Chapter 5 > Neverwinter...In Search Of...

[hedgeknight]

Hedge, how wide, deep, and fast did it look like the river was flowing into the city in the east?

It was chugging along pretty good from all the recent rain. You figure it's a good 20 yards wide, maybe closer to 30 in some areas. Not sure of depth.

[hedgeknight]

We would prefer to travel through the city to reach the Druids. If this is still possible to do, and indeed if this gate is still manned by civilized folk, then we will submit to being searched. We have nothing to hide from you.

"All is well and good then. Prepare for inspection."

The four guards relax a bit, but keep their crossbows trained on your group. Three other guards come through the doors, followed by a young woman who is dressed in comfortable robes of blue and gray. She looks at each of the members of your group for a few minutes, while the guards check your gear and your wagon.
You note something very interesting to the far west of the coastline. An actual island is hovering over the bay, seemingly attached to nothing! From where you stand, you can see the island is dotted with a smattering of small shacks and wooden huts.

Then priestly young woman disturbs your gazing when she looks up at the speaker on top of the tower and says, "All clear down here."

The guard nods and calls for the gate to be opened...and with only a little hesitation, you enter the city of Neverwinter.

Seven_Suns_Coster_Market.jpg (1003.42 KiB) Viewed 409 times

The sights and sounds of city life are almost foreign to your ears as traders and merchants hawk their wares, metal clangs on metal from a nearby forge, and folk walk the streets in relative safety browsing the stalls and market places.

Anything particular you want to do or look for?
Or do you simply wish to find the bridge to the Blacklake District so you can get to the druid's grove?

[OGRE MAGE]

Kelton flashes his smile at the young woman as the search goes on.

So tell me little lady, is the Moonstone Mask still in business here? That is one place that I would like to show to these newcomers.

[Jack]

Uilon walks in the back as they enter thru the gate, and says to the priest "My name is Uilon Calithil. May I ask yours?"

If she is friendly, or at least professionally courteous, then Uilon will ask her what the safest route is to the druid grove.

[coil23]

Aslaan plays it cool but is a bit wide-eyed at all the city sights, sounds, and smells. It was just in and out the one time he came here in the past. He might not want to be here now but.....it's pretty interesting.

[wordoftheoracle]

Ioriston professorially addresses no one in particular while assuming everyone in the party is listening to him.
We should probably probe these city-dwellers for any information on current events. It could be very educational and may prevent a future misadventure or two.
He stops a passerby to ask a few questions:
Excuse me, madam... Well met, sir... What news of this fair city? Are there any happenings that a wayfarer shouldn't miss here in beautiful and growing New Neverwinter?

[hedgeknight]

Kelton flashes his smile at the young woman as the search goes on.
So tell me little lady, is the Moonstone Mask still in business here? That is one place that I would like to show to these newcomers.

"Indeed it is, good sir. See it floating yonder? A large chain keeps it anchored to the shoreline, else it we would surely lose it."

Kelton looks to where the woman points and sees a fairly good sized island floating in the air off the coast. He has heard of the fabled tavern being dislodged from the earth during the Sundering. He figures it must be a strong chain to keep the island from floating out to sea.

Uilon walks in the back as they enter thru the gate, and says to the priest "My name is Uilon Calithil. May I ask yours?"

"Yes, you may," she says with a smile. "I am Bethana. Welcome to Neverwinter."

Ioriston professorially addresses no one in particular while assuming everyone in the party is listening to him.
We should probably probe these city-dwellers for any information on current events. It could be very educational and may prevent a future misadventure or two.
He stops a passerby to ask a few questions:
Excuse me, madam... Well met, sir... What news of this fair city? Are there any happenings that a wayfarer shouldn't miss here in beautiful and growing New Neverwinter?

The woman says nothing, actually recoiling from the elven mage, but the man with her says, "If you're up for a bit of sport, the Moonstone Mask is exemplary. Or you might want to visit the Driftwood tavern > some good food and drink there. I've heard tell there are some...interesting spots in the Blacklake District, but it's risky to venture there, especially at night."

[Jack]

Uilon hears Kelton and Bethana speak of the Moonstone Mask tavern, and while he generally doesn't like being in cities and buildings for too long, he's intrigued by the idea of visiting the floating island.

On hearing Ioriston's conversation, Uilon is about to suggest their getting to the grove in the Blacklake district before nightfall; but the sight of market stalls with caged animals unsettles him. He tries to focus just in front of him while following the others, repeating to himself "Don't look at the cages, don't look at the horses pulling the wagon. Don't get Haeredeth or those travelling with you into trouble. Don't look at the cages..."

His passive perception is probably reduced by the cognitive dissonance of ignoring the caged animals.

[OGRE MAGE]

Kelton smiles and thanks the young miss.

He addresses his friends.

It might be best if we try to stay on track here. If we have time, perhaps we should go find the druids right now? What do the rest of you think? Fancy a stroll through the Orc district?

[wordoftheoracle]

Perhaps our Druidic pursuits should not be stalled by any jubilance to be had. We should find the Druids.

[coil23]

Aslaan

The young man nods at this. Aye, let's be about our business. The sooner done, the sooner gone. He used to hear stories as a child about how in the big cities pickpockets would fleece a man walking down the street- like scavengers picking bones clean. Even his clothes could be gone after he'd walked a block! Aslaan has no intention of finding out. He takes care to not get too close to anyone and periodically feels around his person to make sure everything is still there. Let them think I have fleas, I care not. Likely to stay away then anyway! Special care is taken to protect his prized bow from any tampering or filching. It seems foolish but he is even reticent to speak for fear that he will immediately identify himself as a rube ripe for the picking.

[OGRE MAGE]

Kelton asks around a little bit about the safest route into the Blacklake District.

If he is satisfied that the directions make sense from his own memory of this place, he proceeds to lead the group towards that part of the city.

[hedgeknight]

Having decided upon the next course of action, Kelton leads the group through the market stalls and then down Coriol Street. Various folk pass them by, most friendly, albeit quiet, including a small patrol of Mintarn guards making their rounds.
They pass a tavern or two along the way, but Kelton and Aslaan forge on ahead, ruining Ioriston's hopes for a long, leisurely lunch.

Kelton leads on, passing several townsfolk out enjoying the nice day. Far to the east, the sturdy, yet "haunted" ruin of the House of Knowledge stands dark and foreboding, casting shadows on the ruined Dolphin Bridge, now unpassable from a battle some twenty years past with a great evil and its cohorts; so too was the fate of the westernmost Sleeping Dragon bridge.
In fact, the only "working" bridge in Neverwinter is the Winged Wyvern, the middle bridge, which leads directly to the ruins of Castle Never.

Five guards stand on this side of the bridge and you can see another half dozen near the first arc. The guards look at your curiously for a few moments before one of them says, "Are you wishing to cross to Castle Never and the Blacklake district? We normally don't get many folk who from the Protector's Enclave wanting to cross over. Are you sure this is what you wish to do?"

[Jack]

"Yes," Uilon says, "we're heading to the druid's grove. Do you know if it's still near Blacklake?"

[wordoftheoracle]

Ioriston reluctantly follows the group.

He mutters to himself: I hate this city... Stupid plebian hospitality...

[OGRE MAGE]

Kelton follows the lead of Uilon.

We are not form either side of the city. We simply need to find the druids and thought it would be easier traveling through the Protector's Enclave as opposed to entering the gates on the opposite side.

What can you tell us about this area and of the druids we seek?

[hedgeknight]

"Yes," Uilon says, "we're heading to the druid's grove. Do you know if it's still near Blacklake?"

Kelton follows the lead of Uilon.
We are not form either side of the city. We simply need to find the druids and thought it would be easier traveling through the Protector's Enclave as opposed to entering the gates on the opposite side.
What can you tell us about this area and of the druids we seek?

Three of the guards gawk at you as if trying to understand your questions. The fourth guard chuckles and mutters, "druid's" under his breath. The fifth guard looks around and hesitantly replies.
"Yeah, the old grove is still near the Blacklake. But...why would you want to go there? Them druids...ya know...we here tales all the time of folk disappearing around the Blacklake and nearly every tale has sumpin' to do with them druids. They say, the leader, Hairdeath, or sumpin' like that, has gone crazy mad! Says he takes the form of wolves and such and rips out the throats of those who he don't like."

"Yer full of shit and so are them tellin' those tales!" the fourth guard says, still chuckling.

"Go bugger yerself, Clay!" replies the fifth guard. "I know what I heard...and I believe it too! I've seen things..."

Clay just shakes his head and spits in the road. "Listen, what Hank didn't tell ya is this: Lord Neverember holds no law over the bridge. Castle Never is full of ghouls and ghosts, and frackin' Orcs and Hobs walk the streets in broad daylight! More than a handful of factions duke it out for control on that side of the river and ya never know who to trust. So...once ya cross over, yer on yer own."

Hank shrugs and sighs. "Just be careful and watch each others backs. Stay on the western side of Blacklake and you should be okay."

"Except the druids are on the eastern side," Clay chimes in, smiling. "Have fun, kids. Har!" Clay turns away and begins talking to the other three guards.

Hank looks his way for a second and then turns back to you. "Don't mind, Clay. He's bitter and jaded is all. He lost some family and good friends when the volcano erupted and he's...well, he's not the same guy I grew up with. Don't split up and don't trust anyone, and you should be fine. Oh, and one more thing. The guards at the other end of the bridge won't let your cross back over after dark. They are more apt to fill you full of arrows than to let you back on the bridge once the sun goes down. So...if you get in a tight spot, lay low until dawn and then make for the bridge. Alright? Theryis is the owner of the tavern named the House of a Thousand Faces. You'll find succor there if you need it. Drop my name, alright? Tymora's grace to you!"

And then he steps aside for you to begin your crossing of the bridge.

[coil23]

Aslaan

Aslaan blinks as he listens to the guards speak. Are we even in a city if all this is going on inside the walls? Where have we gone? Well, it may still be an improvement if they do not have horse-eating dragons.

I first wrote "dragon-eating horses" until I realized what I was typing. The first version would be scarier, I suppose.

[OGRE MAGE]

Kelton nods in appreciation to the guards for their help.

Thank you kindly, Hank. I will keep your advice in mind.

He leads the others across the bridge looking around intently for any dangers or other things of interest.

Perception Check [1d20+3] = 1+3 = 4 Oh look, a bridge!

[Jack]

Uilon wonders if his traveling companions will also think Haeredeth "crazy mad", and as they walk on he starts to think about how to explain druidic wild shaping without alarming those who don't know about it. "When Haeredeth changes her form to that of an animal, it's just her physical characteristics that change - she's still in control of her actions."

He stops talking as they approach the 6 guards near the first arc, wondering if his explanation helped, or made things worse.