Session 26 Prep

Session Title: Where in the World Is Wu Tang?

Notes

Write down what happens in short here so you don’t forget stuff.

Fill sleeps the first 4 hours. Illsaiim and Mike hear something in the early morning hours.
- They investigate and find Darren Brigg confused walking around the hall.
- They are suspicious of his intentions but he states he needs the bathroom and got lost in the dark. Mike guides him to the bathroom where he is sick.
- Illsaiim checks the area and finds nothing.
- Illsaiim speaks with Marsha Corn in Rowland Cillian’s room further down the hall.
Fill wakes up as they return and is updated on the events with Darren.
Wu is knocked unconscious by Brick Farrow.
Illsaiim challenged Darren to a shooting match of which Illsaiim barely won by crowd sentiment.
The Firbolg bartender tells the party that Marsha Corn wants to see them at the library - somewhat urgently.
Graxious heals some injured kids in the library and introduces himself to Teresa Rose; a cleric of The Brightmother.
Marsha Corn updates the party, gave Fill a diamond worth 300 gold, and Allison Starling asks them to find the book Wu Tang had borrowed - offering gold as a reward
Wu is awoken by Samira and then interrogated by Brick - who gets frustrated by the bratty responses and beat Wu very close to falling unconscious.
Grinch intervened and made Wu a deal to escape but it was turned down to stick to Wu moral code.
The Grinch was angered by this and decided to stick a thorn in Wu’s side by rescuing him anyway and marking him on his left forearm.
Wu heard Samira talk to Brick before he was escorted out by a very regal man - but was actually the grinch in a disguise.
Wu was thrown out the southern entrance to Casino Cillian and 3 shots were fired to intentionally miss him as a warning not to come back.
Wu Tang ran towards the Western part of the city.
Allison Starling also let Fill know that Valda Faye had left a calling card for him and it seemed urgent.
Fill headed to the Sect while the others went the area outside Castle Neverwinter to search for Wu.
Graxious noticed some commotion coming from Casino Cillian and they all went forward to examine.
They all saw a black dragonborn be thrown from the window of the Western wall and make a sprint towards the western half of the city.
Wu also noticed the Dragonborn sprinting towards his general direction and recalled seeing/hearing them from the Casino Cillian.
Wu, and the four party members regrouped together for a moment before the Dragonborn appeared and nearly tripped over before Illsaiim caught them by the collar.
Meanwhile Fill spoke to Valda Faye about a nightmare she had concerning the Grinch, not being able to cast magic anymore, and also losing her arcane focus.
The nightmare spawned discussion over the phrase “The Heart Of Christmas” which after a bit of redirection - Fill believed the book that Wu had borrowed might contain information about that.
Fill left to find the party and the book.
The Grinch once again appeared to Wu during a slowed-down experience of reality and attempting to make a deal again but grew ever frustrated with the monk’s resolve - ceasing the temporal slowdown and tripping Wu to spite him.
The Dragonborn recognised Illsaiim and then properly introduced herself as Delilah Nabal to all but Fill who was yet to arrive.
Short discussion took place and the long-term party members asked about the resemblance to their friend Leodel before Delilah Nabal invited them into a nearby building that looked to be recently constructed.
Fill barely caught up before the gates closed.
The session closed with Delilah Nabal introducing the party to others wearing similar robes and speaking to her husband about Leodel.

Review

Allison Starling spoke to you about the The Telltale Brothers - 0th Edition and explained that it has likely not been opened in over 1000 years.

Fill and Graxious explored the Starling Family Sect while Illsaiim and Salvador headed towards the Wolf-Pelt Watchtower.
In the Sect you met Elizabeth; a cleric of Marius, who invited you into a space filled with religious iconography, artwork, and culture. It was here that Fill met Valda Faye - the fellow cleric of Santa Claus and discussed the concerning appearance of The Grinch.
Wu Tang; who had left to find some supplies, passed by the Sect and decided; for some unknown reason, rudely enter and besmirch the entire pantheon - grabbing the ire of almost everyone inside including a beefy greatsword wielding Tiefling you believe to be named Kaius and an unnamed man who wore symbolism of The Dutycaller.
Wu Tang; after being magically compelled to leave the church - decided to shoot an arrow at the upper floor windows - shattering the joint imagery of Marius and Santa.
Meanwhile Illsaiim and Salvador witness a very brave Dwarf male; later revealed to be known as Kurrud Silverblade, defend and repel the assault of some escaping residents from some Krymetime Krew - all without resorting to blows.
The two of you spoke with Kurrud Silverblade and an Elf woman named Lavendra; the self-described defacto leader of the Wolf-Pelt Watchtower, who explained that those affected by Dagult Neverember’s spell of persuasion are largely united in staying out of any further conflict that is not purely for the defence of the innocent - and after speaking with others in the Wolf-Pelt Watchtower you came to understand that there is a collective trauma amongst those who were under Dagult’s control - some wishing they remembered what they had done and others wishing they didn’t remember as much as they do.
As dusk approached - you all (barring Wu Tang who returned to the library) regrouped outside the Wolf-Pelt Watchtower and with the support of Ronin - made you way to Fontaine’s Fortunate Fluids where you met Illsaiim’s friend Marsha before being hurried down a ladder and stairs to a secret hideaway.
It was here you were introduced to Rowland Cillian; a Water Genasi male and head of the Cillian Family, who is also the leader of the Alagondar Trust. You heard some discussions of their plans for the next 24-36 hours and then made your way to bed - only Illsaiim stopping to have a conversation with Darren Brigg - a new recruit of the Trust who is highly passionate about restoring Neverwinter to it’s former glory.
We ended last session with Wu Tang being caught sneaking around Casino Cillian by Samira Farrow.

Bridge

AND THAT IS WHERE WE WILL PICK UP!

Does anyone want to do anything during the night before heading to bed? Elves - do you want to sleep full 8 hours or the first or last 4?
You awake on the morning of the 30th of Sapphirus, 802 Ag - the last day of the month - in the Alagondar Trust tavern.
The Bartender tells you guys that Marsha Corn is going to speak with you all - asked you to meet her at the Starling Library.

”Rowland wanted me to get you up to speed with what has happened in the past week or so.

8 days ago this afternoon - we all got word via our usual channels that Dagult was a wanted man in Amylthas and that was shortly followed up confirming he’d been killed by some mob called ‘The Bussy Knights’. That was all Oskar had been waiting for before he stormed Castle Neverwinter with what remnants of Ember’s Rule we could rally to his side in the confusion.

Thankfully for us; Oskar was just as unprepared to take the castle as we were to defend it and we managed to push him back at the cost of giving him control over Casino Cillian and a lot of The Column.

We’ve gotten guards from the Wolf-Pelt Watchtower defending the castle, whilst some of our guards watch all the known entrances from The Column, but we can’t rely on those pacifists to fight back when the time calls. We know Oskar will strike again and soon.

What help can we expect from you and your lot… Illsaiim?” - Marsha Corn explains the situation

Answer questions if they arise but let the party make their own decisions here.

Forwards

—

Interrogation

If Wu Tang is present

Samira will wake Wu from a coma and rush him for answers - only to be stopped by Brick who will take over the rest of the interrogation.

Brick is now no longer a brute since the passing of Dagult’s persuasion spell

SCENE: YOU SEE A DUSTY, DARK BASEMENT THAT YOU CAN’T MAKE MANY DETAILS OUT OF. THERE ARE CRATES AND BARRELS WITH SOME BLACK DUST ON THE EDGES/RIMS. SAMIRA IS STANDING TO THE SIDE WITH HER WEAPONS DOWN AND HER JACKET OFF. THE MASKED FIGURE TAKES OFF HIS MASK.

Brick will ask three questions: 1 “We have no records of you being from Triyana, let alone Neverwinter. So tell me - who are you?” 2 “You were seen fighting with a group - do you know who they are? When did you meet them?”

Ask according to how resistant Wu has been with answering questions
1. ”Alright - one more thing and if I like your answer - I might let you go. How much did you hear last night? hehehe"
2. "Alright - last question. How close to death am I going to have to beat you to get you to talk?”

In either case it’s going to be a persuasion/deception check or a contested intimidation roll. If he fail the roll - he’ll be bound tight again and unable to move before he closes his eyes instinctively and see a flash of white before being greeted by a familiar voice.

Grinch makes Wu Tang an offer…

”WELL HELLO HELLO! I’m back! It’s so not good to see you again!

Yes yes, I alsooooo hate you as much as you hate me - you’re still a mortal after all and I must hate all mortals. It’s actually one of my core principles!

But I like your spunk kid and enemies can still have mutual interests and work together when the time calls for it. If you’d taken my offer previously maybe you wouldn’t be in this mess would you!

So how’s abouts it - let’s make a deal quickly! I can only hold him still for so long before he’ll notice!” - Grinch to Wu Tang

The Grinch will offer Wu Tang freedom in return for a single favour at a later date - no other strings attached.

LET SIMON BARGAIN A LITTLE BIT BEFORE FORCING THE DECISION AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO

Deal Accepted

Time will resume and Brick will suddenly pull his punch and let the chains loose as Wu Tang sees Samira whisper something in Brick’s ear. DC19 perception check to hear it.

”The Boss said to let him go - don’t want any complications further causing an uprising. So what if he heard stuff - it’s too late to stop it anyway.”

WARNED TO STAY AWAY

Deal Refused

Time will resume and Brick will knock Wu Tang out cold. A DC21 CON save is required to stay semi conscious which reduces the time he’s out for and allows for a DC19 perception check to hear a conversation between Brick and Samira Farrow.

”Sister - go find Jidal - we’re going to need another batch…”

FAILED SAVE - out cold for a long rest worth of time. SUCCESSFUL SAVE - out cold for a short rest - can potentially escape.

Allison Starling calls for help

”Oh good! You’re all back! I was worried throughout the night that you had maybe been attacked or worse!

Your friend; Wu I think his name was, he was here for a bit before heading out in the night and he hasn’t returned - I thought he’d gone to find you lot.

Look - don’t judge my character but he’s technically overdue to return a book he borrowed and its going to be difficult and expensive to replace at this type of notice. I’ll pay you 25 gold to find the book.” - Allison Starling to The Bussy Knights

Let the party look around the city for clues

Casino Cillian Part II

The Casino has guards posted at all levels of the exterior watching for anyone approaching.

”You count at least 9 guards watching the South and East walls of the Casino - with 3 watching the entrance that Graxious had run through the previous day. At least some of the are armed - if not all of them.”

IF Wu Tang has been freed - at this point he will be seen exiting through that door by Samira before she pushes him to the ground. DC17 GROUP STEALTH CHECK for any party members not to be seen - avoids escalation.

Castle Neverwinter

”Castle Neverwinter is a glorious sight even in its slightly rundown and battle-damaged appearance right now. You see the off-white marble base adorned with red and gold accents alongside a dark oak wood for structure. These are the same colours you grew accustomed to seeing around Dagult.

The short stairs to the central chamber marked with a handful of guards sporting the Alagondar Trust or Wolf-Pelt Watchtower attire.

The East and Western wings are sealed off from the inside in an attempt to reduce the attackable area to defend.”

Grinchiness Continued

Valda Faye will have left a message with Allison Starling asking for Fill to speak with her at the sect as soon as possible. Allison Starling got the impression it was urgent.

At this time The Grinch will whisper to Wu Tang what he wants as a favour: “I need you to steal your ‘buddy’ Fill’s wand-y thing ok! Can you do that for me?”

Valda Faye

Valda Faye says she had a terrible nightmare where The Grinch stole her powers and said “Thanks darling - with this blessing, I’m one step closer to finding The Heart Of Christmas!”

Fill can roll a DC18 Religion check to recall/deduce what The Heart Of Christmas.

Valda Faye will also mention that she can’t find her magical focus recently and is a bit uncertain where it could be. She’ll describe an ornate snow globe if asked.