The party rest in the valley of Greypeak Mountains, loot has been distributed and catalogued, Wyverns have been fed and watered and it is time for them to begin the next leg of their journey.
It appears that despite all the perilous dangers the group have faced and defeated and the precarious peace faced by the Forgotten Realms in general, the most pressing matter to our adventurers remains to be that of Farraine's missing backpack. Finn, seeing his compatriots floundering in the bushes, has had enough and takes up the search and immediately notices a glinting off in the distance. As he points out his discovery to the crew he feels a warm drip of blood fall from his nose, wiping it away quickly he joins the party as they lead the Wyverns down to where the Halfling pointed.
Lying there is a surprisingly large pile of Farraine's belongings. With a face full of joy Farraine rushes towards the mountain and begins to frantically dig away at the mound but happiness soon turns to despair as he realises the one thing that is absent from this stockpile is his backpack. Beef, taking pity on his poor friend's woes offers his as substitute but it does little to placate our fearless fighter as he reluctantly fills it with his possessions.
Bags packed they mount their Wyverns and take to the skies once more, destination, Waterdeep. It soon becomes apparent that Wyverns, like Dwarves are natural sprinters and quite dangerous over short distances so regular breaks are required for them to regain their stamina. As the days pass the band of adventurers approach Waterdeep and are greeted by the city's Elite Griffin Guard who bids them to descend before entering the swarming metropolis. Lines of people queue at the city's gate, patiently waiting to be granted access as our heroes descend they appear quite afraid of the winged beasts.
Reluctantly the Wyverns are led to a nearby stable where they are to cared for by rather apprehensive guards who seem to be considering the possibility that they may be providing the food in ways they had not signed up for. To the chagrin of the waiting crowd of people the party are taken straight to the front of the line and pass through the tall gates of Waterdeep. They ask about the meeting of the council (with the Lord's Alliance) and where it will be taking place and are informed that it will be held in the Palace in 5 days time. As they are given this news there is a deafening silence that descends on the city, no murmur from the crowds of people, no barks of dogs or chirps of birds, an eerie nothingness pervades the busy streets. The party look to each other, concern etched on their faces, but no sooner than it occurred the silence is replaced by the regular hustle and bustle of city life.
Our heroes make their way to Trollskull Manor and as they enter, are greeted warmly by their faithful chef and part-time jailer Ozen. Hugs are exchanged and smiles worn, until Ozen lays eyes on Lucien for the first time, "Another one for the Cellar gentlemen?", realising that Ozen knows not of Lucien's position within the group, Beef quickly introduces the pair and they sit at a nearby table and are soon presented with full tankards of Icewind Dale Ale. Ozen tells them that the Ale supply chain has resumed and business is booming, he also mentions that there has been a regular visitor to the tavern recently, a grey haired lady who has an air of suspicion about her.
Renaer Neverember pulls up a chair at the table and hands them a note from Gundren, it appears that the dwarf has been true to his word and the five of them are now business partners in the Rockseeker Mining Company. In celebration fresh tankards are placed on the table. Beef turns to Ranaer and takes him to one side, "I need you to do me a favour, I am in need of information of the whereabouts of the Xanathar leader Noska Ur'Gray, I have a score to settle", "I will do what I can" he replies. Turning back to the group conversation turns to more important matters when Farraine asks where he might be able to purchase a new backpack. Finishing their ales the party move upstairs to bathe...separately, obviously, but in an order determined by a game of chance nonetheless.
The following day they decide to head out into the city to replenish their supplies and make use of the bounty of treasure they have managed to procure over the recent weeks, returning to Trollskull Manor with their backpacks full and their pockets a little lighter. Beef, Byron, Farraine and Lucien sit at a table when there is a tremendous bash at the front door, followed by the emergence of what appears to be an upturned wooden canoe with a pair of small legs sprouting beneath it. The canoe rises and a joyous Finn is revealed to the surprised and somewhat amused posse. Finn tells of how he has always wanted to won a canoe but has never had either the funds or the access to watercourses. Over the next day or so, each morning, Finn takes to the water in his new canoe and each evening he returns wet through. It appears that his skills may not lie in seamanship and eventually the canoe is hauled upstairs and filled with pillows and blankets, becoming a vessel for sleep for the young Halfling.
Shopping complete, the day of the High Council meeting has arrived and our intrepid adventurers make their way to the Palace, Byron dressed in the finest clothing and borne aloft in his chariot, determined to make a good impression on the _actual Lords and Ladies_. The party are led into the castle and are overwhelmed at the splendour on display before them as they walk through the grand hallways of the Palace. Entering the grandest room they have ever seen, the party take their seats in front of the Council Members. Taern Hornblade of Silverymoon, King Melandrach of the Elven Kingdom of Misty Forest, Sir Isteval of Cormyr), the dwarf Connerad Brawnanvil of Mithral Hall, Lord Neverember of Neverwinter, Reidoth from the Emerald Enclave, Ontharr Frume of The Order of The Gaunlet, Ulder Ravengard of Baldur's Gate and finally Laeral Silverhand, leader of the Lord's Alliance and Lord of Waterdeep sit patiently in elegantly carved chairs.
Laeral Silverhand gets to her feet and bids the adventurer's welcome and the meeting begins the increasing threat posed by the Cult of the Dragon is laid out and the party are asked for their account of their recent battles with members of the cult. Party Spokesman, Beef, gives a detailed account of the events in recent weeks, although strangely leaving out the bit where Byron was urinated on by a goblin. Astounded by the achievements of the group the Council offer their thanks to the adventurers. Laeral Silverhand then stands and unleashes an unusually long, yet well delivered, plot developing level of dialogue. She outlines the end goal of the Cult of the dragon and a number of lines of investigation that lay open. It went a little something like this:
- The cult's leaders are known as Wearers of Purple . Amongst the Wearers of Purple are the five Wyrmspeakers. Each of these carries a Dragon mask. One to represent each of the five colours of Chromatic (evil) Dragons. The masks enable the wearers to communicate with and influence Dragons.
- The cult intends to use the masks in a ritual to summon Tiamat. The more masks in their possession, the quicker the summoning will be, so it's imperative that the allies put the masks out of reach of the cult.
- The cult only has three of the masks as Rezmir's in buried in the wreckage of Skyreach and is presumably safe for the time being. Varram the White Wyrmspeaker has lost his mask which was apparently stolen by the a Zhentarim thief. The reason is unknown.
- Varram the White was last seen in a trade settlement called Boareskyr Bridge.
- There are rumours that King Melandrach's son is one the Green Wyrmspeakers. The King's demeanour indicated that it's more than a rumour.
- The strange disturbance felt as the group entered Waterdeep was the resonance from an ancient artifact known as the Draakhorn. A call to war for Chromatic Dragons. Something that has not happened in over a thousand years.
- The last known location of the Draakhorn was in the region called the Sea of Moving Ice, according to someone known as Maccath the Crimson. Maccath disappeared whilst looking for the Draakhorn.
- To aid them in their endeavours the group is granted a Writ of Investigatory Powers.
Dialogue delivered and plot advanced, the Leader of the Council takes her seat once more and asks the Party if they would be willing to accept the challenge laid before them and seek out the final end of the Cult of the Dragon and save the Forgotten Realms. She reminds them that the way is dangerous and they would think no less of anyone who declines this perilous path. But the thirst for adventure is strong in the group and they all accept this task, all, that is except for Byron, who gets to his feet and declares that his future lies on different route, one of peace (and no doubt fortune). Our party are left dumbfounded, their mouths wide in shock at this revelation. Excused from the Council chambers they make their way back to Trollskull Manor to discuss Byron's decision at length.
Arriving at the Tavern they sit at a nearby table, Ozen supplying the ale as they do so. Farraine attempts to appeal to Byron's apparent love of loot with the promise of more on the horizon but the Monk is adamant that he is to remain at Trollskull and pursue an ordinary life of peace and spirituality instead. His mind made up, the Monk moves behind the bar and immediately knocks over a tankard.
As the remainder of the party drink away their bemusement a cat enters through an open window and transforms into a grey haired woman (Sigrid), the one Ozen had eluded to earlier in the recap. Lucien walks over to the lady and after a brief discussion, invites her to join the party at their table. It seems a replacement for Byron may have been found already.
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