tubor as he departs.
Kasmyr relates that he is planning to spend most of the day carousing at the Beaver, since business tends to be slow on Pelor’s Day, when most humans here attend religious services. The party has other interests for the morning – it wants to check on the orc prisoner back at the arsenal, and perhaps to pay a visit to Elias Amando the apothecary – as procurers of herbs, or in some other capacity. As the foursome passes through the square, there are food vendors preparing to feed worshippers at the conclusion of the service, while the gnoll lear sweeps up and clears away the snow. At the Arsenal, the prisoner is awake and active, trying his best to crash through the door, and yelling obscenities and threats at Enkidu. The guards inform the party that no attempts to interrogate the prisoner have been made, but that the Commander is very upset. If any of them are interested in getting his approval to question the orc further or to open the door, they should look for him at the service at the temple. Glitterstem charms the orc, and through Enkidu’s and Theobald’s interpreting, learns that the Order of Baghtru was contacted by the crow, who told them that “the Traitor” Enkidu was running iron to the goblins, so five volunteers went out to intercept and kill him. Theobald supposes that the crow (or its handler) is actually double-crossing the goblins.
Figuring the orc has no more value and will only cause trouble if released, Miletus and Glitterstem are sent across the square to the temple to seek Elst’s permission to liquidate the prisoner. The temple, still under renovation, is filled with chanting worshippers, many of whom are tithing and delivering rolled-up pieces of paper to be cast into the ceremonial fire-urn by the officiant. People are put off by the foreigners and their obviously inappropriate attire, but as they turn to leave, Elst pulls them aside, and they brief him on the goings on of the last two days. Concerned by the involvement of the Brotherhood like everyone else, Elst gives approval to the liquidation of the prisoner. Just then, another non-congregant, apparently disoriented and wearing an overcoat over a nightshirt, walks through the door. Heads turn, and Elst tells the gnome and the elf that he is Mels Neerbos, a former congregant who now attends the Harper’s temple, to whose officiant he is married. As the final benediction is recited in the Common tongue, Mels joins the crowd in chanting about the occluded coming into the light of Pelor, and promising that the strong shall meet their doom. Bester, flanked by two guards, leaves the service. Miletus and Glitterstem escort Mels out when the chanting ends. He does not appear to be magically effected, but continues to repeat the line about the strong meeting their doom. The crowd pours outside to sample the victuals, while Elst leads the elf and the gnome back to the arsenal.
Once inside, Elst authorizes the door to Beyert’s office to be opened. The orc charges outside (as best he can, considering he is shackled), and is then slaughtered by Enkidu, and his body is disposed of. Beyert’s office is thoroughly trashed, but there is no sign of any outside involvement. As Elst and the party engage in a more detailed discussion of the Brotherhood, another prisoner is brought into the arsenal. He is Balint Vosberg, and he has just been arrested by Bester’s men for the murder of Mym. No one knows any details, but Vosberg is led up to Mrax’s old cell in the tower. The party goes up to help with the interrogation. Vosberg is a recent arrival, who was mentioned as a possible suspect in the murder from the beginning, but no proof of his involvement was forthcoming. He is a naturalist of some sort, and is here to study the local flora and fauna, and to search through local archives about any information regarding a creature called the horse-pelican, which arrives at a sacred pool between Neverwinter Wood and the Crags every spring, and which is reputed to have the power of resurrection. He is also a member of an organization called the Frond, which heralds the New World, the birth of the New Man, and progressive transformation. Aside from his research, Balint spends time in the company of the Beaver’s denizens, but has not made forays into the wilderness yet. He opines that the organization is misunderstood, and people’s ignorance makes him look suspicious. He denies any involvement in the murder, and opines that he is simply a convenient scapegoat. He also claims to be aware of a magical crow in town, but says that he is in no way connected with it, or interested in its activities. The authorities, including Elst, have little to add to Balint’s narrative, and appear to find it generally credible. On a second brief visit to the tower, the party learns that Balint claims to possess the means to escape from captivity by turning himself into a creature like a crow, but is choosing not to do so in order to prevent jeopardizing his residence in town.
The guards inform Elst that a crowd of Harpers with pitchforks has begun to gather on the square. They claim that Bester has engaged in inappropriate relations with their officiant, and they demand that he come forward and answer for what he has done. They also say that he has arrested an innocent man (Balint) as retaliation for Balint informing the unfortunate Mels of his cuckolding. Neither Elst nor Meerlinda are aware of the events that have led up to this, but both express concern for the future of the town (Elst seems to feel that Meerlinda will take up the reigns of the town’s governance should Bester be brought down). Bester seems to be secreted in his office, and his secretary informs the party that he is not receiving supplicants until the morrow. Balint, for his part, voices ignorance regarding involvement with Mels in any way. Out on the square, the crowd grows larger, and Lhyr, armed with an axe, takes up a position outside the door to the Company headquarters, while the town guards look on from the other side of the square.

Report Date

16 May 2015